Softball season set

Mike Sciacca

The softball season kicks off this weekend for the local high

schools.

Edison, Marina and Ocean View will start their schedules at the

Cypress Tournament, and Huntington Beach is at the Costa Mesa

Tournament. Both events get underway Saturday.

Marina, however, will get a jump-start on the rest of the teams as

it hosts Cypress Friday in a nonleague game.

Below is a capsule look at the local teams:

Edison Chargers

Head coach: Suzy Mathieson (ninth year)

Coaching staff: Kendra Tarrant; Rich Aldrich; Alan Tarrant.

2004 overall record: 13-11

2004 league record: 4-6 (fourth place)

Last league title won: 1983

Returning starters: Vanessa Hardway (OF/2B, first-team all-league,

Sr.); Jessica Aldrich (P, Jr.); Jessica Marlow (SS/CF, Jr.); Britney

Gorman (OF/2B, Jr.); Loryn Kanemaru (Utility, Jr.); Monica Bledsoe

(2B, second-team all-league, Soph.).

Key newcomers: Stacie Pastizzo (1B, Jr.); Jackie Reichner (C, 3B,

Soph.); Rachel Miller (C/INF., Fr.); Dani Miller (SS/3B, Fr.); Sarah

Munson (P, Fr.); Jessica Brunner (OF, Fr.).

Season opener: vs. Mayfair, 1 p.m. Saturday, at Cypress Tournament

Coach’s outlook: “We’re a really young team and we have a lot of

freshmen, but we have a lot of talent,” Mathieson said. “We may make

a lot of freshman mistakes, but we will be very competitive.”

Huntington Beach Oilers

Head coach: Dan Hay (first year)

Coaching staff: Ken Ostrowski; Mike Rogers

2004 overall record: 5-19

2004 league record: 1-9 (sixth place)

Last league title won: 1993

Returning starters: Britnay Hay (3B, two-time all-league; team

MVP; four-year starter; Sr.); Karissa Plotnik (P/SS, Jr.); Aubree

Rojas (P/1B, Sr.); Nikki Uranga (SS/1B, Jr.); Mallory Smith (CF,

Jr.); Fiona Fiaseu (C, Jr.); Ashlee Klevens (2B, Sr.).

Key newcomers: Jenna Balester (OF, Soph.); Jenny Driver (OF, Fr.);

Kara Rutkin (OF/1B, Soph.); Summer Cordova (P/OF, Fr.); Alex Iorfino

(OF, Fr.).

Season opener: vs. Calvary Chapel, 11 a.m. Saturday, at Costa Mesa

Tournament.

Coach’s outlook: “If the pitching staff can do its job, we have an

absolute legitimate shot at the CIF playoffs this year,” said Hay.

“The Sunset League is wide open this year, with the exception of

powerhouse Los Alamitos.”

Marina Vikings

Head coach: Shelly Luth (sixth year)

Coaching staff: Michelle Spencer

2004 league record: 4-6 (third place)

2004 playoff results: lost to Rosary, second round Division I

playoffs.

Last CIF title won: 1995

Last league title won: 2000

Returning starters: Britt Boyer (C, first-team all-league, Sr.);

Michelle Fuzzard (P/1B, league rookie of year 2004; Soph.); Mandee

Farish (3B, Jr.); Jennifer Springer; Chelsea Coffman; Katie Jordan;

Christina Hart.

Injured returner: Krystal Heinle (two-time league pitcher of the

year; ACL, MCL, meniscus surgery in December, Jr.)

Key newcomers: Kristin Bezaiff; Brooke Thompson.

Season opener: Friday, 3:15 p.m., vs. Cypress

Coach’s outlook: “Without Krystal, we are having to juggle, and

people are playing out of position,” Luth said. “I am not sure who

will be where. I am confident that we will be competitive. We’re very

young with only one senior. We have a tough league and hopefully, we

will be ready.”

Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Head coach: Randy Cruz (first year)

Coaching staff: Mona Cruz; Mike McLaughlin

2004 overall record: 11-10

2004 league finish: Second

2004 playoff results: lost to Savanna (6-1) first round Division

III playoffs.

Returning starters: Jewellia Cruz (2B, Jr.); Leah Needham (LF,

Sr.); Katilin Potter (CF, Sr.); Nicole Schultz (C, Sr.); Sara

Theophilus (P/3B, Jr.).

Key newcomers: Jennifer Hernandez (SS, Jr.); Sandy Carrol

(Utility, Soph.); Stacy Ridgway (1B/C, Soph.); Nicole Afusia (3B/C,

Fr.); Erica Congelliere (Utility, Fr.), Nicole Adams (OF, Fr.);

Regina Guzman (OF, Fr.); Rebecca Sass (Utility, Fr.).

Season opener: vs. Newport Harbor, 9 a.m., Saturday, at Cypress

Tournament.

Coach’s outlook: “It’s a rebuilding year,” Cruz said. “We had 10

seniors graduate last year. We hope to compete well. This is a young

team but we have great potential and a great group of girls.”