GARCIA SPINS NO-HITTER AGAINST FALCONS

Thrown for a curve
Mira Mesa frosh Garcia tosses no-hitter
in another 4-0 shutout of Scripps Ranch
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (4-13-12) — Realizing that Scripps Ranch lost against a riseball pitcher earlier in the week, Mira Mesa High coach BRAD GRIFFITH elected to change things up and give the Falcons a different look, sending curveball specialist ALICIA GARCIA to the circle instead of senior LANI VANTA.
Watching to see how far Garcia would last, Griffith was going to leave the freshman in the game until she got into trouble. But she never did.
Looking more like Vanta than a typical first-year performer, Garcia struck out 11 batters en route to her first career no-hitter, leading the 4th-ranked Marauders to a 4-0 road victory against their Miramar Road rivals in Thursday's (Apr. 12) featured Eastern League ballgame.
The triumph keeps Mira Mesa (16-5-1) in a three-way tie for first place with Serra and Patrick Henry at 2-0 following the opening week of league competition.
"I mostly throw my curves in and out, and I hit my spots," said Garcia. "And my catcher really helps me out."
Garcia dominated from her opening pitch. After registering the initial out on a pop-up, seven of the next eight outs were registered on strikes.
"Now that I get to share games with Lani, it's really helped my confidence to know I can go out there and do well."
For the contest, Garcia walked just three batters to hand Scripps Ranch (8-7, 0-2 EL) its second shutout setback by a 4-0 count of the week. Patrick Henry's GRACE HERNANDEZ also turned in the feat on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, University of Arizona bound slugger KATIYANA MAUGA recorded her 7th home run of the season. Utilizing a sweet, short swing, Mauga blasted the ball well over the barrier in left-center field for a 2-run shot in the 5th, giving Mira Mesa a 3-0 advantage.
"It was right down the middle," said Mauga, who also drove in younger sister QUIRISA MAUGA (walk) with her deep drive. "And then Alicia showed she's a really good pitcher. It just shows that anybody can come up and show-up people."
The Mauga sisters also set up the team's opening run in the 1st. They registered a run of three consecutive basehits, capped by an RBI single by TANI LEASAU to open the scoring.
The final run saw AMBER CORDERO short-hop the fence in right-center field for a double to bring home MERCEDES HUMPHREY in the 7th.

Date: April 12, 2012     Time: 3:00pm      Venue: Scripps Ranch