Camarillo Victories Full of Family Ties

THOUSAND OAKS —  Oh, brother. Those little sisters can play.

Jill Borchard and Alana Mendoza, younger siblings to some of Camarillo High’s best all-time athletes, are making names for themselves on the softball field.

On Saturday, the pair played a key role in the Scorpions’ 4-1 victory over Chaminade and 13-0 rout of San Marcos during pool play of the Thousand Oaks tournament.

The tournament will continue next Saturday and May 9.

Borchard, a junior outfielder, broke a 1-1 tie with Chaminade by slapping a two-run single off Maureen LeCocq (9-7) in the fourth inning.

Mendoza, a freshman, had three singles on the day, including two against LeCocq, who did not allow an earned run.

It isn’t the first time a Mendoza or Borchard has earned headlines.

Mendoza’s sister, shortstop Jessica Mendoza, is one of the most dangerous players in the region and has signed to play at Stanford.

“It’s really fun to look over and see her playing right next to me,” said Alana, the Scorpion second baseman. “My goal was to play a year with Jessica before she graduated.”

Borchard’s older brother, Joe, is a freshman at Stanford. As a high school senior, he quarterbacked the Scorpions to the 1996 Southern Section Division III football championship.

Older sister Julie, another former Camarillo standout, is on a softball scholarship at Wisconsin.

“Around school, I’m still known as Joe’s little sister and Julie’s little sister,” said Jill, who bats second in Camarillo’s lineup. “It used to bother me, but not so much anymore. I consider it an honor. I’m proud of them.”

Jessica, who had three hits in the five-inning rout of San Marcos (2-10), is just as proud of her younger sibling.

“I think she’s real good,” the senior shortstop said. “And I don’t say that just because she’s my sister.”

The Scorpions (12-2), ranked No. 2 in the region by The Times, received strong pitching from senior Cindy Ball (6-1) and sophomore Kathryn Nevard (6-1).

Ball struck out six in a two-hitter against eighth-ranked Chaminade (9-7-1), while Nevard struck out nine in a five-inning three-hitter against San Marcos (2-10). Ball also collected four hits in the two games.

Erika Francis and Nicki Holt each added two hits against San Marcos.

In other pool-play games:

Hart 6, Westlake 0--Nicolette Weinstein had two hits and Jocelyn Evans drove in two runs for the Indians (15-2).

Lindsey Kontra (3-1), Casey Pickard and Bridgette Colleran combined to limit Westlake (8-8) to one hit.

Hart 1, Santa Maria St. Joseph 0--Anna Nordhagen scored on a one-out single by Sara Dean in the top of the seventh inning.

Sophomore right-hander Amanda Fortune (11-1) threw a two-hitter for the Indians.

Newbury Park 4, Anaheim Loara 0--Oli Keohohou hit a two-run home run, her seventh, for the Panthers (14-4).

Newbury Park 4, Rio Mesa 1--Kamala Kiffe and Tawni Yamauchi each had three hits and Keohohou added two triples for Newbury Park, which scored four runs in the fifth inning.

Righetti 6, Glendale 3--Jocelyn Forest, the state’s strikeout leader, fanned 10 Glendale batters in five innings. The Dynamiters fell to 4-14.

Cerritos 10, Hoover 0--The Tornadoes had a tough day, also losing to Long Beach Millikan, 12-0, in two games shortened because of the 10-run rule.

Simi Valley 9, Santa Barbara 0--Brittney Green struck out 11 and walked one in a two-hitter and the Pioneers routed the Dons (6-8). Lori Tande had three hits and two RBIs and Cindy Gray and Jennie Shields each had two hits.

Simi Valley 9, Lakewood 2--Tande threw a six-hitter, allowing two earned runs, striking out 11 and walking two.

Tracie Hall had three hits and an RBI for Simi Valley (17-2).

Valencia 3, Glendale 1--Amber Tasso (5-1) threw a three-hitter, and Melanie Williams and Lauren Watson each had two hits and scored a run for the Vikings (11-6).

Righetti 1, Valencia 0--Valencia (11-7) managed just three hits against Forest, who struck out 12.

Westlake 4, Santa Maria St. Joseph 3--Michelle Notaro’s sacrifice fly scored Jennifer Azevedo in the top of the 12th inning.