Mesa victorious

Chris Yemma

The pitching was supposed to be the strength for this season’s Costa

Mesa High softball team, and so far, it has been.

The hitting, according to coach Sharon Uhl, would work itself out.

Heading into Golden West League play today at Westminster (3:15

p.m.), the Mustangs have confidence in both assets of their team, as

Mesa looks for a second league title in three years.

Senior pitcher Tiffany Campos was pegged this year’s pitching ace,

but another senior, Jackie Butler, has stepped up to fill the No. 2

pitching slot.

Butler threw a complete-game three-hitter in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory

over Sage Hill at San Joaquin Park, which was called after six

innings due to rain.

The Mustangs (5-4), who have won two of their last three games,

were apprehensive entering this season about league-foe Santa Ana --

last year’s league champion. But after an 8-0 win over the Saints

Mar. 12, Mesa knows at least it has a chance at the title.

“I don’t like saying [we’re going to win league] because everyday

is a different day,” Uhl said. “But beating Santa Ana was a good

boost, though I’m not going to take them lightly when we see them on

Thursday.

“It’s going to be a tough game because they’re going to come out

wanting revenge. So we’re going to have to stay on top of our game.”

Butler, who improved to 3-2 after Tuesday’s win, allowed one run

with no walks and six strikeouts against Sage. Campos, the No. 1

pitching option, is 2-2 on the year, as the Mustangs have established

a solid pitching game.

“Jackie and Tiffany -- both of them are coming on strong right

now,” Uhl said. “This is perfect because league is starting.”

But run production is going to be the key in the quest for a

league title, Uhl said.

Uhl has packed a one-two-three punch near the middle of her lineup

to help increase the chance of sequential hits. Brittany McAleer, who

has three home runs this year, hits third, with Campos fourth and

Venesi Enesi fifth.

McAleer and Campos were both 1 for 3 Tuesday, while Enesi had two

RBIs.

Tuesday’s win was also fueled by sophomore Danielle Morton (1 for

3 with two RBIs and one run scored), sophomore Christy Gregory (1 for

3, one RBI) freshman Emily Pulaski (1 for 3, one run scored) and

junior Janae Rivera (1 for 3, one run scored).

Sage Hill was led by senior Rebecca Hembarsky, who drove in junior

Alison Gonzalez in the fourth inning for the Lightning’s lone score

of the game.

Sage was entering Tuesday’s contest on a three-game win streak

before Mesa halted it.

“We’re throwing a lot of things at these girls right now and

they’re learning,” Sage Coach Roger Corbett said. “They’re doing a

good job. Our goal right now is [the Academy League].”

Sage opens league play April 12 against Oxford Academy.