Camarillo Has the Last Word

Camarillo High’s softball team had all the motivation it could possibly need.

Foremost in the minds of the Scorpions was retribution for a published derogatory comment made by pitcher Chanel Tripp of Rio Mesa after the last game between the two Pacific View League rivals.

Add to that the chance at clinching a third consecutive league title and Camarillo had plenty to play for Wednesday.

With ace Kathryn Nevard holding Rio Mesa in check, Beth Boskovich effectively ended the grudge match with one swing, a three-run triple in the fifth to key the Scorpions’ 4-0 victory at Camarillo.

“I’ve been in that situation a couple of times with Chanel because we used to play together [in travel ball],” Boskovich said. “I knew she had to come in [with a pitch] because of the [2-and-0] count.”

Rio Mesa edged Camarillo, 2-1, in its second meeting March 24. Afterward, Tripp, who struck out 12 in the victory, told The Times, “We just wanted to beat Nevard. The rest of that team is not that good.”

To no one’s surprise, the Scorpions were offended, including Nevard.

“That made our team so mad,” Nevard said. “We wanted to prove that we’re a better team than that. That was just one game.

“I don’t like it when someone says that I’m like the whole team. I don’t hit. . . .”

The Spartans (13-8-1, 7-3 in league play) could do little this time against Nevard (15-6), who allowed singles in the first two innings and finished with 10 strikeouts.

“We started off like gangbusters but Kathryn Nevard is a great pitcher,” said Coach John Velasquez of Rio Mesa. “She’s not going to let us score unless we earn it.”

Chrissy Hildebrandt hit a one-out single in the first and stole second base. But Hildebrandt was stranded when Nevard struck out Monique Barretto and Anita Urias to end the inning.

Sharon Muniz singled to left to lead off the second but was thrown out at second by Nevard on Sharon Speakman’s bunt. With two out, Speakman was called out for leaving first base early, ending the inning.

The Scorpions left the bases loaded in the fourth.

But an inning later, Camarillo (18-7, 9-1) bunched three of its six hits off Tripp (8-6) and benefited from an obstruction call on shortstop Muniz during a rundown between second and third with one out.

With bases loaded, Boskovich ripped an opposite-field liner over the right fielder’s head for a stand-up triple.

“My adrenaline really gets high [in those situations],” Boskovich said.

Alana Mendoza had two hits and scored a run for Camarillo.

“We had our bats [Wednesday],” Coach Miki Mangan said. “Everyone was aggressive and we didn’t swing at [Tripp’s] junk.”