Softball: Herrera and Mestas have standout games

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OK, I realize these two performances didn’t come against the strongest teams, but Kennedy‘s Ruby Herrera and Venice‘s Danielle Mestas illustrated Monday why they’re among the top players in the City Section.

Herrera hit for the cycle in the Cougars’ 18-0 victory over Monroe, upping her batting average to .500. She also has a team-leading 36 RBIs and seven home runs and is one of the reasons Kennedy is the front-runner for the Valley Mission League title.

Further down the 405, Mestas pitched a 12-strikeout, no-hitter and hit a grand slam in the Gondoliers’ 15-2 triumph over L.A. University. Mestas is sporting a .477 ERA with 139 strikeouts over 88 innings and an 11-1 record. Of course, her .652 batting average, 35 RBIs and nine home runs are pretty darn impressive, too.

But can either of these standouts lead their respective teams to the section championship this spring? I think so, but it’s going to be difficult with talent-laden squads from Lincoln, El Camino Real, San Pedro, South East and Marshall blocking the way.

-- Austin Knoblauch