Their first encounter was eerily similar to the latest installment, as Loara and Ocean View ended up with comparable lines scores and the Saxons saw the same youngster come through with the winning hit.
Freshman third baseman Yolanda Oregel laced an RBI double in the sixth inning, driving in the lone run in Loara’s 1-0 victory over the Seahawks in a Golden West League game Wednesday at Ocean View High.
“It was the same story the last time we played these guys,” Loara coach Todd Rolph said. “My little freshman came through again today with that double.”
It was just 21/2 weeks ago that Oregel drove in the winning run against Ocean View during the first round of league play. She roped an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning that afternoon for one of the two hits for Loara in a 1-0 win.
On Wednesday, the Saxons again mustered only a pair of base hits in a game primarily dominated by Ocean View pitcher Billi Derleth and Loara ace Vanessa Ledesma.
The Saxons improved to 17-6 overall and 7-0 in league with their 10th consecutive win and their 14th triumph in their last 15 outings.
Derleth silenced the Saxons during the first five innings, allowing only two runners on the base paths. The Seahawks (16-5, 4-3) were unable to give their senior right-hander any run support, however, because of some superb Saxons defense.
In the second, with runners on second and third with two outs, Ocean View catcher Penelope Russ hit a bloop shot down the right field line. Loara’s Angela Bernal kept two runs off the scoreboard with a diving catch, ending the threat and keeping it a scoreless game.
It remained that way into the sixth when Loara came up to bat. With one out in the inning, Jazmine McCaskell drew a walk, and Kaitlyn Eveland reached first on an error, bringing Oregel to the plate.
The freshman drilled a line drive just over the head of Ocean View center fielder Kimberly Macpherson, scoring McCaskell for the go-ahead run and giving Ledesma the cushion she needed.
“She’s not afraid of the moment,” Rolph said of his senior pitcher. “You’ll see her walk a few batters, but that’s because she’s not going to give into anybody. She’s not scared of pitching with runners on base.”
With two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, Ledesma walked Macpherson, bringing up Olivia Russ – the Seahawks leadoff hitter. Ledesma forced Russ to line out to right field to secure the victory.
Sole possession of first place will be on the line when the Saxons host Segerstrom (17-4, 6-1) on Friday afternoon.
Also in the Golden West League:
Segerstrom 13, Westminster 2: Anabel Mendez and Brianna Lopez each hit two-run home runs during a 10-run third inning that vaulted the Jaguars past the host Lions. Mendez went 3 for 3, driving in four runs and scoring two.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
