Tiffany Campos

Rick Devereux

Tiffany Campos has the kind of attitude all coaches look for in their

players. The junior pitcher for Costa Mesa High is always shouting

words of encouragement, giving high-fives and generally pumping up

her team.

“It’s been a blessing having her on the team,” Coach Sharon Uhl

said. “She is very outgoing and a real team player.”

“I don’t like to be quiet,” Campos said of her vociferous ways.

“I’m a pitcher, and I’m kind of a leader, so I don’t want to give our

team a wrong attitude.”

In shutting out Estancia, 6-0, on April 14, Campos struck out four

batters and didn’t allow a walk against the crosstown rivals. She

helped her team with her bat as well, reaching base on all four of

her at-bats and driving in two runs.

Campos was the key to the Mustangs’ victory Monday against

Westminster. A two-run triple in the sixth tied the game, which Costa

Mesa eventually won in the seventh inning.

“She’s really come on strong the last week for us,” Uhl said. “Her

pitching has improved and her hitting has improved. She has been

hitting great recently.”

Campos, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, credits her teammates

for her performance and keeping her motivated.

“The way my teammates talk to me and the way our catcher says I

have this pitch or that pitch going for me, it really builds my

confidence,” Campos said.

Getting support from her Costa Mesa teammates is a boost to Campos

because this is her first year with the Mustangs. Her parents moved

and she transferred from Saddleback High before the season started.

“She jumped on the team and fit right in. She’s a real friendly

girl,” Uhl said.

There are some differences between Costa Mesa and Saddleback,

though, according to Campos.

“Costa Mesa is more dedicated to softball. Bot a lot of the

players play other sports here. At Saddleback, almost everyone played

other sports. But the girls are more talkative at Costa Mesa, which I

like,” she said.

Campos played basketball and water polo as well as softball at

Saddleback, and has plans on playing basketball with the Mustangs

next season. Her athleticism is kind of an anomaly in her household.

“No one in my family played sports,” Campos said. “My father put

me into softball when I was 10 or 11 because he wanted me to try

out.”

The youngest of five, Campos says her family is very supportive

and watches all of her games.

“My dad helps with pitching lessons. He’s kind of like a coach to

me,” she said.

The extra tutelage must be working, because Campos is becoming a

rising star on a team with ace pitcher Jackie Butler on it.

“She takes a lot of pressure off of Jackie,” Uhl said. “She’s

gotten a lot better since she’s been with us.”

Heading into Friday’s matchup against her former team, Campos

admitted to feeling a little added pressure.

“I’m a little nervous because I’ve known and played with [the

Saddleback players] for three years,” Campos said. “I know what they

can hit off me and what they can’t, but I won’t tell my coach that

because I think it’s wrong.”

The insider information may not matter much to Uhl, who sees how

the Mustangs play with Campos pitching.

“The entire team plays really well behind her,” Uhl said.

The inspired play could be caused by positive energy Campos

radiates to the rest of the team.

“I never hear a negative word come out of her mouth,” Uhl said.