Softball Notebook: It's a Family Affair for Tritons' Sisters

San Clemente had a chance to put up a new league championship banner this season, but the Tritons came up short against Dana Hills in the Sea View League title race. Still, the Tritons are hoping to finish strong and put themselves in a position to make a deep run in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs. For sisters Kailey and Shannon McCasland, more playoff games simply means more time playing the game they love together.

Freshman Shannon, 14, has spent her life trying to compete with her sister, despite the fact that senior Kailey, 18, has several years more experience. This season was the first that the sisters have played a significant amount of time on the same team. Shannon subbed on one of Kailey’s travel ball teams for a tournament, but she simply served as an extra body on a roster of players three and four years older.

 So after years of sibling rivalry on the playing field, the McCaslands had the chance to be real teammates for San Clemente. And while Kailey admitted she never really felt the need to take it easy on Shannon, it's clear that big sister is the strongest supporter and biggest fan of little sister.

“I try to stay as positive as possible with her because I’m harder on her than with anyone else because I know her potential, so I push her to be better,” Kailey said.

As one of only three seniors on the squad, Kailey has taken on the role of one of the team’s leaders -- the same role she seems to take with her sister off the field. Kailey is the outspoken one, answering in detail questions about their lives growing up. She notes that they have the same taste in music, rap and country. Yep, you read that right. Shannon, meanwhile, nods quietly or gives short answers to clarify her position.

Neither has played any other organized sport besides softball since they were small children. Softball has become a lifestyle for the two and it will take Kailey to Louisiana State University next fall. Kailey said she is excited and nervous about living away from home for the first time, but Shannon said it will be hard to see her sister leave home, but added there would be one benefit: “I can get her bed,” Shannon said.

Until then, the McCaslands and their Triton teammates have two more regular-season games -- today at Aliso Niguel at 3:30 and Wednesday against visiting Capistrano Valley, also at 3:30 -- and one victory will guarantee them a spot in the playoffs, which begin next week. 

For Kailey it has already been a memorable season of getting to know, work with and appreciate new, younger teammates and a new coach, Paul Hill. San Clemente reached the Gold Division semifinals of the Woodbridge Victory Classic in early April, which was a first for Kailey.

“I definitely was impressed and proud of the people that stepped up," she said. "It was a good feeling to do well in tournaments early in the season and it was a new atmosphere.”

Among many highlights for the Tritons this season was Shannon's home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against Aliso Niguel that proved to be the game-winner. It was a moment cherished by her biggest fan.

“That was the most memorable moment of the season,” Kailey said.

Scouting Report on Kailey and Shannon McCasland

Favorite Food?

Kailey: Mexican or Italian

Shannon: Chipotle

Most Played Song on MP3 Player?

Both: Eminem, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flats

Horror Film or ‘Chick Flick’?

Both: Chick Flick

Biggest Celebrity Crush?

Shannon: Robert Pattinson

Kailey: Bradley Cooper

Favorite School Subject?

Kailey: Math

Shannon: P.E.

Fountain Valley Hoping to Overcome Missed Opportunities

For Fountain Valley's softball team, the season has come down to a few missed opportunities that have left them in a position from which they can only hope. With a chance to take control of their own playoff-qualifying destiny, the Barons allowed three unearned runs in a 5-4 loss to Marina last week. The defeat, which dropped Fountain Valley out of contention for third place in the Sunset League, leaves its players, coaches and fans relying on an at-large berth if they are to compete in the Division 1 playoffs.

“That seems to be the story of our season so far -- lost opportunities,” coach Rick Aldrich said.

Earlier in the season, the Barons lost to Marina, 2-1, in eight innings, with two errors contributing to a Vikings' unearned run. They also lost, 5-4, in 13 innings at Los Alamitos, to a Griffins team that was ranked No. 2 in the Division I coaches' poll last week. While those losses have, indeed, been disappointing, they have also been indicative of just how competitive the Barons can be.

Aldrich said his team was playing strong defense early in the season but their offense had yet to come around. Lately, the offense has picked up, but the defense has faltered. But the talent is there, and the team is finding its center with Aldrich, who is in his first season as Barons coach. And they could prove to be a dangerous team for one of the top-seeded squads to meet in the opening round of the playoffs.

“Once we put both of them [offense and defense] together, we’re going to explode,” Aldrich said.

The coach said of the biggest changes he has noticed in his team is in the players' mental approach to the game. They are starting to learn how to win, and that has changed the culture around the entire program, Aldrich said. The Barons have the pitching necessary to keep them in games, with junior Cerissa Rivera (1.60 ERA) and senior Allison Lang (1.65 ERA) both earning seven wins this season.

Lang has also been a big contributor on offense, with 25 RBIs and a team-high four home runs. Sophomore third baseman Khailey Campos has 11 RBIs and three home runs, and sophomore shortstop Emily Brucelas has a team-high 26 hits.

“I think we’re on the right track,” Aldrich said.

Dana Hills Finishing on High Note

Dana Hills has had a rough ride to what will be a Sea View League title season. The Dolphins clinched at least a share of the title with a 6-2 win at San Clemente last week. But they have experienced some tough nonleague losses against strong teams like Esperanza and Orange Lutheran, and coach Mitch LaRiva said these were good learning experiences for his squad.

Those defeats helped strengthened the Dolphins’ resolve as their season progressed. On offense, the Dolphins have begun to light up scoreboards in league play. Senior second baseman Jenny Hurst is batting .450 with 29 hits and a team-high 18 RBIs. Junior shortstop Reggie Roeder has 25 hits, and sophomore Severina Worthington has 14 RBIs.

In the victory over the Tritons, Sandra Bitowft had a three-run home run in the third inning that gave the Dolphins a lead they would not relinquish. Bitowft is batting an amazing .611 in league play.

“She is tearing it up right now,” LaRiva said of his senior catcher.

Yet, while Bitowft has been hitting the ball consistently in recent weeks, the senior had never been known for her power. In fact, the big fly against San Clemente was the first over-the-fence home run of her high school career.

“I saw the pitch inside, so I knew I had to jump on it," she said. "I honestly didn’t think it was going to be a home run. It was a shock to see it go over [the fence]."

San Joaquin League Title Still Up for Grabs

The San Joaquin League race is up for grabs, with the Saddleback Valley Christian Warriors taking a half-game lead over Capistrano Valley Christian with a 13-3 win over the Eagles last week.

CVCS (7-2) plays three games this week while SVCS (8-2) plays two. The Eagles have to deal with Connelly, a team that could conceivably pass both teams in the standings.

If the Warriors and Eagles both win out and finish at 10-2, they would be league co-champions. By virtue of winning two of three head-to-head games with the Warriors, CVCS would be the top-seeded team out of the league for the playoffs.

Last Week's Playmakers

Mission Viejo junior shortstop Janelle Gusiff and freshman utility player Alysha Everett each had home runs in a 10-0 win over Laguna Hills.

Saddleback Valley Christian senior designated player Christina Vogt had four hits and four RBIs and sophomore catcher Cindy Gallina had a grand slam in a victory over Connelly. Gallina followed with a two-run home run against Capistrano Valley Christian two days later.

El Toro senior shortstop Lauren Chamberlain had a first-inning home run against Mission Viejo, but it wasn’t enough as the Diablos rallied for a 12-4 win.

Trabuco Hills junior shortstop Haley Davis had two home runs, including a walk-off two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning in a victory over Tesoro.

Capistrano Valley shortstop Courtney Slye had a three-run home run in an 8-6 win over Aliso Niguel.

Los Alamitos freshman infielder Infinity Laufou had a double and squeeze bunt RBI in the bottom of the fifth inning to help the Griffins score a 6-5 victory over Marina.  

Key Games This Week:

Monday, May 9

Mission Viejo (14-11, 4-2) at Tesoro (9-13, 3-3), 3:30 p.m. -- Mission Viejo is chasing Laguna Hills for the top spot in the South Coast League, or at least a share of it, while Tesoro is trying not only to keep pace but also to hold off Trabuco Hills.  

San Clemente (14-10-1, 4-2) at Aliso Niguel 11-10, 3-3), 3:30 p.m. -- San Clemente is trying to shake off a loss to Dana Hills that all but gave the Sea View League title to the Dolphins. The runner-up spot is still up for grabs; with a victory, Aliso Niguel can pull into a tie with the Tritons with only one game left.

Tuesday, May 10

Edison (18-3, 7-1) at Los Alamitos (23-2-1, 8-0), 3:15 p.m. -- The Griffins were ranked No. 2 in the Division I coaches' poll last week, while the Chargers were ranked No. 4. A victory for Los Alamitos would give them the outright Sunset League title.

Wednesday, May 11

Trabuco Hills (6-9, 3-4) at Mission Viejo (14-11, 4-2), 3:30 p.m. -- The South Coast League is bottlenecked near the top, and the Diablos will need two victories this week to ensure staying among the top three.

Thursday, May 12

Santa Margarita (16-4, 4-2) at Rosary (12-15, 3-3), 6 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton -- Eagle senior pitcher Amy Letourneau had a grand slam to punctuate a 10-1 win over Rosary last week. Santa Margarita can take second place outright in the Trinity League with another victory over the Royals in this game.

Ted Apodaca's "Softball Notebook" appears weekly on all Patch Orange County sites.