PREP SOFTBALL : Mater Dei Speeds Past La Habra

Lisa Tully tried to beg out of the question, but couldn’t--it was about the only thing she failed to do on Wednesday--and finally answered.

“As long as we stay together as a team,” she said, “we can hold our own with anybody.”

Tully and her Mater Dei teammates held their own for the seventh consecutive game as the fourth-ranked Monarchs scored a 7-0 nonleague victory over 10th-ranked La Habra.

Mater Dei (9-1) got a four-run fourth inning as host La Habra (7-2) wilted under the pressure of physical fatigue and the pressure of Mater Dei’s style--hit the ball on the ground, beat it out with speed. Mater Dei’s first three hits--two by Tully--were infield singles hit to shortstop by left-handers.

The third hit, by Shealee Dunavan, figured in the Monarchs’ big inning; it was followed by conventional singles into the outfield by Kendra Meano and Jodi Schicker, driving in a run. Kelsey Kollen drove in another run with a bunt single. Mix in a walk and two errors and you have a big-time rally.

Tully, who had an RBI in a three-run sixth inning, also scored the only run Mater Dei needed in the first inning; she had the infield single, was safe at second on a fielder’s choice, and scored on Colleen Boddy’s sacrifice bunt to first base.

Typical Mater Dei softball.

Said Tully: “We put a lot of pressure on the defense, and make them make the plays.”

Boddy (9-1) gave up four hits; she struck out two.