Sailors plan to surprise

Steve Virgen

With seven seniors lost to graduation and a first-year coach,

expectations are unknown for the Newport Harbor High softball team.

Coach Mike Davis wants the Sailors to surprise opponents and even

themselves as they prepare for the tough Sea View League. There’s

little surprise as to who will lead Newport’s offense and defense.

Junior Ashley Gleason, who will be the No. 1 pitcher and play

third base, will lead Harbor when the Sailors take the field. She is

a two-time All-Newport-Mesa District performer. Junior Julianne Bass,

the catcher, will have the big bat for the Tars. Bass will also be a

key contributor for Newport’s defense.

“She is our big gun as far as the bat goes,” Davis said of Bass.

“She is going to save us on offense. And, I’m sure she’ll keep us out

of trouble with her arm.”

Among the Sailors gone from last year’s team include Kim Moore,

Athena Vasquez, Bailey Bearden, Shelby Crisp, Sabrina Couch, Jenny

Daniels and Amanda Campbell. Moore was the Newport-Mesa District

Player of the Year in her junior season, while Vasquez is now playing

for Wisconsin.

With the departures, Davis said he is concerned with the team’s

depth.

“I think our starting nine and the defense will be good,” Davis

said. “I don’t know how deep we will be. Our biggest goal is to have

a winning season and make the CIF playoffs. It seems like everyone

other than Foothill and Woodbridge is chasing for third place. We

want to come in and be positive, and who knows, we might surprise

some people. If the offense comes through we could be tough.”

In addition to Gleason and Bass, the Sailors also return sophomore

outfielder Darci Pennington, junior Kayleigh Horn, who will play

second base, and seniors Jennifer Gummerman, Crysta Huntington and

Claire Bodenhoefer.

Sophomore Sasha Grumman is another key returner and will play

shortstop, filling the absence of Vasquez.

“She is a sophomore with a lot of potential,” Davis said. “I think

she’s going to do a lot for us.”

Davis is a walk-on coach who travels from Norwalk. He is in his

sixth year of coaching high school softball after working at Brethren

Christian the past five years. He compiled a 27-73 record with the

Warriors, who were showing improvement in Davis’ final year earning a

13-9 record and just missing the playoffs.

The Sailors went 9-11, 2-8 in the Sea View League last year under

Coach Sharon Wolfe. Newport won just one league game under Coach

Jesse Martinson in the spring of 2002.

Davis said the Sailors newcomers to watch include freshmen Jessica

Knight, a pitcher, Betsy Martin, a utility player, and Clea O’Keefe

in the outfield.

Newport Harbor opened its season in the Costa Mesa tournament.