SHOW of STRENGTH

Twelve victories in 13 games.

A surprising top 10 ranking.

Success has already made this a memorable season for pitcher Alicia Owen and her Loara High softball teammates.

So, unfortunately, has tragedy. Owen has been among the county’s top performers despite her father dying nine days before the start of the season.

On a team with two freshmen, five sophomores, two juniors and a senior in the starting lineup, a lot of growing up has been done in the past month.

“It’s pulled us together,” said sophomore Lauren Lappin, “and made us stronger.”

It’s difficult to imagine a stronger performance than Owen’s though.

Her father, Albert Harvey “Skip” Owen, died Feb. 26 while dancing with Linda, his wife of 32 years, at a wedding reception. He was 53.

His funeral was March 4. Three days later, Owen pitched five innings and combined with Katie Joosten for a no-hitter against Los Amigos.

The past 38 days have been telling for the 15-year-old, who has tearfully found comfort from teammates on bus rides and at practices.

“I’m a stronger person than I thought I was,” she said. “I thought, ‘I can’t go back to softball. That was a big part of my relationship with my dad. It’s going to be too hard for me.’

“I found it inside me that I have to do it for me and for Dad. I was stronger than I thought, and I went back quicker than I thought I could, and made it through.”

Skip played a pivotal role in his daughter’s development as a pitcher. Skip’s shins never healed properly from injuries suffered sliding down ship ladders during his days in the Navy, and he finally bought a huge pair of green shin guards to protect himself from his daughter’s practice pitches. He even lost a toenail one time when he couldn’t handle her best pitch, the drop.

“He would catch for me as long as I needed to be caught,” she said. “He was there with the tee for me to hit Wiffle balls. He would come home from work at 5:30, and he was ready for me to practice with him.

“It’s hard to come home and want to pitch, and not have him there to throw to.”

The absence at home is compounded each time the Saxons play a softball game.

“Knowing he was there, watching, making sure I wasn’t doing something wrong mechanically, it helped me,” she said.

“I hear his voice sometimes, even though he’s not there. He’s still telling me to step straight. I think he gives me my power sometimes, because I think, ‘Do it for Daddy.’ ”

Owen is 10-1 with a 0.20 earned-run average, and in 11 games, she has allowed a run in only three. She threw a perfect game against Carson and three times she has allowed only one hit.

She is also among county leaders with a .500 batting average and 18 runs batted in.

“She has been so strong,” said Lappin, a second-team all-county catcher last season who has moved to shortstop. “She has been a total inspiration to the team. She has a great attitude and never lets what happened affect us, or her, on the field.

“Of course, she has her moments, but she’s handled it very well.”

The softball team has been a big part of her support. Even when there was nothing to say, teammates made themselves available to Owen, especially Lappin, catcher Mandy Servello and second baseman Cherish Henson. Outfielder Tinamarie DeLeon, who also lost her father, was helpful too. “All the girls were there, in their own way,” Owen said.

“There are times when I need to deal with things on my own, guy problems, troubles at home, but I knew to deal with this situation, I needed people there for me. I don’t think I could have done it alone.”

Owen’s family also has found strength in each other. Albert, 28, who moved out three years ago, has moved back home with his mother and siblings, Alicia and Alex, 17.

Another change: Alex and Alicia don’t fight as much. “We just talk to each other,” said Alex, a junior pitcher who splits time between Loara’s varsity and junior varsity baseball teams.

The JV baseball team wrote Skip’s name on their hats and the varsity wore black tape. “That meant a lot to me,” Alex said. “It was really hard to go back to the field, because that’s where my dad really liked to be, but they made me feel comfortable.”

Loara’s softball success isn’t based on Owen suddenly reaching star status. The Saxons were 17-13 last year with five freshmen starting. This season, with a more mature team, four players are among the county’s statistical leaders.

Lappin, whose play at shortstop shored up the infield, is batting .400 with 12 runs and eight RBIs. Servello, whose strong play behind the plate allowed Lappin to play shortstop, is batting .483 with seven runs and 10 RBIs. Her grand slam in Loara’s last game provided a 5-4 victory over Capistrano Valley.

Center fielder Kim Flores is among the county’s stolen base leaders with 12.

Their efforts, coupled with Owen’s performance, have helped seventh-ranked Loara break into the county softball rankings for what is believed to be the first time.

“It’s pretty weird to see your school’s name appear there with Mater Dei and Foothill in the top 10,” Owen said. “It’s going to take some getting used to. But we have a few more years where it should be like that, and I’m looking forward to it.”