Mater Dei makes a fast getaway against Dana Hills

Mater Dei's Gabby Sandoval delivers a pitch during a game against Dana Hills on Wednesday. Mater Dei won, 5-3.
Dana Hills' Samantha Williams tags out Mater Dei's Neli Casares-Maher during Wednesday's nonleague game. Mater Dei won, 5-3.
Dana Hills' Samantha Williams is too late with the tag as Mater Dei's Nyomi Jones slides into second base during Wednesday's game.
Mater Dei's Nyomi Jones keeps her hand on the base after stealing second base against Dana Hills on Wednesday.
Mater Dei coach Tia Meza talks with her players after a 5-3 victory over Dana Hills on Wednesday.
Dana Hill's Hailey Hoklotubbe looks to the team's first base coach after hitting a single during Wednesday's game against Mater Dei.
Mater Dei shortstop Neli Casares-Maher prepares to tag out Dana Hills' Hailey Hoklotubbe during Wednesday's game.
Mater Dei's Priscilla Martinez gets set to take a swing during Wednesday's game against Dana Hills.
Mater Dei's Priscilla Martinez catches a pitch during a game against Dana Hills on Wednesday.
Dana Hills players are reflected in the sunglasses of Coach Brandon Cosenza after the game Wednesday.
Mater Dei shortstop Neli Casares-Maher fields a grounder during Wednesday's game against Dana Hills.
Dana Hills' Hailey Hoklotubbe is safe at second during Wednesday's game against Mater Dei.
Dana Hills catcher Tori Sickmeier gets set to throw to first while Mater Dei's Kelli Godin slides into home.
Mater Dei's Yaritza Felix congratulates teammate Emma Clark after Clark hit an inside-the-park home run during Wednesday's game against Dana Hills.
Serafine Parrish had pitching duties for Dana Hills Wednesday against Mater Dei.

March 23, 2016 at 9:08 p.m.

It was hard to tell if the breeze was natural or created by Mater Dei’s base runners on Wednesday.

The third-ranked Monarchs used their speed to get around the bases and took advantage of Dana Hills errors to produce a 5-3 nonleague victory at Thornton Park.

“We’re pretty fast,” Mater Dei senior Yaritza Felix said. “(We) put the ball in play and we can score runs pretty quickly.”

With Mater Dei trailing, 1-0, in the third, Felix singled, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. She scored on an error at first base, and Kelli Godin scored from second on the same play.

“With our speed, kids like that, heads-up running, it’s just knowing they can get there,” Mater Dei coach Tia Meza said. “We take advantage of opportunities.”

Neli Casares-Maher also scored from second in the inning, on a single by Priscilla Martinez, giving Mater Dei a 3-1 advantage.

Mater Dei (11-2) showed more speed in the fifth inning when Emma Clark hit a ball to deep right field and came all the way around to score on an inside-the-park home run.

In the same inning, Felix reached base with a single, made her way around to third base, and scored on a passed ball for a 5-1 lead.

Dana Hills (8-7) closed the gap by scoring two runs on a Mater Dei error in the seventh. Carlee Russo and Serafine Parrish scored on the error to make it 5-3.

Mater Dei pitcher Gabby Sandoval stopped the Dolphins’ rally at that point. She allowed three runs on five hits and had five strikeouts.

Parrish recorded six strikeouts in six innings for Dana Hills.

The Dolphins took a 1-0 lead when Samantha Williams led off the game with a triple and scored on a single by Hailey Hoklotubbe.

ZACH CAVANAGH,

Contributing writer

In other nonleague games:

No. 6 La Habra 1, Villa Park 0: Janelle Rodriguez pitched a no-hitter, and the visiting Highlanders (11-1) scored a run in the seventh to pull out the victory over the Spartans (5-4).

Rodriguez struck out 11 and did not allow a walk, but two batters reached base on errors.

La Habra loaded the bases in the seventh and scored its run on a single by Elena Valenzuela.

Santa Margarita 10, Clackamas of Oregon 0: Alex deJong hit a two-run home run, and Miranda Johnson went 2 for 3 with two RBI for the Eagles (9-5). Sophomore Paige Vargas pitched a three-hitter and struck out nine.