Starting off strong

Bryce Alderton

A comparison between the players making up the Corona del Mar High

softball team and the coaches overseeing their play yields an

intriguing juxtaposition.

Next to a team that has seven seniors and returns a core of the

nucleus that qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division IV

Playoffs a second straight year sits co-coaches Ed Mejia and Racie

Giffin. Mejia will begin his first full season after taking over last

year following the team’s second Pacific Coast League game for Yogi

Johnson, who resigned due to medical reasons. Giffin, 27, enters her

first season coaching alongside Mejia, and has coached at the high

school level in Utah beginning in 1999.

“Everything is going well so far,” Giffin said. “The girls are

very receptive and want to do well.”

CdM returns seniors Lauren Loe (second base), pitcher Alissa

Zoelle, right fielder Melanie Cole, catcher Amy Tyson, Brianna Jones,

left fielder Raeleen Galvan along with juniors Jackie Manning

(shortstop), Kianna Jaye (third base), catcher Annika Gaar and

outfielder Sarah Stern. Sophomores including Heather Lohrman, who

should get the nod in center field, along with pitcher and second

baseman Lauren Gega, give CdM added firepower for a run in the

Pacific Coast League. CdM finished tied with Costa Mesa for second

place in the Pacific Coast League last season.

Tyson gained first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV

honors hitting a Newport-Mesa leading .463 (19 for 41) with two home runs, two doubles, two triples and 14 runs. As a pitcher, Tyson went

4-4 with a 2.50 ERA before having her season halted prematurely after

getting hit in the face with a line drive while in the circle.

Zoelle made first-team All-PCL for a third straight season with a

6-4 record, including a no-hitter of Estancia, and a 2.15 ERA. She

hit .367 (18 for 49) with two home runs, four doubles, four triples

and scored 12 runs.

Loe also made first-team all-league with a .450 batting average

(18 for 40) with two home runs, four doubles, two triples and eight

runs scored.

Stern earned honorable mention all league.

“I think we’ll have a very good hitting team,” Giffin said.

“Kianna is amazing at hitting and fielding and Lauren is very

talented.

“Amy is an awesome catcher and Alissa is a good pitcher that can

play anywhere. Heather provides speed on the base paths.”

Giffin said softball players in Southern California are more

polished than they are in Utah. She attributes that quality to the

ability to play year-round here.