Westminster Wins Showdown for Second

WESTMINSTER — Rosary and Westminster played Wednesday in a game they expected would be for first place. Instead, it was for second.

The two Golden West League favorites, both upset by Ocean View, squared off hoping to get an advantage as they chase down the unbeaten Seahawks in the season’s second half.

Like every meeting this season between the top three Golden West League teams, the home team won. Westminster, behind Brenda Quinn’s one-hitter and a bad-hop two-run triple, defeated Rosary, 4-0.

Westminster is 13-5-1, 4-1 in league; Rosary is 16-6, 3-2.

Quinn (7-3) struck out 11 and retired 18 of the first 19 batters until she hit a batter and issued a walk leading off the seventh.

Her bid for a third no-hitter was foiled when Natalie Golda muscled a ball over third base leading off the second inning.

“[Quinn] was better than usual, and we helped her by swinging at her rise,” Rosary Coach Tom Tice said. “But she’s always been good.”

Quinn got a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. With two outs and Lacy Hauxhurst and Monica Monroy on base with singles, Amy McManus’ bouncer to the right side hit the lip of the outfield and took a huge bounce over right fielder Erin Hogan.

McManus’ two-run triple was followed by Quinn’s fly to center field, which was dropped.