Westminster Steps Up, Wins

Westminster ended last season ranked ninth in Orange County. Even though the team remained intact, when the 1997 regular season ended last week, the Lions weren’t even close to the top 10.

With a chance to salvage their season, Westminster’s first step toward that end took place Wednesday when it defeated visiting Aliso Niguel, 5-2, in a Southern Section Division I wild-card softball game.

The victory moves Westminster (18-7-1), tied for second place in the Golden West League, into the first round against Sunset League champion Los Alamitos (20-5).

Aliso Niguel ended its season 13-13.

“We’ve had trouble with the big games,” Westminster Coach Conway deSha said. “People ask me, ‘What’s the best team you’ve had.’ I tell them last year’s. They say, ‘But it’s the same team.’

“It’s more mental stuff this year.”

Westminster used the wild-card game to put its final two games--both losses--behind it.

“We could’ve done better than we did,” said senior second baseman Kelly Hauxhurst, who had two hits and a run. “We know league is behind us now, what’s done is done, and it’s time to concentrate on trying to do well in the playoffs.”

Three third-inning singles, two of them on bunts, and Lacy Hauxhurst’s two-run single through the left side of the infield provided a 2-0 lead. Hauxhurst has a county-high 34 runs batted in.

In the fifth inning, two singles and a walk preceded Amy McManus’ opposite field, three-run double to left-center.

Westminster had 10 hits--eight in the third and fifth innings. Hauxhurst and McManus produced out of the third and fifth spots in the batting order, though deSha said mid-lineup production hasn’t been a strong suit.

“We’re still having trouble with the middle of the order,” he said. “Today we did a good job, but we have to pick it up some more.”

Brenda Quinn (10-5), who replaced Ashley Maranto in the fourth inning, got the victory; she struck out eight and surrendered two of the Wolverines’ three hits. Aliso Niguel scored twice in the seventh inning.

In other Division I wild-card games:

El Toro 4, Long Beach Poly 0--Senior shortstop Rachael Wennekamp’s bases-loaded double drove in Christina Joiner, Anne Skidmore and Nikki Everett for El Toro (23-7-1). Suzanne Guy pitched a three-hitter and struck out seven. El Toro plays host to Fountain Valley in a first-round game Friday.

Fountain Valley 7, Long Beach Millikan 0--Lindsay Collins’ home run followed Tiffany Miller’s leadoff triple in the third inning to pace Fountain Valley (14-14). Angel Gonzales (5-3) pitched a one-hitter for the victory.

Lakewood 11, University 2--Lakewood (19-11), the Moore League champion, plays Friday at top-seeded Foothill.

Marina 1, Palos Verdes Peninsula 0 (9 innings)--Freshman Steffany Steinglein’s ninth-inning home run lifted host Marina (16-9-1), which had only two hits. Marina next plays at Irvine. Heather Hagen (12-3) had six strikeouts.