All-Star games mark farewell for local softball players

It may have only lasted for two innings, but for those six outs, there was a picturesque scene on the softball diamond at Bill Barber Park in Irvine on Tuesday night.

Corona del Mar High’s Brooke Franson and Costa Mesa’s Brenna Alvis occupied the middle-infield positions, creating the double-play duo they once were in their early playing days.

That was the way it was when the two started out in Newport-Mesa recreation ball from the ages of 12-14.

On a cool spring evening, that scene was recreated in the fifth and sixth innings of the Orange County Seniors Softball All-Star Game. Their team, the Coast All-Stars, wound up defeating the Central O.C. All-Stars, 9-8.

It might have been their last time sharing the infield, but it will hardly be the final time they take the field. Their college plans have kept them close together, as they both will compete on New York soil.

Alvis is headed to Alfred University, while Franson will continue her playing career at Manhattanville College.

For the Mustangs senior, the All-Star appearance was right up there with other accolades that she has received. That is saying something, considering she had been named to the Daily Pilot Dream Team as a sophomore and a junior.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Alfred,” Alvis said. “Playing college softball has been a dream since I was seven years old. Now that I’m able and I’m going in August, it’s just going to be a great ride. I’m super excited for it.”

In her four years at Costa Mesa, Alvis never played in the postseason. She was among those who were most deserving of playing in a playoff atmosphere.

The final installment of the “Battle for the Bell” served as the closest substitute, as the fate of the rivalry between Costa Mesa and Estancia rode on that game.

The Mustangs led going to the seventh inning, but the Eagles came away with the 8-6 win. Alvis did not go silently, punctuating her chapter in the series with a home run.

“That experience is probably going to be one that I remember for the rest of my life,” Alvis said. “Hitting a home run like that was just the cherry on top for my senior year.

“Even with the outcome, I still had a lot of fun. It was great to play Estancia one last time for all the marbles.”

Franson and Alvis found themselves playing out of their normal roles. Each played right field, with Franson also finding herself at first base.

“I totally felt like a utility player in that game because I played three different positions,” Franson said. “It was three different positions that I’ve played before and I know how to play.”

Ocean View’s Breann Page competed for the South in the first All-Star Game of the evening. The North won the game, 6-1.

Few may have known that she was participating in the game, as she was twice announced to the crowd as “Page Breann.”

“I’ve dealt with that my whole life, not everybody knowing my name,” Page said. “You get over it, but at this level, you would think that somebody knows how to pronounce my name.”

The senior was the every-day starting pitcher for the Seahawks, who reached the playoffs with a third-place finish in the Golden West League. They went 9-11 overall, 6-4 in league.

Page will be heading to Arizona State University in the fall. She is majoring in the biological sciences with the hopes of becoming a doctor.

Around the diamond

Huntington Beach’s Ivy Davis played in her second All-Star game in as many nights in an Orange County versus Inland Empire contest on Wednesday night.

Davis drove in the winning run with a single in the top of the fifth, breaking a 1-1 tie. The O.C. All-Stars went on to win the game, 7-1.

With the win, Orange County extended its advantage in the series with the Inland Empire All-Stars to 7-5-2 in their 14 meetings.

Corona del Mar had its first winning season since 2006, but the Sea Kings (14-13) will lose their entire infield.

Franson, the shortstop, first baseman Raine Finley, and platooning second basemen Lauren Oberreiter and Kira Delgadillo were all seniors.

Second team all-Pacific Coast League third baseman Sophia Rhee is moving to Hawai’i. Rhee batted second in the order for the Sea Kings as a freshman, hitting at a .403 clip with 27 runs scored and 20 RBI.

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner