Prep softball: Sailors win seventh straight

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT HARBOR - How good is the Newport Harbor High softball team?

Here’s an indication: At this time last year the Sailors were 3-2-2. This

season, the Tars have a 7-0 record after a 9-0 victory over visiting

Alhambra Thursday. Last year, Newport tied at Alhambra, 6-6.

Thursday was a different story, as everything seems to be falling in

place for the Sailors, who used 14 hits and nine runs after three

scoreless innings to overpower the Moors (3-2).

Newport has outscored opponents, 51-11, and this was its third shutout

of the season.

Freshman pitcher Ashley Gleason, in her first game in the circle as a

Sailor, completed a two-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks. She had

a perfect game through 4 1/3 innings. Junior Kim Moore, who played third

base, led Newport with a 3-for-3 performance that included two runs

scored and an RBI.

“(The Sailors) play confidently now,” said Newport Coach Jess

Martinson, who noted his squad is off to its best start in five years.

“Actually, this is maybe the best start in 10 years. They believe that

they can win when they go out there. Somebody is going to have to take it

away from them because they’re not going to give it away at this point.

It’s a confidence that they’ve never had as long as I’ve been here.”

The Sailors broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning with four

runs and six hits, highlighted by freshman Julianne Bass’ two-run double.

Bass’ blast down the third-base line rolled across the left-field line

and was eventually ruled a ground-rule double. But, it was still powerful

enough to score Bailey Bearden and Shelby Crisp, who both singled to

reach base.

Newport junior catcher Amanda Campbell went 2 for 3 with one RBI and

one run scored, while Gleason, Athena Vasquez, Jennifer Gummerman and

Sabrina Couch finished with a hit and a run scored each.

“Typical of all the other games, except against Northwood, they hit

the ball real well,” Martinson said of his squad. “That’s been the key

this year. They’re hitting the ball and scoring the runs. Now, it’s just

a matter of time before we start scoring. If we swing hard and put it in

play it will happen. I don’t have to tell them that because they’re

believing in themselves.”

NONLEAGUE

Newport Harbor 9, Alhambra 0

Alhambra 000 000 0 - 0 2 4

Newport Harbor 000 414 x - 9 14 0

Monreal and V. Molina; Gleason and Campbell.

W - Gleason, 1-0. L - Monreal. 2B - Bass (NH).