SOFTBALL: Aptos Holds off Scotts Valley

The Score: Aptos 4, Scotts Valley 2

The Star: Senior third baseman Breana Kostreba used her bat to earn top honors for the Mariners. Kostreba broke open the close game with a big home run over the left field fence in the top of the third inning. She finished the game going 2-for-4 with a single and that mammoth homer.

Starting pitcher senior Angela Martin also shined for the visiting Mariners. Martin held the Falcons to only one run in six innings of work. After leaving to start the seventh, Martin re-entered the game to record the last out. Scotts Valley pushed one run across and had loaded the bases with two away before Martin slammed the door on the hosts comeback try.

(12-7, 4-2 SCCAL) senior pitcher Nikki Owens kept her team in the game, striking out the side in the top of the second inning. Owens finished the game with nine strikeouts. Her overall record now stands at 8-4.

The Turning Point: In the third inning of the scoreless contest, sophomore leftfielder Rita McCreesh scored for the Mariners to put her team on the board. Aptos (15-2, 6-0) was able to add another run when their slugger senior third baseman Breana Kostreba hit a monster bomb over the left field fence. Aptos led 3-0 after the top in the third inning.

It took a while to get things going, but Scotts Valley made this one interesting until the final out was recorded. The Falcons scored their second run as sophomore outfielder Kyla Miller crossed the plate off sophomore shortstop Nicole Whitney’s base hit. The Falcons continued the rally and managed to load the bases with some clutch two-out hitting. But that was all they could muster as Aptos put their ace Angela Martin back on the mound for the final out.

The Quote: "We played well today and we are starting to play well together."—Senior starting pitcher Angela Martin said after the win. “As for me, I would like to see my pitches go more where I want them to so I can help my team as well.”

Martin’s Aptos High teammate was also happy to come away with the win.

“Our performance was pretty solid today. We kept our energy up the whole time. We were really noisy,” Senior third baseman Breana Kostreba said. “I am working on a double pendulum swing and keeping my hands in. That lets my core provide the power.”

Coming off two games, one on Friday and a makeup game on Monday, Aptos coach Erika Campbell would like to see the team remain focused even though they are fighting fatigue.

“We played just well enough to win today. We still need to work on our focus out there and clean up the errors,” Aptos head coach Erika Campbell said.

Scotts Valley gave the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s top team a late scare on Tuesday.

“We just came out a little flat. In the third inning we made too many errors,” Scotts Valley head coach Kaila Walters said. “We just need to come out, start quicker and minimize the errors.”

The Scotts Valley starter hopes to carry this effort into her next start.

“I was a little fatigued but I had to go out there and minimize their hits. Everyone is trying their best out there and that is good to see,” Scotts Valley senior starting pitcher and star of the game Nikki Owens said. “We just need to be more aggressive at the plate and correct the errors and we will be alright.”

What's Next? Aptos will travel up the road to take on (1-6-1; 0-4 Santa Cruz League) on Thursday. Game time is at 4 p.m. Scotts Valley will travel to Salinas to play Salinas High (5-2;0-1 Tri-County) on Thursday as well. Game time is at 4 pm.

Bottom Line: Aptos grinded out its sixth straight league victory on Tuesday. Despite not playing its best ball, the visitors received another strong pitching performance and came through with the timely hits they needed to win the game.

The Falcons just need to apply pressure to teams quicker and the only way to do that is to score more runs in the early innings. The strong showing against the league’s top team provides the young squad with some key experience to draw from down the final stretch of the 2011 campaign.

 ............................................................................................................................. 

Aptos              0          0          1          2          1          0          0          -           4

Scott Valley   0          0          0          1          0          0          1          -           2

WP- Angela Martin 

LP- Nikki Owens    

Aptos Stats

Breana Kostreba      2-for-4 home run, single and a RBI

Amanda Ang              1-for 4

Angela Martin           1-for-4

Ashley Haney            1-for-3            RBI

Rita McCreesh          1-for-3

Scotts Valley Stats

Nicole Whitney        2-for-4

Haley Robinson       2-for-3

Kyla Miller                 1-for-2, Double

Michelle Ponos        1-for-3