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BASEBALL

JESSE COSTA

Senior, Anaheim Magnolia

Then: After earning a roster spot on varsity as a freshman, Costa was academically ineligible the first half of his sophomore season. Costa began work on the mound toward the end of that season, then joined the starting rotation as a junior. The first indication that Costa had a live arm came against West Hills Chaminade in an early season tournament. He suffered a 2-0 loss, but his complete-game performance earned praise from former major league pitcher Mark Gubicza, a co-coach at Chaminade.

Now: Costa has developed into a powerful 6-foot-1, 215-pound right-hander, who has scouts paying attention to his fastball, clocked in the low-90s, and hard-breaking curve. He gave up three hits and struck out 11 in a 5-1 victory over Anaheim Savanna, handing the Rebels their only loss in Orange League play and their first to Magnolia (7-13 overall, 4-5 in league) in four years. In his last start on Friday, Costa threw a one-hitter and struck out 13 in a 9-0 victory over Anaheim Western. On the season, Costa is 4-4 with a 2.07 earned-run average. He’s also batting .448 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in.

Quote: “He’s getting a little wiser as he gets older,” Coach Vince Ayala said. “And that confidence as a pitcher has carried over to his bat.”

Dan Arritt

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SOFTBALL

MEGAN ENYEART

Senior, Goleta Dos Pueblos

Then: Her power got her in the lineup as a freshman designated hitter, but she was inconsistent, batting .235 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. As a sophomore catcher, she batted .330 with one homer and 17 RBIs. Enyeart blossomed as a junior, batting .500 with seven homers, 38 runs and a school-record 34 RBIs during a 27-2 season. Blessed with a strong, accurate arm, Enyeart’s quickness also improved, and she was suddenly as good defensively as she was offensively.

Now: Enyeart will carry a 4.75 grade-point average with her to Yale. It should be a good fit. “She’s like a sponge,” Coach Joel Garbarino said. “You tell her something, and she learns it.” Enyeart is batting .508 with six home runs, 17 runs and 31 RBIs in 20 games, and has scored or driven in 43% of the runs for Dos Pueblos, ranked No. 18 by The Times. Enyeart and junior pitcher Kimi Wong (17-3) make up one of the top batteries in the Southland, and get a chance to prove it Saturday in the first two rounds of the Thousand Oaks tournament.

Quote: “I was trying to prove myself,” Enyeart said of her first two seasons. “At some point, you have to calm down and realize that you’re on the team for a reason.”

Martin Henderson

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BOYS’ SWIMMING

MICHAEL CARTER

Senior, La Verne Damien

Then: A stroke swimmer as a freshman, Carter concentrated on the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. He reached the Southern Section consolation finals in the 100 butterfly and the 200 free as a sophomore before becoming a top-flight freestyle swimmer last year. He finished third in the 200 free (1:41.13) and fourth in the 100 free (46.47 seconds) at the 2004 Division I finals in which Damien finished third. Carter’s 100 free time was a school record, bettering the mark of 47.69 by his brother, John Carter, a 2002 Damien graduate.

Now: Carter has automatic qualifying times for Southern Section preliminaries in every event except the breaststroke. He has recorded personal-best marks in the 100 free (46.51), 200 IM (1:58.30), 500 free (4:47.80), 100 fly (51.55) and the 100 back (56.30). Named boys’ swimmer of the meet at the Long Beach Wilson Invitational two weeks ago after winning the 100 free in a meet-record 46.51 and winning the 200 free in 1:42.15, Carter will swim next season at Princeton.

Quote: “If I wasn’t swimming, I really couldn’t imagine what I’d be doing with all my extra time,” Carter said.

-- Lauren Peterson