Prep softball: Mustangs rally to win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Perhaps Costa Mesa High softball coach Rick Buonarigo

should dangle a pitching start in front of sophomore center fielder

Alejandra Gallardo more often.

Gallardo, who went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, belted the game-winning RBI

single in the bottom of the seventh, leading the Mustangs to a 3-2

come-from-behind win over Pacific Coast League and district rival Corona

del Mar at TeWinkle Park Tuesday.

As Buonarigo promised, Gallardo will now pitch when Costa Mesa hosts

crosstown rival Estancia Thursday.

“We wanted to win this one so bad,” said Gallardo who got a hold of

the first pitch and sent a grounder past second base.

Buonarigo and CdM Coach Terry Christiano agreed Tuesday’s battle is a

preview of what’s to come for this rivalry as each team possesses six

sophomores.

Gallardo didn’t hesitate to add more incentive to the heated matchup.

“The second time around,” she said. “We’re going to beat them again.

We’re going to mercy them.”

The Mustangs (9-7-1, 4-1 in league), energized by a raucous dugout,

answered a 2-0 deficit by scoring one run in the fifth inning and two in

the seventh.

Costa Mesa freshman Cassie John led off the final inning with a base

hit to center field. Mustangs sophomore Ann Marie Topps, who went 2 for 2

and scored two runs, including the game-winner, smacked a triple to bring

in John.

“(Costa Mesa) wanted it more than we wanted it,” Christiano said.

“Their kids were up and ready to go out and get it. We had a few players

that were just ... I don’t want to say, self pity, but that’s what it

was.”

Topps, Costa Mesa’s shortstop, only played the last three innings as

Buonarigo held her out because she had missed practices during Spring

Break.

CdM (10-9, 3-2) built its 2-0 lead and held the Mustangs scoreless

through four innings with strong pitching from sophomore Alissa Zoelle,

who scored the two runs.

Zoelle recorded eight strikeouts with one walk, yielding just three

hits through six innings. At the plate, she was 2 for 3, while senior

Taylor McCormick also went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one stolen base.

Costa Mesa left-handed pitcher Tess Lindsay, a junior, earned her

ninth win of the season as she struck out five, three in the second

inning when she fanned two batters with runners on second and third.

Lindsay walked one and retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh

innings.

Gallardo slammed a base hit to center field in the fifth inning,

scoring Topps who reached on an infield single.

“This is going to be a very good rivalry in softball for the next few

years,” Buonarigo said. “It’s going to be good for the area. To see both

of these teams comes up and be contenders has been a dream of mine.”

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 3, Corona del Mar 2

Corona del Mar 010 100 0 - 2 7 0 Costa Mesa 000 010 2 - 3 6 1

Zoelle and Tyson; Lindsay and Watkins. W - Lindsay, 9-7-1. L - Zoelle,

8-5. 3B - Topps (CM).