Gleason lifts Tars

Chris Yemma

With only three seniors returning to a team that was 1-9 in the Sea

View League last season, it’s hard to imagine a different outcome

this year.

But what lies beneath the records and standings of the Newport

Harbor High softball team’s less than spectacular finish last year,

provides a sense of optimism about a young squad in a new season.

For starters, the coach always has a bright outlook on just about

everything.

“I’m always the optimist,” said Sailors’ Coach Mike Davis,

entering his second year at Newport. “Sometimes people say I’m too

optimistic.”

Despite just three returning seniors, Davis does have reason to be

optimistic. One of the three seniors, Ashley Gleason, has experience

and talent that is arguably unparalleled in the league.

Gleason, who committed in February to play for Dartmouth next

year, is the Sailors’ leading pitcher and hitter. She accounted for

120 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings last spring, finishing 6-13 with a

1.20 ERA, while also leading Newport in hitting with a .321 batting

average. She tallied eight RBIs, which was second on the team.

“She’s the ace of our staff,” Davis said. “She’s an all-around

player. When not pitching, she plays third base.”

Gleason is a three-time Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection who

earned first-team All-Sea View League honors and was named Newport’s

Most Valuable Player after last season.

It’s not just Gleason that provides a sense of glee for Davis,

though. It’s also what he has to surround her with this year,

something lacking in his first year.

“We left a lot of batters stranded last year,” he said. “Now we

have some extra power to help us out here.”

A sophomore transfer from Buena Park is the newest weapon in the

Sailors’ arsenal. Though he doesn’t have stats on Casey Lucas from

last year as a Coyote, Davis is convinced from what he has seen in

practice and early season games that Lucas is the real thing.

Newport is 2-0 this year after wins over Ocean View and Fullerton

in the Cypress tournament. The early success, and what could cause

future success, lies in a new skill the team has obtained.

Hitting is something that was most in need of improvement, Davis

said, and it is exactly what the Sailors got. Gleason played cleanup

hitter last year, but Davis has her playing leadoff hitter this year.

“Throughout the season, we were getting them on [base] but we

couldn’t get them over,” Davis said. “Now I’m able to use Ashley as

leadoff, which will help us out tremendously.”

Lucas and freshman Jane Messersmith provide the biggest difference

Newport was lacking, Davis said.

Other hitters Davis said he is counting on include senior Julianne

Bass, junior Sasha Grumman, junior Darci Pennington and freshman

Robin Gautschi.

“For sure we’re making a [CIF Southern Section Division I] playoff

spot,” Davis said.