By Pete Borello

According to coach Terry McHugh, a 23-0 loss would have been easier to accept than the way his Mountain View All-Stars were eliminated from the Bobby Sox National Tournament of Champions in Buena Park.

“Losing by one run in extra innings is even more frustrating,” said McHugh, referring to Mountain View’s 2-1 loss to Vacaville in the Round of 8. “It kind of makes you think of what you could have done to win.”

However, the coach doesn’t want to take away from what the 13-and-under softball team accomplished at the July 18-24 event. Mountain View finished in a tie for seventh at a tournament that featured 23 top teams from California, Hawaii, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona.

“We’ve never done this well at nationals before,” said McHugh, who coached the team with Pat Bitler. “In the past, I felt we did our job just getting there. This time, we went down there thinking we could do well, and we did do well.”

The team of players from Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and San Jose posted a 2-2 record at the national. Mountain View cruised to a 7-2 win in its first game against a Southern California squad, then fell to a strong Hawaii team in the next round.

“Hawaii had a very good team - the only team I thought was better than us,” McHugh said.

Mountain View bounced back to win its next game against Brea Hills, powered by a grand slam from Angela Martinez. Then came the loss to Vacaville later that day.

The defensive play of the tournament for Mountain View came in that final game, according to McHugh. With the bases loaded and one out in the first inning, pitcher Sarah Kamenski started a double play by picking up a hard line drive that hit her in the leg and throwing home for the force out. Catcher Amy Sherrill then threw to first base to complete the double play and end the inning.

But Kamenski, who earned both wins for Mountain View, had to leave the game three innings later because her leg swelled up.

Offensively, Mountain View had several players contribute to the cause. This included Genny DiLeonardo, whom McHugh singled out for her great attitude.

The team also was helped by the play of Marisa Bitler, Patty Garnero, Megan Keefhaver, Rebecca Laferriere, Lindsay O’Hearn, Colleen Powers, Tessa Villasenor and Lisa Walker.

Mountain View, managed by Kaki Moyce, qualified for the national by winning the district title in June.

Most of the players also are on Mountain View Nova, which this week competes in the ASA Western National Championship Tournament.

The event started Monday and concludes Sunday in Mt. Vernon, Wash.