No-hitter nudges Newport

Bryce Alderton

The second go-around for Newport Harbor High’s softball team against

Foothill ended in similar fashion, a loss, but Sailors’ Coach Mike

Davis could extract more positives he hopes his team can build on

heading into the final four games of the season.

“There is no shame in losing, 2-0, to Foothill,” said Davis, after

the Sea View League-leading Knights improved to 19-6, 5-1 in league

following a masterful performance in the circle from senior Kelsey

Ferguson Friday at Newport.

Ferguson retired the final 20 batters after a leadoff walk in the

first inning to Ashley Gleason and struck out 10 in tossing her first

no-hitter of the season.

Ferguson rolled through the Sailors’ lineup in 75 pitches, keeping

hitters off-balance with a mixture of curveballs, changeups and

“risers” Newport hitters couldn’t resist swinging at.

“We were too anxious to hit and it’s hard to prepare yourself for

a pitcher like that,” said Newport senior catcher Julianne Bass, who

put the ball in play in each of her three at-bats against Ferguson.

“As a hitter, it’s hard to lay off the rising ball. The next thing

you know, you’re swinging at air,” Bass said.

Ferguson, who improved to 9-2 this season, said she thought about

a potential no-hitter in the sixth inning, but kept focus by singing

songs in her mind.

“Every game I do my best and hope the team scores,” said Ferguson,

a teammate of Newport’s Sasha Grumman and Darci Pennington on the

Riptide travel-ball team.

The Knights scored once in the first and added another run in the

third.

Foothill’s Katy Erickson singled up the middle past diving

infielders with one out in the first. She stole second and third and

scored on an RBI groundout by Lori Gilbert.

Foothill tallied an unearned run in the third. Valerie Vega

singled with one out and stole second on a ball to Erickson, the next

batter.

Newport freshman starter Jane Messersmith needed 11 pitches, but

struck out Erickson for the second out. Brenda Jurado then sent a

chopper into the hole at short, but the ball glanced off a fielder’s

glove and Vega beat the throw home.

Messersmith, making her second league start, struck out the next

batter looking to end the inning.

The freshman struck out five while allowing four hits in 5 2/3

innings before giving way to Gleason with runners on first and second

in the sixth.

“I hated pulling [Messersmith], but I wanted to make sure Foothill

got no more runs,” Davis said of the sixth inning. Gleason retired

all four batters she faced.

Newport (13-8-1, 2-4) tried twice to bunt for a hit, but Foothill

recorded putouts each time.

Messersmith ripped a shot to third to lead off the fifth, but the

ball bounced right to Erickson, who assisted on the putout.

The Sailors entered league play Friday one game behind Aliso

Niguel, Woodbridge and Laguna Hills, all tied for second at 3-2.

Newport travels to Aliso Niguel for a 3:30 p.m. contest Wednesday.

Sea View League

Foothill 2,

Newport Harbor 0

Score by Innings

*--*

Foothill 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 4 0

Newport 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 1

*--*

Ferguson and Vega; Messersmith, Gleason (6) and Bass. W --

Ferguson, 9-2. L -- Messersmith, 6-1.