Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
Posted: July 1, 2009 9:25 p.m.
In a year where many thought Valencia softball could be vulnerable entering Foothill League play, the arm of Carly Mortensen proved to be invaluable to the Vikings.
As such, she is The Signal’s 2008-09 co-Newcomer of the Year.
The freshman right-hander became the successor to the circle for Valencia, which has had a strong tradition of pitchers this decade.
Mortensen won 17 games and posted a 1.15 ERA. She also earned a pair of victories against co-Foothill League champion Hart, handing the Indians their only two losses in league play.
She outdueled Hart’s Destiny Rodino, who posted a sub-1.00 ERA and tossed three CIF-Southern Section Division I playoff shutouts, in both matchups.
Mortensen was one of only four freshmen to make the All-CIF-Southern Section Division I team, earning second-team honors.
Similar accolades awaited her after the league season, as she was named co-Foothill League Player of the Year with Hart senior catcher Jessica Shults.
Even then, Mortensen’s biggest accomplishment may have come in the playoffs, when she pitched a first-round shutout against Agoura.
She took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Agoura, scoring an 8-0 victory for the Vikings and allowing just one hit.
Valencia might not have been in that position without her.
On May 12, Mortensen locked up a critical win for Valencia against Hart to put the Vikings in position for a ninth straight league title. With the Vikings’ championship hopes in peril, the young hurler buckled down to deliver a shutout against the potent Hart offense.
The game was scoreless in the sixth before Valencia broke through for a pair of runs, which were more than enough for Mortensen to close out Hart’s hopes of ending the Vikings’ reign.
Earlier in the season, Mortensen ended a two-game losing streak for Valencia with a perfect game against Golden Valley.
The Vikings got back on the track with a 15-0 win and closed out the regular season without another loss, thanks in large part to the arm of Mortensen.
For the year, Mortensen tallied six shutouts, 16 complete games and 160 strikeouts, leading the team in all those categories. She also picked up a save and threw 160 innings for the Foothill League co-champions, showing there is ample reason to believe Valencia’s Foothill League dominance will continue.
kdamore@the-signal.com
Email Article
Print Article
Sign Up for Our Qwik-e Newsletter
