Prep softball: 2001 Dream Team

Barry Faulkner

The class of the Daily Pilot’s All-Newport-Mesa District Dream Team

in softball is clearly the Class of 2003.

No fewer than nine sophomores are among the 15 honorees this spring,

including Player of the Year Alissa Zoelle from Corona del Mar High.

Further, five of the seven repeat selections made their prep debut in

2000.

So, with Corona del Mar making the school’s first trip to the CIF

Southern Section playoffs, Costa Mesa extending its postseason

appearances to two straight seasons and Newport Harbor continuing to

close the gap on its respected Sea View League foes, the future of

Newport-Mesa softball appears bright.

Joining Zoelle on this year’s team are fellow sophomore repeaters

Lauren Loe, Meaghan Bunney and Amy Tyson, all from CdM, as well as Athena

Vasquez from Newport Harbor.

Sea King senior Mijanou Pham earns a spot on the team for a second

straight season, while Newport Harbor senior Lisa Huntington completes a

four-year run on the Dream Team.

Newport Harbor sophomores Bailey Bearden and Shelby Crisp, as well as

Costa Mesa sophomores Ann Marie Topps and Jade Moss, are first-time

selections.

Also making their Dream Team debut are Costa Mesa seniors Ola Wallace

and Sarah Watkins, Mesa junior Tess Lindsay and Estancia senior Stephanie

Cachola.

CdM Coach Terry Cristiano, who guided the program to a second-place

finish in the Pacific Coast League, repeats as Coach of the Year.

Zoelle, the district’s leading hitter for the second straight spring,

batted an eye-popping .528 (38 for 72), with two home runs, two doubles,

two triples, 11 RBIs and 20 runs. She struck out only once.

Zoelle also won 10 of 16 pitching decisions and compiled a 4.57 ERA.

When not pitching, the two-time first-team All-PCL performer played first

base.

“She’s just an outstanding athlete with a very good attitude,”

Cristiano said. “She’s a Division I (college) player all the way.”

Topps, the Mustangs’ shortstop, who earned second-team All-CIF

Southern Section Division IV recognition, hit .429 with 33 hits, two home

runs, 20 RBIs, five doubles, one triple, 18 runs and 12 stolen bases from

the No. 3 spot in the order.

Pham, who played junior varsity baseball as a sophomore, during the

softball program’s brief hiatus due to a lack of players, handled

shortstop chores for the 14-11 Sea Kings. In addition to her glove work

and senior leadership, Pham hit .420 with eight RBIs and 19 runs, en

route to first-team All-PCL recognition.

Vasquez, a former Little League baseball standout, was Newport Harbor

Coach Jess Martinson’s shortstop and leadoff hitter. She hit .388 with 14

hits, 22 walks, four doubles, two triples and a district-leading 21 runs

for the Tars. She was second-team All-Sea View League.

Huntington, whose season was shortened by a severely sprained ankle,

hit .421 with three doubles, one triple, nine runs and a .585 on-base

percentage. She will continue at West Point.

Moss, who played a strong center field and hit leadoff, batted .378

with 28 hits, 15 runs, 14 stolen bases and six RBIs to help the Mustangs

finish third in the PCL. She was a first-team All-PCL choice.

Loe, who played second base, hit .405 in league to up her season

average to .372. She had 29 hits, eight RBIs and nine runs, en route to

second-team All-PCL recognition.

Wallace played first base and hit cleanup for the Mustangs. She hit

.364 with 20 hits, two homers, 13 RBIs, 13 runs and 18 stolen bases. She

plans to play next season at Orange Coast College.

Crisp, who played third base, hit .355 with 17 runs and four steals

for the Tars. She was tabbed second-team All-Sea View.

Cachola hit .322 with 12 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, en route to All-PCL

second-team honors for the Eagles.

Lindsay was the primary pitcher for the Mustangs, posting a 10-9

record and a 2.63 ERA in 122 1/3 innings. She struck out 59 and was named

second-team All-PCL.

Bunney, a first baseman who hit in tough luck all season, according to

her coach, batted .279 with 19 hits, one homer, 11 RBIs and 11 runs. She

was a second-team All-PCL honoree.

The remainder of the team handled catching chores for their respective

teams. Watkins hit .309 with 21 hits, 14 RBIs, nine runs and three steals

for the Mustangs, en route to second-team All-PCL laurels. She plans to

play at OCC.

Bearden hit .308 with 12 runs and six steals for the Tars. She was

named second-team All-Sea View League.

Tyson, who hit leadoff for the Sea Kings, batted .250 with 18 hits, 11

walks, five RBIs and eight runs. She was a second-team All-PCL choice.