SEA VIEW LEAGUE SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Saddleback StopsTustin to Win Title

The Saddleback High School girls’ softball team would not have been content to share the Sea View League championship with Tustin High School again this season. The Roadrunners wanted it all.

That’s just what Saddleback (19-2 and 9-1 in league play) got Thursday as sophomore right-hander Desiree Abrego pitched a one-hit, 1-0 victory over the Tillers (14-9, 8-2) at Prospect Park to wrap up the league title after having to share it with Tustin last season.

“We didn’t want to share it this year,” Roadrunner Coach Yvonne Alonzo said. “We have nine seniors, one junior, two sophomores and one freshman, so with hardly anyone coming back next year, this had to be our year.

Abrego struck out 10 and walked none. No one reached base for Tustin until catcher Chris Garner in the fifth inning on third baseman Jenny Cerasvold’s error. Laura Teal’s two-out single to left in the sixth was Tustin’s only hit.

“She (Abrego) had problems with her stomach in the sixth inning,” Alonzo said. “She tends to get real tight in the late innings. She takes all the responsibility onto herself instead of remembering she has teammates to help. Part of the problem is she’s just a sophomore.

Abrego’s battery mate, Kim Carstens, supplied the offense with a leadoff home run in the third inning. Carstens, a junior, lined Shannon Ellis’ pitch down the line past right fielder Denise Thomas and circled the bases for her third home run of the season.

“She (Carstens) had been struggling at the plate lately,” Alonzo said. “She was hitting only about .190 coming into the game.”

Ellis took the loss for Tustin despite pitching a three-hitter and retiring the last 12 batters. She struck out five and walked one.

In another league games:

University 12, Newport Harbor 0 (6 innings, mercy rule)--Lisa Anthony had three hits, including a first-inning grand slam, and Nicole Shammas had three hits, including an RBI triple, to lead host University. Michele Ponce (4-6) pitched a three-hitter, struck out four and walked one for University (15-10, 7-3).