By Pete Borello

Prep Softball Report

omestead High has established a tradition for succeeding in a number of girls sports, including basketball, soccer and swimming.

Softball, however, is a different story.

“It’s been quite a while since this team’s been to the playoffs,” said John Van Pelt, in his first year as the Mustangs varsity softball coach. “We won the Cupertino Invitational earlier this season and that’s the only softball trophy we have in the case at Homestead.”

Van Pelt hopes to add at least one more trophy to that case by season’s end.

Homestead (6-1) entered this week a game back of Lynbrook (7-0) in the chase for the SCVAL El Camino Division crown. The division winner will receive an automatic berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs.

And Van Pelt is confident that team will be the Mustangs.

“We expect to go 11-1, win the league and go to CCS,” Van Pelt said. “We lost to Lynbrook 1-0 the first time we played and they got their run on two throwing errors in the first inning. We absolutely plan to take it to the bank the next time.”

Homestead (9-4 overall) is scheduled to host Lynbrook on May 8 in the second-to-last game of the league season for both teams.

Van Pelt’s confidence is based on a roster featuring 14 returning players and two strong pitchers.

Ashley Suth, the team’s lone senior, improved her pitching record to 5-2 last Thursday in the Mustangs’ 5-1 win at Fremont.

Sophomore Karen Purdy has posted a 4-2 record as a starter and also has a pair of saves.

Purdy, who plays first base when she’s not on the mound, is the team’s top hitter as well. Van Pelt said “she was beating the heck out of the ball” against Fremont, belting two singles and a double.

Other key contributors, according to Van Pelt, are outfielders Brandi Tomasovitch and Julie Colvin, shortstop Danielle Bailey, catcher Andrea Watson and outfielder/infielder Amelia Alexander. All five are juniors who have played for the varsity since they were freshmen.

“It’s a really solid team,” Van Pelt said. “They’re a scrappy bunch who can come from behind, don’t give up and play well together.”

Wilcox sinks Spartans

Mountain View on April 11 lost its second consecutive game, falling 3-1 to visiting Wilcox.

Starting pitcher Alyssa Robbins took the loss for the Spartans, who fell to 4-3 in the SCVAL De Anza Division and 9-7 overall. Offensively, Mountain View was led by Elisa Barrios (triple) and Kristen Pritchard (two singles).

Bruins clip Eagles

Los Altos dropped a 1-0 home game to Santa Clara on April 11.

Starter Chrissy Sommer took the loss for the Eagles, who sunk to 2-5 in the De Anza Division.