Mustangs fall short

Melanie Neff

The Costa Mesa High softball team fell one shy of its goals this

season after losing to Redondo, 4-2, Friday in the first round of the

CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.

The Mustangs (17-11) had two goals this season -- to win league

and win a CIF game on their new softball field. They accomplished the

first goal by taking home the Golden West League title, the program’s

first. But they were unable to come up with the second.

“We built this ball field this year to win league and have a CIF

game here,” Costa Mesa Coach Rick Buonarigo said. “We just fell a

little short, but we fell to a very good team.”

Seahawks pitcher Mandy Valadez had a no-hitter going through six

innings, but gave up her only hit to sophomore Kelly Topps in the

bottom of the seventh. Topps, who had left the game in the fourth

inning due to dizziness from being hit in the face before the game,

came back in to hit in the seventh. She picked up the Mustangs only

hit with a shot up the middle. She later scored on a groundout by

Paulina Rodriguez.

Despite having a no-hitter through much of the game, Valadez still

gave up another run to the Mustangs in the fifth inning. She hit

sophomore Uyen Mai, the second batter she plunked in the game. Mai

stole second, although it appeared she was tagged out. She then stole

third and scored on a fly ball to center field by junior Michelle

Miller.

Valadez retired the Mustangs in order in all but three innings.

She struck out 12 batters, including heavy hitter Ann Marie Topps

twice, but she also hit two batters and walked two.

Valadez’s counterpart struggled. Butler gave up 10 hits, including

a home run in the fourth inning to designated hitter Tammy Weiner.

Three of the Seahawks four runs were earned.

To Butler’s credit, though, the first two runs Redondo scored in

the third inning came because of an error that should have been a

double play. Seahawks’ Ashley Stiner singled with one out. Jamie

Thomson hit a grounder to second, but Ann Marie Topps missed Jade

Moss’ relay and both runners were safe. Stiner scored on a deep fly

to center field and Thomson came around on an RBI single by Tess

Solarski. Butler also stranded seven Redondo baserunners and struck

out six.

After Weiner’s first-pitch home run to lead off the fourth,

Redondo tried to pick up more runs in the fifth. With runners on

first and third and two outs, Sarah Tahajian drilled a line drive to

left field. Rodriguez ran in and made a spectacular diving catch to

end the threat and keep the game close at, 3-1. Costa Mesa pulled to

within one run in the bottom of the fifth on Mai’s run, but Redondo

picked up an insurance run in the sixth.

With two outs, Alex Merrell doubled to center field and advanced

to third on a wild pitch. Miller slammed another double into center,

scoring Merrell. Miller made the third out trying to extend her

double into a triple.

“I knew it was going to be a close game, 2-1, 1-0, something like

that,” Buonarigo said. “It was tough when we fell behind, but we

still came back. We haven’t been shutout all year.”

It was the fifth win in six games for the Seahawks, who will now

play Western in the second round Tuesday. Western was a 4-0 winner

over Schurr. Brystol Sims and Stolarski were each 2 for 4 with an RBI

for Redondo. Thomsen was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

*--*

CIF Division III

First round

Redondo 4, Costa Mesa 2 Score by Innings

Redondo 002 101 0 - 4 10 1

Mesa 000 010 1 - 2 1 2

Valadez and Sims; Butler and Miller. W --

Valadez. L- Butler, 11-5. 2B-Merrell (R),

Bronstein (R). HR -- Weiner (R)

*--*