Advancement in Arms Race

A strong wind was blowing out at Highland High, and Camarillo softball pitcher Cindy Ball tested its strength by tossing a few blades of grass into the current.

When the grass flew away quickly, she was concerned--and for good reason.

The hard-throwing riseball pitcher was about to face Highland, the hottest hitting team in the region. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Bulldogs had roughed up Simi Valley’s Brittney Green and Crescenta Valley’s Meredith Cervenka for 16 hits.

As hard as Ball throws--and as well as Highland has been hitting--the wind served as a danger sign.

But it was Ball who blew past Highland on Thursday, tossing a no-hitter and striking out 10 in a 4-0 victory, sending Camarillo to the Southern Section Division I semifinals.

Ball (12-1), a 6-foot senior who is headed to University of the Pacific on scholarship, and the emotion-charged Scorpions left no doubt which is the best team in the region.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen them this pumped up ever,” said Coach Miki Mangan, who brought up a handful of junior varsity players and now has a roster of 20 enthusiastic players. The dugout resembled a raucous pajama party.

Camarillo (21-5), which will face Mater Dei in the semifinals Tuesday, had its way with Highland (24-6) early and often, scoring in each of the first three innings and finishing with nine hits.

“We came to win,” Ball said. “We’re playing to kill basically.”

Ball, who walked two and faced only two batters over the minimum to throw her first no-hitter this season, made a believer of Highland Coach Glenda Potts, whose team was batting .353 and had eight hits for extra bases in two playoff games.

“[Ball] is the toughest pitcher we have seen all year,” Potts said. “[Quartz Hill’s] Jodie Cox is good, don’t get me wrong, but [Ball] has more speed, more movement.”

Loaded with speed throughout their lineup, the Scorpions, top-ranked in the region by The Times and seeded No. 4 in the division, exploited a slow Highland defense early with three infield hits and a no-throw fielder’s choice in the first two innings.

Two batters into the game, Jill Borchard--who had two hits--bunted for a single when pitcher Kelly Presten threw late to first.

“I knew we were in trouble when my pitcher took her time fielding that bunt,” Potts said.

“It was like we were in a time warp there early on.”

Ali Taverner’s run-scoring single to right field gave Camarillo the offense it would need, but the Scorpions continued to roll.

In the second, Camarillo scored on a single by Jessica Mendoza, who had two hits.

Highland escaped further damage on a Scorpion base-running blunder.

With one out and bases loaded, Ball hit a fly to right field, but Alana Mendoza was running from third on contact. A rundown ensued and Mendoza was thrown out at the plate on a sharp relay throw from shortstop Jennifer Smith.

The Scorpions scored twice in the third on a Shannon Zigner’s double and a throwing error and chased Presten (10-4), who allowed six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

“Cindy Ball is intimidating enough with her size, and everything else,” Mangan said. “But I think they were a little more nervous than us.”