Softball: Lobos too much for Costa Mesa
In a final nonleague contest for both teams involved, Friday afternoon’s game featured a classic case of two teams headed in opposite directions.
Things have broken the right way for Los Amigos High’s softball team in recent weeks. The Lobos seemingly have a different hero every game.
Alyssa Ledezma was the standout on Friday. Everything was twice as nice for her, as she led the Lobos to a 5-2 victory over visiting Costa Mesa.
The sophomore designated player had two hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs as the Lobos (8-8) beat the Mustangs (4-10) for the second time in two weeks.
“I was just keeping my momentum going,” Ledezma said. “I was just doing my thing.”
Lobos Coach Chris de Anda emphasized that getting contributions from the whole roster is the ideal way for his team to succeed.
“If we don’t play together as one, we’re not going to go anywhere,” he said.
Los Amigos has won seven of its last eight games. This one may prove quite significant. The Lobos evened their record heading to league, and a team seeking an at-large selection into the CIF Southern Section playoffs must achieve a winning percentage of .500 or better.
There was one monumental difference between the two games these teams have played. According to de Anda, Los Amigos players noticed right away that the Mustangs had not brought their starting center-fielder.
Rumors surfaced recently that Katie Belmontes, a Daily Pilot Dream Team selection last season as a freshman, had quit the team.
Asked about why Belmontes was not playing, Mustangs Coach Heather Orduna said she would not talk about players that were not currently on the team.
Costa Mesa catcher Malia Tufuga, who was also Belmontes’ teammate in basketball, also declined to comment.
The last game that Belmontes played for the Mustangs was on March 18. Costa Mesa had just completed the first weekend of its home tournament at Tewinkle Park.
Belmontes was hitting .526 with three home runs and eight RBIs in seven games this season. She posted a .574 batting average, nine home runs, and 38 RBIs as a freshman.
Costa Mesa also lost opening day starting pitcher Haley Wolf to injury after the team’s game against University on March 14.
Many have stepped into new roles for the Mustangs in the wake of turmoil. Haley Sheffner was effective when she attacked the strike zone. She allowed four hits and struck out eight.
The junior struck out the side in the fourth, but she also walked five and hit two batters.
Her counterpart, Brittany Fraser, allowed four hits and struck out six in a complete-game win.
Fraser also got a hit and scored two runs, with Michelle Islas accounting for the Lobos’ first run of the game.
“For hitting, it’s about the starts,” Fraser said. “If we’re able to get the lead runner on, then that kind of starts everything for the rest of the lineup.”
“Michelle has been doing a great job with her hitting and bunting, and the rest of the lineup follows.”
Mustangs leadoff hitter Brenna Alvis did a great job of setting the table as well. She went three for three with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Alvis also made a diving stop and throw to first to get Fraser to end the second.
Orduna noted that the senior shortstop has been an asset to the Mustangs since her freshman year.
“She’s always been a leader,” Orduna said of her team captain. “It’s her time. She’s the only senior on our team this year.”
“She pushes the girls. She teaches the new girls stuff that they don’t know, and she uses her experience in softball to really make our team better.”
Saira Gomez had the other hit for Costa Mesa, and Christina Rodriguez had a single for Los Amigos.
Nonleague
Los Amigos 5, Costa Mesa 2
SCORE BY INNINGS
CM 100 010 0 – 2 4 2
LA 300 020 X – 5 4 1
Sheffner and Tufuga; Fraser and Moreno. W – Fraser, 8-8. L – Sheffner, 2-6. 2B – Alvis (CM); Ledezma (LA).
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
