Jane-E a winning remedy

Steve Virgen

The taste of victory proved to be the perfect remedy for Costa Mesa

High junior Jane-E Yamamoto. The Mustangs’ starting pitcher

experienced flu-like symptoms the past two days and nearly vomited

during the game Monday.

However, the Ocean View Seahawks were the ones left feeling ill

after Yamamoto delivered her first Golden West League pitching win of

the season, helping lead the Mustangs to a 6-4 victory.

“The team needed me, so I had to play,” said Yamamoto, who was

workmanlike in striking out one and allowing five hits. “I would do

anything for this team. I would never let them down.”

The Mustangs (13-9, 5-2 in league) have to depend on Yamamoto’s

pitching more than in the past, since sophomore Jackie Butler injured

her ankle last week after she tripped while walking up stairs at

school, Costa Mesa Coach Rick Buonarigo said.

“Jane-E has been sick since Saturday,” Buonarigo said. “But she

got out of bed. She was so sick. But she stepped up.”

Senior Ann Marie Topps, who smacked two solo home runs, is the

most popular player for Costa Mesa, yet Yamamoto showed that the

Mustangs are about more than just one player. Mesa built a 3-0 lead

after two innings, but Ocean View answered with a four-run fourth to

take the lead. However, the Mustangs outscored the Seahawks, 3-0, the

rest of the way, as they displayed their best asset: teamwork.

Costa Mesa has endured injuries and mishaps this season. Yamamoto

injured her elbow the last time the Mustangs played and defeated

Ocean View, 5-1, March 26. Senior Katy Renish had to sit out for a

few games in late March because of a mild concussion. One player also

quit the team earlier in the season. But that has seemingly

strengthened the Mustangs.

Yamamoto went 2 for 3, scored a run, stole three bases and was hit

by a pitch, while Renish collected an RBI single in the second

inning.

“The injuries have only made us stronger,” said Topps, who will

play for the University of Oregon next year. “We were nervous when we

had people playing out of their normal positions. But that just gave

us a challenge.”

In the bottom of the first inning with two out, Topps got a hold

of a 0-2 pitch and sent it over the fence in right-center field. When

the Mustangs were trailing, 4-3, in the bottom of the third, Topps

went for another homer, this time of the inside-the-park variety,

which was her 10th home run of the season.

Topps popped a fly ball to the right field corner. The ball

dropped before the Ocean View right-fielder could get to it and it

rolled toward the fence as Topps rounded second base. By the time the

throw came toward the infield, Topps had already rounded third.

“She’s held the team together,” Buonarigo said.

“She’s a great, all-around player,” Ocean View Kathy Ponce said.

“She’s hard to pitch to. This is my second time seeing her and the

great thing about her is that she’s not cocky. She just plays the

game and you can tell that she always has good sportsmanship.”

The Seahawks (6-12, 3-4) used 12 hits to score an 11-3 win over

Estancia Wednesday, but they were limited to five hits Monday. Costa

Mesa, on the other hand, came up with 10 hits, led by Topps, Yamamoto

and senior designated hitter Jennifer Jordan, who also had two hits.

Sophomore Kelly Topps, Ann Marie’s younger sister, scored the

Mustangs go-ahead run in the fifth. She singled to left field to lead

off the inning. She advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third

and scored on a wild pitch.

Uyen Mai, Mesa’s sophomore second base player, scored the

Mustangs’ final run. She reached on a bunt and stole second. She

advanced to third after Ann Marie Topps’ ground ball induced a

groundout. Mai then scored on a throwing error.

Mesa sophomore Paulina Rodriguez held off an Ocean View scoring

threat with a dazzling catch in left field in the bottom of the

seventh. A fly ball was about to drop in shallow left field, but

Rodriguez left her feet to glove the ball for the second out.

*--*

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 6, Ocean View 4

Ocean View 004 000 0 -- 4 5 4

Costa Mea 121 011 x -- 6 10 2

Theophilus, Cruz (4) and McLaughlan;

Yamamoto and Miller. W -- Yamamoto, 3-4. L

-- Cruz. 2B -- Cruz (OV). HR -- A. Topps

(CM) 2

*--*