Sailors are Bauer-ful

CORONA DEL MAR — Softball Coach Missy Branch’s eyes light up when she talks about her pitcher, Newport Harbor High sophomore Alex Bauer.

Who can blame Branch? Having a pitcher like Bauer is essential for a young team in a rebuilding year. Branch knows this. Unfortunately for Corona del Mar’s first-year coach John Felicetti the truth is the same, but a high-caliber, healthy pitcher is nowhere on the Sea Kings’ roster.

Bauer, who struck out 12 and walked only two, helped provide the difference for the Sailors, who beat Back Bay rival CdM, 13-4, in a nonleague game Wednesday.

Newport Harbor (3-2) had a strong advantage in the circle and on offense ran circles around its rivals. The Sailors, who graduated eight seniors from last year’s team, scored seven runs in the first two innings and then another six in the final three frames.

“I’m so proud of what [Bauer] has done,” Branch said. “She pitched two games Saturday. We had a game Monday, Tuesday and [Wednesday). She gets [today] off, but she pitches Friday [against Costa Mesa] and then two more on Saturday. So we are working this young lady and she is rising to the challenge.”

She’s not the only one impressing Branch this season.

There’s also freshman centerfielder Jessica Sepulveda, who is in her first year competing in organized softball. Sepulveda went one for five with a walk, and she was hit by a pitch. She also scored a run and had three RBIs. Her big hit came in the top of the second with the bases loaded and a full count. She knocked a two-run single to the outfield to get her teammates cheering, and Branch smiling.

There wasn’t much for CdM (1-4) to be happy about, except for senior Leslee Kaczmarek. Playing in just her second game since completing the girls’ water polo season, Kaczmarek hammered out two home runs, both over the centerfield fence.

She also had a home run in her first game back Tuesday.

In the fourth inning, with CdM trailing, 7-0, Kaczmarek hit a two-run blast, bringing in Alison Dort, who singled. But the Sailors responded with four runs in the top of the fifth.

Kaczmarek launched a solo shot that just cleared the fence in the bottom of the frame.

Newport Harbor’s Angela Graham was also effective with the bat. She went two for four with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. She contributed a two-run double in the fifth inning that helped the Sailors answer Kaczmarek’s two-run shot.

Amanda Legoult also had two hits for Newport Harbor. She had three runs, as did Karina Veit.

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 13, Corona del Mar 4

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bauer and Legault; Robertson, Meyers (3), Owen (6) and L. Kaczmarek, Susolik (7). W – Bauer. L – Robertson. 2B – Graham (NH). HR – L. Kaczmarek (CdM) 2.