STOCKTON — After big outs, softball pitchers tend to turn back to their defense and give kudos.

When West High varsity pitcher Andi Anderson, fresh off 5-1/3 no-hit innings in a 13-1 win Wednesday over St. Mary’s, talked about her performance, she did the same.

“I wouldn’t say that I had a no-hitter,” the junior said. “I’d say the girls helped me.”

The modest attitude is something Wolf Pack (12-6 overall, 1-0 Tri-City Athletic League) coach Steve Anastasio stressed, too. While West’s defense was there for Anderson throughout the game, she also did her part, striking out nine Rams in the victory at Arnaiz Field in Stockton.

“She’s been doing it all year,” Anastasio said. “She has one inning a game where she struggles, but gets out of it.”

With one out in the sixth inning, St. Mary’s (10-7, 0-1) senior outfielder Kristen Freitas hit a ball over center fielder Ciara Ervin’s head for the first Ram hit of the game. In the next at-bat, senior first baseman Cassie Rivera drove Freitas home with a single for her team’s first and only run. By then, the Wolf Pack held a 9-1 lead.

Anderson finished the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

The victory meant a lot for West, as they were able to start league play with a win over their TCAL rivals. Anastasio said the past two days of practice really paid off, and said he was impressed with the mental game his team had.

“Winning the first game is a big advantage because now we’ve got people chasing us,” Anastasio said.

The Wolf Pack pulled out to an early lead, putting up three runs in the second inning on an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Jill Anastasio and RBI singles by Anderson and Ervin, who finished 5-for-5 with two runs and two stolen bases. West scored once more in the third inning, added four in the fourth and put up another run in the fifth inning to make it 9-1.

After Anderson’s no-hitter was broken up in the sixth inning, the Wolf Pack put four more runs in the seventh inning.

Anastasio drove in a team-high two RBIs, going 2-for-4 with a walk. Senior shortstop Elida Rubio, Ervin, freshman right fielder Ashley Tornio, junior catcher Jamie Costa and sophomore left fielder Miranda Gannon each scored two runs.

At 3:30 p.m. Friday, West will continue TCAL play by hosting Stagg.

• Contact Tracy Press reporter Justin Lafferty at 830-4221 or jlafferty@tracypress.com.