Prep softball: Mustangs come up a little shy

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Experience can go a long way in the CIF Southern

Section Division IV Softball Playoffs. The Costa Mesa High Mustangs found

that out Thursday, when Western used their seasoned advantage to score a

4-1 CIF Division IV victory at TeWinkle Park.

The Pioneers (18-5), champions of the Orange League, have six seniors,

and five of them start. Two Western seniors, twin sisters, Constance and

Candyce McMorris, pounded out three hits each and combined for one RBI

and three runs scored.

Meanwhile, Mesa (17-10), the runner-up in the Pacific Coast League,

has one senior, starting pitcher Tess Lindsay, who finished the season

17-10.

It didn’t hurt Western that it also has a star in the making in

Jennifer McElroy, a freshman who went the distance, recording 14

strikeouts, while allowing just two hits. McElroy, who entered the game

with four no-hitters and a 0.08 ERA, retired the first 14 batters.

Mesa junior shortstop Ann Marie Topps, a second-team All-CIF Division

IV selection last year, and junior Alejandra Gallardo collected one hit

each. Gallardo also had an RBI.

“We got one earned run on her today,” Buonarigo said. “We’re young and

we get everyone back next year, except for Tess. I think our players

matured a little bit (Thursday).”

The Mustangs, who were the designated visitors, scored their lone run

in the top of the fifth. McElroy struck out the first two batters, but

then walked junior Jennifer Jordan and hit sophomore Uyen Mai. Gallardo

then knocked a 1-2 pitch for a base-hit RBI, that plated courtesy runner

Paulina Rodriguez, a freshman who started the season on the junior

varsity team.

“This season was just a notch below great,” said Buonarigo, whose team

finished second in the PCL and 12-11 last year after a 10-inning 5-2 loss

to visiting Bishop Montgomery in a CIF Division IV wild-card playoff

game.

Costa Mesa, which has not won a CIF playoff game, will play in the

Golden West League next year.

“For our school to win 17 games this year was great. We haven’t had a

cakewalk season,” Buonarigo said.

The game was originally scheduled for today at Western High, but

Pioneers Coach Ivy Pinkerton asked to move up the date because of their

school’s prom. Buonarigo agreed to change the game’s date, but on the

condition it be be hosted by Costa Mesa. Pinkerton said Western’s road

scenario gave the Pioneers extra motivation.

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IV

First round

Western 4, Costa Mesa 1

Costa Mesa 000 010 0 - 1 2 2

Western 002 020 x - 4 11 2

Lindsay and DeMello; Ca. Morris and McElroy. W - McElroy, 17-5. L -

Lindsay, 17-10.