WATSONVILLE—The North Monterey County High softball team continues its mission to prove that last year’s Central Coast Section Division V championship run was no fluke.
The Visesio sisters—Amelia and Dejalei—had a tremendous all-around impact for the Condors in their 6-1 victory over St. Francis High in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play Monday evening.
Amelia, a junior, gave up one run on four hits and no walks, while recording six strikeouts in the complete-game win.
“My offense really picked me up today,” she said. “I wasn’t having the best day, but they came through and helped me out when I needed it.”
With the win, the Condors now own a 6-2 record in league play and sit in third place in the Mission Division.
Ahead of them is division-leading Alvarez High (16-3, 6-1), which is currently riding a seven-game win streak.
Visesio said that while the team is in high spirits after the big win, they need to continue to stay humble.
“It felt good, I was glad we beat [St. Francis] cause last time we did beat them but it was pretty close,” she said. “So I’m glad this one was better, they’re very tough.”
NMC coach Joe Holmes said the players have come to expect great outings such as Monday’s performance by their ace pitcher, who has been playing well this season.
“I can’t say enough about Ame [Visesio], she’s a true competitor. If I tried to pull her out she’d never come out,” Holmes said. “She owns that circle.”
Senior catcher Dejalei Visesio got the Condors bats off to an early start in the first inning bringing home lead off hitter Ariyah Morgan with an RBI single.
After the early run, the Visesio sisters hit the field and Amelia got to work in the circle by retiring the side in the first and second innings.
The third inning started with an error and a bunt single given up by NMV. St. Francis then tied the score at 1-1, getting one run back with an RBI single from sophomore Aaliysah Gomez.
Amelia Visesio limited the damage to one run in the third.
“If I were [Visesio], my arm would be done already, but she is just pulling through,” NMC senior Gabriela Holmes said about her teammate. “I really appreciate her, she’s just amazing.”
The Condors took back the lead in the sixth inning when Sophomore shortstop Ariyah Morgan capitalized on a St. Francis error by hitting an RBI double. She batted 3-for-5 on the night.
In the seventh, the Condor’s bats came alive.
Dejalei Visesio, who committed to play next year at the University of Saint Katherine, started a game-changing rally with a solo home run to left field.
The Condors strung along four more hits in the seventh and final frame, including RBI singles from both Holmes and junior Jasmynne Olivia.
“I was really glad I got that hit, I needed that,” Holmes said. “I was in a little bit of a slump, so it just felt amazing.”
Joe Holmes said it’s a battle each week. NMC lost, 4-1, to Monterey High (15-7-1, 6-3) on Tuesday.
After a rocky regular season last year, the Condors found their winning form going into the CCS playoffs en route to a D-V championship.
Holmes said they still have something to prove to everybody and that last year was no fluke.
“These girls know it’s not how you really start but how you finish in the season,” he said.
The Condors have a league meeting against Carmel on Friday at 4:30pm, followed by an anticipated meeting at Alvarez on May 4 at the same time.
