By Ryan Erickson
Sports Editor
Looking to keep pace with first place Peninsula, the Mira Costa softball team headed into Wednesday’s game versus rival Palos Verdes Sea Kings in a must-win game. The Mustangs took care of business beating their rival, 13-5, raising their overall record to 16-5 and 4-1 in Bay League.
Costa jumped out to an early lead against Sea King senior pitcher Sophie Slagle by loading the bases with the first three batters. Senior third baseman Stefani Lajeunesse sent a fly ball deep over the left-field fence for a grand slam. Senior pitcher Breanna Kelly then proceeded to shut down the Palos Verdes hitters in the bottom half of the inning, leaving the score at 4-0 by the end of the first inning.
“We are a very powerful offensive team, and if we keep up our crisp play on offense and defense we will have a great rest of the year and hopefully a CIF playoff run,” Lajeunesse said.
The Mustangs added one run in the next two innings, which was matched with three runs from the Sea Kings. Costa seemed to be in control of the game until the fourth inning, with the score 6-3, when Palos Verdes began to stage a comeback against the Mustangs in the bottom half of the inning.
A double followed by backto-back singles by Palos Verdes to start the inning put runners on first and third with the score 6-4. Kelly then limited the damage by forcing a double play and a strikeout to end the inning, giving the
Mustangs a one-run lead.
“Our ability to pitch out of that jam and allow us to hold onto a lead in the fourth inning really gave us a lot of momentum for the rest of the game on the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” coach Dick Amberik said.
Costa’s power hitters came through for the team in the fifth inning, as sophomore first baseman Shannon Savino hit a two run home run that was followed by another run that tore down Palos Verdes morale for the rest of the game, bringing the score at the end of the fifth to 9-5.
“Our big bats and every hitter one through nine in our lineup showed their strength today,” Amberik said. “Different people have been stepping up and helping us win in every important game that we have played this year.”
Costa’s pitching staff shut down Palos Verdes for the rest of the game, and freshman first baseman Ulufa Leilua contributed another solo home run in the sixth inning. The Mustang offense scored three more runs in the seventh to round out the scoring for the game-ending score of 13-5.
“Today’s win was an important step for us in our hunt for the Bay League title,” Savino said. “I hope
it was just a sample of what is to come for the rest of the season.”
Mira Costa’s next game takes place today against first place Peninsula in a pivotal Bay League away match at 3 p.m. The Mustangs previously lost to Peninsula in their first meeting of the season, 8-7.
“Friday’s game against Peninsula will be our biggest game of the year to date,” Amberik said.
“We feel like we’re ready to compete against anyone that we play and also for a rematch against a
quality caliber such as them.”
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