Campos, Mustangs shut out rival Eagles

Steve Virgen

It would have been logical for Tiffany Campos to say she did not

understand the rivalry between Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools.

She is a junior who transferred from Saddleback to Costa Mesa just

before the softball season started. However, her teammates let her

know about the importance of the crosstown matchup, which provided

confidence and motivation for Campos, the Mustangs pitcher.

Campos, in return, delivered a two-hitter that came with four

strikeouts and no walks. She earned her first pitching win of the

season, leading Costa Mesa to a 6-0 Golden West League victory over

host Estancia Wednesday.

Campos also contributed at the plate, reaching base on each of her

four at-bats. She had a single and a fielder’s choice. Two of her

ground balls caused errors, including one in the seventh that brought

in two runs.

“Everyone told me they were our rivals, so I felt a little

nervous,” Campos said. “But I got more confident that they were

telling me about them.”

Campos also said she has enjoyed her role on the team. She is the

backup to junior Jackie Butler, one of the top pitchers in the Golden

West League. Campos has also been pleased with the support of her

teammates.

“Everything I pitch, they are right there defensively,” Campos

said of her teammates.

That seemed to be the case for Campos through the first four

innings when she had a no-hitter going. She also retired the first

two batters in the fifth inning, but then Estancia sophomore Chelsea

Kaplan, who pitched for the Eagles, broke up Campos’ no-hit bid with

a base hit to center field. A throwing error allowed Kaplan to

advance to second.

But Campos induced a groundout to end the inning. Kaplan’s older

sister, Rebecca, also hit Campos when she sent a single to left field

in the seventh with one out. However, Costa Mesa senior catcher

Michelle Miller gloved a foul fly ball and, perhaps fittingly, Campos

fielded a ground ball and threw to senior Teresa Lau at first for the

putout to end the game.

The Eagles (4-9, 1-4 in league) were also solid on defense, led by

Chelsea Kaplan, who scattered six hits, yet struck out seven and

walked three.

“It’s always exciting to play Mesa,” Estancia Coach Marc Rodig

said. “It’s a grudge game. You can feel it.”

Estancia held Costa Mesa to three runs through six innings and

those runs came unearned. Senior Jane-E Yamamoto singled with one out

in the first inning to get the Mustangs (7-9, 3-1) started. Yamamoto

stole second and sophomore Janae Rivera followed with an infield base

hit that moved Yamamoto over to third.

Rivera stole second and she scored along with Yamamoto after

junior Kelly Topps’ ground ball caused an error. Costa Mesa freshman

Christy Gregory scored in the fourth inning when Campos’ ground ball

led to a throwing error.

Mustangs Coach Sharon Uhl said her players started the game flat

but improved. She said they played well defensively, but were not

hitting as well as they could.

“We didn’t play all week,” Uhl said. “It’s tough when you sit. But

we were good on defense. [Campos] pitched really good. She’s taking a

lot of pressure off of Jackie. [Campos] has a wicked changeup.”

Uhl said the Mustangs’ victory kept Costa Mesa, the defending

Golden West League champion, on pace to repeat. However, next week

will be the Mustangs’ true test, as they face Westminster Monday,

Santa Ana Wednesday and Ocean View Friday.

“If we can go 3-0 next week, we’ll be right there,” Uhl said.

Costa Mesa will play in the Arroyo Grande tournament Friday and

Saturday, while Estancia faces Orange Friday.

*--*

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 6, Estancia 0

Score by Innings

Mesa 200 100 3 -- 6 6 1

Estancia 000 000 0 -- 0 2 5

Campos and Miller; C. Kaplan and Ockey. W

-- Campos, 1-3. L -- C. Kaplan, 4-8.

*--*