An Even Dozen for Rio Mesa

It isn’t so much how you start, but how you finish.

Just ask the Rio Mesa High softball team.

Since losing five of their first six games, it appears the Spartans can do no wrong.

Rio Mesa notched its 12th consecutive victory and all but wrapped up its first Pacific View League title Thursday with a 5-2 victory over Hueneme at Rio Mesa.

Fueled by another dominating performance by Chanel Tripp, Rio Mesa (13-5, 8-0 in league play) claimed a three-game lead over second-place Camarillo (8-7-1, 5-3) with four league games remaining.

Tripp, a junior right-hander, pitched a one-hitter and struck out 14 to throttle the upstart Vikings (11-6-1, 4-3), who took two of three games from Rio Mesa a year ago.

On Tuesday, Tripp tossed a no-hitter and struck out 14 against Hueneme.

“We’re a young team and we’re trying to gain some confidence,” Tripp said. “That’s the main thing for us right now.”

Tripp and her teammates are making a concerted effort to peak at the optimum time to make amends for last season’s disaster.

A year ago, Rio Mesa started strong and looked ready to give Camarillo a run for the title, but the Spartans lost several key games in the last few weeks because of academic problems and injuries.

Against Hueneme, Rio Mesa gave a consistent effort offensively, scoring in each of the first four innings.

The Spartans took the lead for good with two runs in the second to break a 1-1 tie. Ginger Ayala scored on one of two illegal pitches in the inning and Elisa DeLaTorre drove in Crystal Lindsey with a single up the middle. DeLaTorre had two hits.

Erica Mijares’ sacrifice fly scored Christina Harmeson in the third to get the Vikings to within 3-2.