Southern Section Softball : Ocean View, Oakley Win, 2-0, to Make Season Perfect

Ocean View High School of Huntington Beach scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning Saturday to defeat Westminster, 2-0, for the 4-A Southern Section girls’ softball championship at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

The win completes a 32-0 season for the Seahawks, who didn’t make the playoffs last season.

The game, played before a capacity crowd of 2,300, was dominated by pitchers Jackie Oakley (31-0) of Ocean View and Debbie DeJohn (22-10) of Westminster. Each allowed just one hit through six innings.

However, Seahawk center fielder Jana Darling led off the seventh with a single hit. Actually, the ball was fielded by Lion second baseman Lee Bladow, but her throw sailed over the head of first baseman Barbara Graff. Darling took second on the error.

Westminster Coach Dick Martin chose to intentionally walk both Oakley and catcher Julie Scruggs to load the bases and play for the forceout at the plate.

It appeared that Westminster might not need the force since DeJohn seemed to get even stronger. She struck out shortstop Gretchen Bock and appeared about to do the same to left fielder Heather Smittle. But with a two-strike count, Smittle managed to poke the ball to third baseman Heather Illsley who threw too late to the plate to get Darling.

Ocean View scored its second run when Oakley came home on Nancy Moreluck’s ground ball to shortstop.

Oakley, a junior, had four strikeouts. DeJohn struck out seven.