Nathan Mollat / Daily Journal Woodside’s Lauren Diaz slides safely into third with a sixth-inning triple as Menlo-atherton third baseman Katie Vallarino waits for the throw. Diaz scored on Amanda Canapa’s infield hit as the Wildcats held off the Bears 2-1.

As in pitcher Ashley Miller. The sophomore sensation tossed a complete-game, three-hitter with a season-high 17 strikeouts, and the Wildcats got the big hits when they needed them in a 2-1 Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division win over visiting Menlo-Atherton on Friday.

“Ashley was outstanding [Friday], as usual,” Woodside coach Mike King said. “This was a nice win and it gives us some momentum heading into spring break.”

Indeed, the Wildcats improved to a perfect 4-0 in Ocean play, 11-3 overall. It’s still early but it looks as if Sequoia and Woodside are once again the teams to beat in the division. Menlo-Atherton (2-1, 5-6) and San Mateo are up and coming teams, but the Cherokees and Wildcats have been near the top of the Ocean for several years.

Whatever happens, the race for the division’s championship and only berth into the Central Coast Section playoff promises to be a white-knuckle affair the entire way. Friday’s game was no different. Both Miller and Bears pitcher Tami Vujovich were dealing. While the left-handed Miller uses blazing speed on the majority of her pitches, Vujovich is a control pitcher who has less margin for error because she can’t blow away hitters like Miller can. But Vujovich pitched well in defeat, allowing only five hits and was cruising until the Wildcats finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Lauren Diaz hit a leadoff triple two pitches after she hit a ball into foul territory that the M-A first baseman dropped. Diaz made the most of her second chance, drilling a liner over the head of Bears left fielder Tennyson Jellins. Diaz actually squared around to bunt on the play to draw the defense in, a design play Woodside practices all the time.

Amanda Canapa followed by hitting a bouncer over the outstretched glove of Vujovich for a run-scoring single. Canapa advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then to third on a Noelle Micallef groundout. One out later, Canapa scored to make it 2-0 when Savana Gilman reached on an M-A error, one of four committed by the Bears.

M-A tried to make things interesting in the seventh. Lauren Diller hit a leadoff double and advanced to third when the throw back to the infield got away for an error. After Miller recorded back to back strikeouts, she threw a wild pitch that allowed Diller to score. But M-A’s momentum was short-lived. Miller produced her 17th strikeout to end the game, putting the finishing touches on another dominating performance.

“We don’t face that kind of pitching everyday,” Bears coach Rick Vujovich said. “It’s tough for the girls because she throws the ball hard. But this can be a learning experience for them. It’s fun to play in games like this and we almost pulled it out. Our batters are going to have to have a plan the next time we play them.”

Woodside has plenty of motivation after what happened last season. The Wildcats lost to Sequoia on the final day of league play, dropping them to second place behind champion Terra Nova. The defeat cost them a possible berth into the playoffs, a stage Woodside’s softball team hasn’t made in a long time. But the Wildcats lost only three starters from last year’s group, and King said they’re ready to make their move.

“We’re trying to keep mastering the things we’re doing well and hopefully keep on succeeding,” King said. “The girls are looking forward to playing Sequoia again. It’s a good, fun, competitive rivalry. But I have to keep telling them not to look too far ahead. I try to put that loss last year out of my mind. Things are going good and I like how the team responded [Friday]. Lauren certainly has that type of power, and it was a big hit in a big game.”

Woodside leadoff hitter Sharol Castillo led all batters with two hits, both singles.