Freshmen Waste No Time Making Impact in Softball

These freshmen know how to make good first impressions.

Led by Christina Enea of El Camino Real High and Briana Mathiesen of Kennedy, ninth graders have made the future look bright--and the present pretty good, too--for their respective teams.

Enea had the task of replacing graduated All-City catcher Ramona Shelburne for the two-time defending 4-A champions. She hasn’t disappointed. Enea leads the Conquistadores with a .569 batting average, eight home runs and 29 runs batted in.

Mathiesen, also a catcher, moved from the outfield when Angie De La Cerda decided not to play. Mathiesen has been solid defensively for Kennedy and batted .536 with 11 doubles and 17 RBIs.

Sara Girard of Verdugo Hills was promoted from the junior varsity three weeks ago when four varsity players were academically ineligible. As a starter at first base, she is batting .333.

Verdugo Hills has two other freshmen who start: shortstop Crystal Dingman (batting .349) and third baseman Jennifer Lombardo.

“They have been totally key for me,” Verdugo Hills Coach Andrea Standley said. “My three freshmen have just been blessings.”

Sylmar has freshman center fielder Krystal Mejia and pitcher Casondra Acosta.

In one week, Mejia went six for eight with 12 RBIs and seven runs scored. Overall she is batting .446 with three home runs and a team-leading 23 RBIs.

Acosta (7-2) has pitched in 10 games, completing nine, and has an earned-run average of 0.56. She has allowed 15 hits, struck out 47 and walked 21 in 62 innings.

In the Spartans’ playoff opener against Taft, Mejia had two hits and a run batted in and Acosta threw a no-hitter.

“Can’t you just see me grinning?” Sylmar Coach Chuck Miller said.

Yes coach, probably for three more years.

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Fabulous Freshmen

A look at some talented softball players in the City Section:

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Player School Pos. Christina Enea El Camino Real C Briana Mathiesen Kennedy C Krystal Mejia Sylmar CF Casondra Acosta Sylmar RHP Nancy Esqueda San Fernando OF Monique Ramirez San Fernando C/3B Elsa Sandoval San Fernando OF/2B Kim Jex Granada Hills 1B Christina Baca Granada Hills SS Priscilla Baca Granada Hills C Erin Bennett Granada Hills 3B Kristen Rodner Granada Hills Utility Angela Veliz Cleveland 3B Nelvia Rodriguez Taft 3B/C Claudia Andrade N. Hollywood 2B/SS Crystal Dingman Verdugo Hills SS Jennifer Lombardo Verdugo Hills 3B Sara Girard Verdugo Hills 1B

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