Arm of Campos triggers Mustangs

Chris Yemma

From the time Tiffany Campos started playing softball, until the time

she started pitching in softball games, six years had elapsed.

But when she finally took the mound for the first time at age 11,

on a team named the Firecrackers, and in a league now known as

Central Orange Girls Fastpitch, Campos had immediate success.

After that season, she started taking pitching lessons.

Six years later, Costa Mesa High’s No. 1 pitcher is still having

success.

She threw a no-hitter last Wednesday in an 11-1 Golden West League

defeat of crosstown rival Estancia. She had six strikeouts and

improved her record to 4-3.

“She’s been huge for us this year,” Mustangs’ Coach Sharon Uhl

said. “She’s a premier pitcher in our league. But it’s not just her

pitching; she plays shortstop and she hits really well.”

Campos considers her no-hitter against Estancia among her best

all-time performances, although she said she also ranks a two-hit

shutout against league rival Santa Ana on March 12 quite high.

And in the Mustangs’ softball dugout, the subject of Santa Ana

rises often. Costa Mesa defeated Santa Ana, the defending league

champion, 8-0, on March 12 behind Campos’ arm.

The Saints returned the favor two weeks later, though, with a 7-1

victory.

Campos said it is her goal, as well as team’s, to top Santa Ana

for the league title.

“I think we can accomplish a lot of things,” Campos said. “We beat

Santa Ana, proving to people that we can beat anyone in league. It’s

all about what we do at practice.”

Campos has a .415 batting average, third on the team behind

sophomores Christy Gregory and Danielle Morton. But her position in

the lineup adds a little pressure, she said.

She bats behind senior slugger Brittany McAleer, who is often

walked.