Saved by Shepherd, Estancia Softball wins the Battle for the Bell

A softball diamond is naturally divisive.

There is a third-base side and a first-base one.

The competing teams reside in a dugout on either end, and their fans follow suit.

A packed house for a high-leverage edition of the Battle for the Bell was reflective of that image, with only a solitary object separating the two fan bases at Costa Mesa High.

Mounted against the backstop behind home plate was the All-Sports Cup, for this was no ordinary chapter in the rivalry.

Estancia had never surrendered the hardware, but Costa Mesa had its best chance to change that in the final meeting between the schools’ athletic programs on Monday afternoon.

The trophy would be awarded to the winner of a crucial softball game, with the schools tied in points, 90-90, coming into the contest. The Mustangs faithful were in full throat with their team just two outs away from the victory.

Kalena Shepherd stunned the Mustangs with a game-tying home run, and Estancia used a five-run seventh inning to defeat Costa Mesa, 8-6, in the decisive matchup of the Battle for the Bell.

“All I kept thinking is, ‘I want ribs. I’m getting ribs. Our whole school is getting ribs,’” Shepherd said, referring to a celebratory lunch reward put on by the Newport Rib Company for the winner of the rivalry.

This is the eighth year of the All-Sports Cup series, a school year-long battle of all varsity sports between the schools. Estancia has won it every year. John Ursini, the owner of Newport Rib Company, created the All-Sports Cup because he wanted to highlight the special rivalry between Estancia and Costa Mesa.

A fired up Michael Hunter emerged from the Estancia dugout and pumped his fist. The emotional coach of the Eagles (13-10, 5-4 in league) had stated that he felt the pressure to deliver a win in his first year as part of the rivalry.

“I always believe in that kid,” he said of Shepherd. “What a tremendous athlete, and given the opportunity, she shows up in the big games clutch. That was clutch. I ain’t kidding. That was a game-changer right there.”

The home run appeared to unnerve Mustangs starter Haley Sheffner. Prone to walks, the junior had allowed just one over the previous four innings.

In a 155-pitch outing, fatigue set in, and Sheffner began to unravel. She walked three and hit another in the next four batters she faced following the home run.

Angelina Gutierrez followed by laying down a squeeze bunt. Sheffner attempted to apply the tag. When Gutierrez evaded it, the Mustangs pitcher threw wildly to first, and Isabelle Morales, Mackenzie McIntyre, and Jessica Garcia scored on the play.

The last inning aside, Sheffner was effective in taking matters into her own hands. Only four of the runs against her were earned. She allowed six hits, stranding eight base runners thanks to her nine strikeouts.

She also had a game-tying double in the fifth after Costa Mesa (8-15, 4-5) had trailed, 3-2, since the top of the second inning.

Estancia pitcher Brittany Walker was thankful that she had a four-run lead to work with in the bottom of the seventh.

At the same juncture of the frame as Shepherd had done so, Brenna Alvis homered to cut the Mustangs’ deficit to three.

Valerie Castro singled and scored when Eagles shortstop Emily Kubisty committed a throwing error on a potential game-ending ground ball off the bat of Malia Tufuga.

Catherine Ross represented the tying run when Walker was able to retire her on a groundout to first baseman Micaiah Watanabe-Patterson.

“It was scary, but after Kalena’s hit, everyone was pumped up,” Walker said of trying to close out the game. “It was exciting, and I knew that we could do it.”

“It’s always back and forth. This one was much tighter than usual.”

Upon winning the Battle for the Bell, Hunter was doused in the first Gatorade bath of his career.

Kubisty called the rivalry game the perfect occasion for the comeback and the celebration. Her only regret?

“I wish I could have done it,” Kubisty said of the Gatorade shower. “Hopefully, we’ll be doing that a couple more times this season.”

Kubisty had two hits. Watanabe-Patterson, Garcia, and Gutierrez each had one.

The win gives Estancia third place in the Orange Coast League, sending the Eagles to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Castro had a game-high four hits for the Mustangs. Sheffner and Tufuga each had two.

Tufuga also threw out two base runners to minimize the damage in the first inning, earning respect from her counterpart.

“It was terrifying when I first saw her,” Shepherd said. “She’s like a whole head taller than me. She does really well. She manages behind the plate, and she always manages to keep the ball in front.”

“I’m amazed that she’s just a freshman. I wish I was that good when I was that young.”

The attention surrounding the battle for the All-Sports Cup did not go unnoticed by Mustangs coach Heather Orduna.

“This is why you play softball,” she said. “This is why you coach softball. This is why high school athletics changes kids lives.”

“The competition, the fight, the perseverance…that is the reason why these programs are so important for our schools, our community, and our kids.”

Orange Coast League

Estancia 8, Costa Mesa 6

SCORE BY INNINGS

Est 210 000 5 — 8 6 3

CM 200 011 2 — 6 10 2

Walker and Shepherd; Sheffner and Tufuga. WP — Walker, 13-10. LP — Sheffner, 6-11. 2B — Sheffner (CM). HR — Shepherd (Est); Alvis (CM).

[email protected]

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner