Eagles unaware to show mercy

COSTA MESA — With so many blowouts this season it has been easy for the Estancia High softball team to lose track of the score.

As the Eagles trotted off the field in preparation to bat in the bottom of the fifth, Coach Alan Caouette called for his team to score three runs. Caouette said he was unaware the Eagles were up 7-0 on Sage Hill Tuesday, nor that junior Taylor West, on a torrid hitting streak, was due up third in the inning.

When West stepped up to the plate with Amy Hartwell on third base and Kiele Brown on second, the center fielder said the score was not on her mind nor that her second home run of the day could end the game prematurely.

But that’s what she delivered with a scorching line drive to center field.

The 10-run mercy rule ending became clear as she touched home to the delight of her teammates as the Lightning exited the field, the Eagles 10-0 winners in the nonleague match up of a Division III team in Estancia and a Division V team in Sage Hill.

“I thought we’d hit through the order,” West said of the fifth inning. “I wasn’t looking for a home run. You can just feel it off the bat.”

West finished the day three for three, with two home runs, a triple, six RBIs and three runs, accounting for nearly all of the Eagles’ (9-5) offense. West is now 18 for 21 with six home runs in the past week.

“She’s confident at the plate right now,” Caouette said.

Sophomore Courtney Ulrich was two for two with a double, a triple, a run and an RBI.

Flying just under the radar of the offensive power surge was Eagles pitcher Josie Flores. Flores pitched a no-hitter in the five-inning contest and struck out eight, while walking only one. Flores (7-2) has allowed two runs over her last 15 innings.

The senior is throwing with more confidence this season, despite a shoulder injury that sidelined her shortly a week ago.

“The outfield and infield is really strong this season,” Flores said of a defense which has not committed an error the past three games. “I’m a lot more motivated when I have a good defense. I feel a lot more confident pitching when I know the defense behind me will field the ball.”

Flores was also happy about the shortened game, which was the seventh time this season the Eagles had won by seven or more runs and their fifth victory by 10 or more runs.

“I like mercying people,” Flores said.

It was the final game before the start of Orange Coast League play April 6, but Caouette gladly took the extra rest, the Eagles having played seven games in the past week.

“We want to bury teams early,” Caouette said. “It’s easy to motivate this team. I don’t have to say too much. The captains [West and seniors Kiele Brown and Taylor Brown] are a big help.”

In the visitors’ dugout, the Lightning remained positive. They did not know how many games they had lost this season, but they sure knew how many they have won, two, with Academy League play beginning Friday at home against Capistrano Valley Christian.

“We’re just going to have to practice more,” said junior captain Katie McKeon. “Last year there was a really big split between the experienced players and the younger players. This season the team is more united. As long as we get our hitting better we’ll be OK.”

NonleagueEstancia 10, Sage Hill 0

Score by Innings

Sage Hill 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 2

Estancia 0 2 4 1 3 - 10 8 0

Neale and Hoeschen Gibson Flores and Hartwell. W -- Flores, 7-2. L -- Neale. 2B -- Ulrich (E). 3B -- Ulrich (E), West (E). HR -- West 2 (E).