Prep softball: CdM routs Mesa

COSTA MESA - The visiting Corona del Mar High softball team

combined five hits with four Costa Mesa errors and four walks to produce

a 10-run sixth inning and rally for a 12-3 Pacific Coast League victory

Monday at TeWinkle Park.

CdM junior shortstop Lauren Loe boomed a two-run double and junior

first baseman Meaghan Bunney blasted a two-run triple in the double-digit

explosion, which allowed the Sea Kings (11-8, 7-2 in league) to move into

sole possession of second place, a game ahead of Costa Mesa (16-9, 6-3),

with one league game remaining.

A Costa Mesa victory over Laguna Beach Wednesday, as well as a CdM

loss to league-leading Northwood, would once again lock the Newport-Mesa

District rivals in a tie for second. In that case, a coin flip would

determine the league’s second-place entry into the CIF Southern Section

Playoffs, and the more favorable draw.

Loe was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs, while Bunney finished 1

for 3 with three RBIs, one run and one stolen base.

Kianna Jaye (2 for 4 with two runs) and Andrea Gruber (2 for 3 with

one run and one steal) also highlighted the visitors’ 12-hit attack.

Junior Alissa Zoelle tossed a complete-game three-hitter to improve to

7-4. She struck out five and walked only one.

Costa Mesa junior shortstop Ann Marie Topps hit her sixth home run of

the season, among the CIF Southern Section leaders according to Mesa

Coach Rick Buonarigo.

Mesa sophomore Jane-E Yamamoto singled, stole second and third, and

scored on freshman Kelly Topps’ triple to pull Mesa even, 1-1, in the

second.

The Mustangs plated an unearned run in the third and maintained the

lead until CdM’s sixth-inning explosion.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Corona del Mar 12, Costa Mesa 3 Corona del Mar 010 00(10) 1 - 12 12 2

Costa Mesa 011 00 1 0 - 3 3 5

Zoelle and Stern; Lindsay and DeMello. W - Zoelle, 7-4. L - Lindsay,

16-9. 2B - Loe (CdM). 3B - M. Bunney (CdM), K. Topps (CM). HR - A.M.

Topps (CM).