Sailors’ battery starts

Chris Yemma

Woodbridge High softball coach Alan Dugard is accustomed to facing

Newport Harbor stars Ashley Gleason and Julianne Bass on a

semi-regular basis.

For the last couple of years, they have been battling each other

in the Sea View League.

But on Tuesday, the exception was made, as the three came together

to form a portion of the American team at the Orange County Coaches

All-Star Classic at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park.

“I’ve faced them twice this year, and twice last year, and

[Gleason’s] a very good pitcher and [Bass] is a very good catcher,”

Dugard -- the American coach -- said of the two, both of whom left

after the first inning to attend a prior engagement. “I thought

[Gleason] pitched very well.”

Gleason tossed the bottom of the first inning, allowing a

ground-rule double to her first batter, but settled down to retire

the next three. Bass caught for her.

The American squad eventually fell to the National team, 3-2,

after a late ninth-inning rally fell short, in game pitting the best

high school seniors from around the county against each other.

Dartmouth-bound Gleason and Rensselaer Polytechnic-bound Bass were

the first two batters of the game, starting off the American rotation

in the top of the first inning.

But National pitcher Brittany Weil, of Pacifica, whose four

hitless innings earned her the win, quickly retired both of them.

Gleason and Bass, though, are better known for their specialties

from the circle and behind the plate, respectively. Gleason’s

strongest performance this season came against Costa Mesa, when she

struck out 17 in going the distance.