Gleason’s rise-ball heat drives Sailors

Chris Yemma

Newport Harbor High softball coach Mike Davis knows a good pitcher

when he sees one. After all, he coached former Brethren Christian

pitcher Jennifer Winford, who now plays for Chapman University.

Winford once threw an 18-inning game with 31 strikeouts, and

another seven-inning game with 21 strikeouts. So Davis can recognize

a dominating pitcher.

On this year’s Sailors’ squad, Davis has a pitcher that is near,

if not on, the same caliber as Winford. Senior Ashley Gleason, who

has signed to play for Dartmouth next year, has been a main

contributor in Newport’s early success.

Gleason struck out a career-high 17 batters to lead Newport past

visiting Costa Mesa in a nonleague game Thursday, a game in which she

was working on a no-hitter until the Mustangs got a little feisty in

the fourth inning and Gleason finished with a three-hitter.

Davis said he sees similarities between Gleason and Winford.

“In all fairness, Ashley is right up there in that category,”

Davis said. “She already has a 17-strikeout game. They’re both pretty

much rise-ball pitchers. She’s got a really good season going so

far.”

Gleason has helped the Sailors off to a 5-1 start, while going 3-1

herself. The only loss was in the championship game of the Cypress

tournament to Peninsula Saturday, a five-error debacle that resulted

in five unearned runs -- Peninsula’s only runs of the game.

She struck out nine and only allowed three hits in that contest.

Against Tustin on Tuesday, Gleason delivered 12 strikeouts while only

allowing two hits and no walks in a 5-2 nonleague victory.

But it isn’t just the pitching that makes her so potent.

“She’s a really good batter,” Davis said. “She’s very consistent

as far as putting the ball in play. She’s got a great eye on the

ball.”

Gleason has hit two triples for Newport this season, one in the

semifinals of the tournament and the other in the championship game.

In the hitting category, Davis prefers Gleason to Winford.

But comparisons are something Davis would prefer not to do.

“There are days when I tell [Gleason] she’s had Winford-like

performances,” he said. “But it’s not fair for the girls to compare.

Ashley’s a much better hitter and she’s had some dominant

performances on the mound. She’s up there.”

Despite the 17 strikeouts, Gleason said the Costa Mesa game wasn’t

her best. In terms of strikeouts, it was the most, she said, but she

has also pitched no-hitters.

“I wouldn’t say it was the best overall,” she said. “It was a

pretty good game, but a few of the pitches got away from me and I

walked a few more than I would have liked. I’ve thrown a few

no-hitters which is usually exciting. And when I have complete

control over the pitches, I feel better about the game.”