WATSONVILLE—St. Francis High senior Alicia Mendez and the Sharks softball team are off to a hot start.
The right-handed ace pitcher threw a no-hitter and hit three solo home runs to lead them past Monte Vista Christian 15-0 in non-league action Tuesday. With the win, the Sharks improved to 4-0.
St. Francis coach Adam Noto said watching Mendez perform in the circle and hitting every pitch on point is almost like a video game—almost unreal.
“The ball’s going to be where I want it to go,” he said. “Nothing affects her, she’s just even-steven. That’s just how she is.”
Mendez struck out 12 batters in the five-inning game, which was called early on the mercy rule.
She became the third Santa Cruz County athlete to hit three home runs in a game this season. Aptos High’s Mileena Carbajal accomplished the feat last week and San Lorenzo Valley High’s Bella Reynolds did it on Tuesday.
Mariah Montalvo, committed to play for NCAA D-I Santa Clara University, batted 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs.
“I think we’re playing good,” she said. “We’re all super excited to be here and we’re all trying to give it our all. Our goal is to try to keep on winning as best as we can, play our hardest and we’re just out here having fun.”
The senior duo led the Sharks to the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs for the second time last year.
“I am so lucky to have these girls on my team and don’t think I don’t go home every night and know how lucky I really am,” Noto said.
The Sharks played through an abbreviated 2021 spring season in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. They also had their season canceled in 2020 and Mendez said it was disappointing at the time.
“It was so short and we didn’t get our full experience in that so it’s finally good to get our full experience now,” she said.
Mendez posted a 2.55 ERA with 39 strikeouts and just five walks in 46 2/3-innings pitched, according to MaxPreps.
Still, nothing has changed in terms of team chemistry, said Montalvo.
“Even if we lost some girls last year, we got new girls in and we’re still a strong team, and we’re strong together,” she said.
Noto said last week they were just working off the rust.
“It’s coming together slowly but surely,” he said. “It’s a good first week for us.”
Noto called this year’s group a “fun bunch” to coach and it feels like each player—young or experienced—has been playing the game forever.
“They’re a good group,” he said.
The Gomez sisters, Aaliyah, a senior shortstop, and Aaliysah, a sophomore second baseman, have been instrumental in backing up Mendez on defense.
Aaliyah hit her first home run of the season in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game.
St. Francis had 16 hits. Mendez, Montalvo, Sabrina Noto, Brisea Raygoza and the Gomez sisters each collected multiple hits.
Last year, Aaliyah hit .488 with three homers, 13 RBIs and a team-high 18 runs scored that earned her a spot on the All-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League First Team. Aaliysah made the second team after hitting .429 and scoring 14 runs.
Raygoza, a junior centerfielder, also made the second team after hitting .400 with a home run and 13 RBIs. Sophomore Gigi Calderon returns at third base for the Sharks, and in the outfield, it’s sophomore Nevaeh Little and freshman Demaria Bolden.
Mendez said she has been proud of the younger players for stepping up and improving as the season goes on.
Noto said the sky’s the limit for these players and it’s up to them on how far they want to go this season. He mentioned that most of them play high-level travel ball and in high-pressure situations before, which will help them the rest of the way.
“Really, I’m just kind of driving the ship and letting them do all the work,” he said. “We’ll just see where that ship goes.”
St. Francis (4-0) begins PCAL Mission Division play at North Monterey County (8-3) on Friday at 4:30pm.
