Softball: A curtain call for openers

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - With the national softball stage handed over to

Newport Beach-based Pacific Coast Bobby Sox, there was plenty of

excitement Friday at Bonita Creek Park.

But, for the hosts, there were almost too many thrills to handle in

the last inning against North El Cajon in the opening round of the Bobby

Sox National All-Star Tournament.

The event, which is normally held in Buena Park but was moved to

Newport Beach this year (presumably for one year), features 20 girls

15-and-under All-Star teams from the Western U.S., mostly California.

And, while there might be some pressure on the hosts to advance in the

winner’s bracket, the ground began to shake on Pacific Coast’s

comfortable six-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, before Pacific

Coast held on for an edge-of-your-seat 8-6 victory.

“We made it very interesting,” deadpanned Pacific Coast Manager Debbie

Fonda, whose squad will play San Lorenzo today at 1 p.m. in the second

round at Bonita Creek.

Pacific Coast, made up of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents, is a

young but talented team.

“There are only five or six 14-year-olds,” Fonda said, “and the rest

on the team are 13-year-olds.”

Pacific Coast, which enjoyed an 8-0 lead after four innings with the

time clock running (no inning can start after 1:45) and a 10-run

mercy-rule triumph within striking distance, needed to dig into the

bullpen to stop North El Cajon’s late surge.

North El Cajon, which committed seven errors to help Pacific Coast

build its large lead, scored twice in the fifth inning and four in the

sixth.

With two outs and North El Cajon runners on second and third and

Pacific Coast clinging to an 8-5 lead, Sasha Grumman was called upon to

pitch again.

Grumman, who relieved Pacific Coast starter Ashley Gleason in the

third and worked two innings, earned the save as she retired North El

Cajon’s final batter, striking out Erika San Filippo, the potential tying

run at the plate.

By using Grumman to seal the win, Pacific Coast burned its No. 2

pitcher for today’s game, according to Bobby Sox rules. But that’s fine

with Fonda, who said Hilary Ockey, who did not pitch Friday, should be

fresh for time in the circle today, while staff ace Gleason is expected

to start.

“Yes, (you want to save your pitchers), especially in this

tournament,” Fonda said. “But a win’s a win. Playing at home is nice. We

played well enough to take this team. They came out and were ready to

play.”

Pacific Coast scored three runs in the first inning on three hits, a

walk and a hit batsman, with Ockey supplying an RBI single. Darci

Pennington, Gleason and cleanup hitter Julianne Bass scored runs early

for Pacific Coast, which scored in each of the first four innings.

Amie Benjamin singled and eventually scored for Pacific Coast in the

second, then Bass reached on an error and came around to score in the

third, after a walk to Katie Joslyn, and, one out later, a single by

teammate Alexa Shitanishi and a North El Cajon error.

Pacific Coast added to its 5-0 lead in the fourth inning, when Kelly

Pfeifer ignited a three-run rally with a line single to right field.

Jessica Dugan followed by reaching on an error, then leadoff hitter

Heather Lohrman and Pennington both hit into a fielder’s choice, erasing

Pfeifer and Dugan on the basepaths.

An error led to one Pacific Coast run with Gleason at the plate, then

Bass connected for a line-drive, two-run single to right field, breaking

the game wide open, 8-0.

Action continues in the National Bobby Sox All-Star Tournament today,

Sunday and Monday.