Mesa deals its new ace

COSTA MESA — Brieanna Ramirez never thought she would be the ace for Costa Mesa High.

In the last two weeks, Ramirez has found herself in the circle, picking up the ball and firing away.

Kira Mitani, the No. 1 starter at the beginning of the season, has quit the softball team, leaving Coach Marcus Franco to turn to one of his few seniors.

Ramirez immediately accepted the new role.

“I took it as being a senior that I had to step up and help the team out,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez appears to be getting comfortable. The Mustangs’ bats helped Monday as they collected 16 hits to beat Corona del Mar, 12-4, in a nonleague game at home.

It was a solid performance turned in by Ramirez before the Mustangs (6-7) open Orange Coast League play Friday at home against cross-town rival Estancia.

Ramirez helped Costa Mesa snap a four-game losing streak. She improved to 2-2 after going the distance, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out one.

The young defense made plays behind her. This meant a lot to Ramirez, normally a third baseman. There was extra motivation beforehand. Ramirez’s step sister, Amy Smith, plays for the Sea Kings. Ramirez struck out Smith once.

“She caught on to me, though” Ramirez said.

The rest of the Sea Kings (3-11) didn’t.

The game got away from CdM in the third and fourth innings, when Costa Mesa combined to scored nine runs to take a 11-2 lead. Coach Laura Mayberry shook her head.

Six times the Mustangs came around to score in the fourth. When the inning ended, Mayberry asked her players, “Who are you? Who are you?”

No one responded. They tried with their bats in the fifth. Karissa Dempsey singled in a run and, two batters later, Kelsey Kaczmarek brought in Dempsey with a double to left-center field to cut the deficit to 11-4.

Ramirez slowed them down the rest of the way, allowing only one hit. When the Sea Kings appeared to be in business with runners on the corners in the sixth, catcher Emily Pulaski made sure to end it.

Pulaski raced after a foul ball up the third base line and caught the third out, avoiding a collision with the third baseman. With a young third baseman, Pulaski figured to take charge. A batter earlier got on board after the freshman third baseman dropped a sure out.

“It’s really not that big of a deal,” Pulaski said. “I think it is fun. I get to help out girls and they’re all really positive and they all really want to learn.”

The desire to learn is what really matters to Franco. In his first year, he understands what’s in store for Costa Mesa. Six freshmen are on the roster with four seniors and two juniors.

Mitani and Jessica Hayes were the two sophomores until Franco said they both quit.

“She made a decision to move on,” said Franco of Mitani, who went 9-9 with a 4.01 earned-run average last season. “This team has moved forward happily. Often it’s addition by subtraction. We were having some issues since Day 1 with work ethic and discipline.

“This is a process. This is a slow process and we’re starting to see these young girls do some things that they’re capable of doing. It’s just a joy to see.”

Franco was enthusiastic throughout. The team struggled offensively, averaging just two runs per game during its four-game slide. Several players contributed to Monday’s hitting attack against CdM, which will open Pacific Coast League play today at Beckman at 3:15 p.m.

Pulaski went three for four with a double, Ramirez had two hits and scored twice, and freshman Tammy Cerrato went two for three with a double and scored twice for Costa Mesa.

One of the more impressive at-bats for the Mustangs took place in the bottom of the third with two outs. Freshman Sami Feinstein fell behind 0-2 in the count before fouling off a tough pitch by Dempsey (3-11). On the following offering, Feinstein singled up the middle to drive in two runs, giving Costa Mesa a 5-0 advantage.

“I was a little nervous because I had two strikes on me,” said Feinstein, who went two for four with a double. “But I just got up there and just hit the ball.”

Nonleague

Costa Mesa 12, Corona del Mar 4

SCORE BY INNINGS

Dempsey and L. Kaczmarek; Ramirez and Pulaski. W – Ramirez, 2-2. L – Dempsey, 3-11. 2B – Gaar (CdM), K. Kaczmarek (CdM), Feinstein (CM), Pulaski (CM), Lopez (CM).

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.