Plouffe Carries Crespi

Trevor Plouffe of Encino Crespi continues to make it difficult for professional baseball scouts to determine whether he’s a better pitcher or hitter.

On Wednesday in a Mission League opener, Plouffe hit his fifth home run in six games and improved to 3-0 on the mound by striking out 12, walking one and giving up three hits in a 6-1 victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at L.A. Valley College.

Plouffe had a two-run home run and a run-scoring single. He’s nine for 13 with 15 runs batted in and has given up one run in 18 innings, striking out 31.

“I’m glad he’s playing for us,” said Coach Scott Muckey, whose team is 6-0, 1-0 in league, and ranked No. 3 in the Southland by The Times.

Plouffe, who has signed with USC, is using a 34-inch bat this season instead of the 33-inch bat he used last season.

“I definitely have more power and more weight behind the bat,” he said.

The Celts play Notre Dame (4-2, 0-1) again at 7 p.m. Friday at Lake Balboa Birmingham.

Eric Sondheimer

*

Softball

San Pedro has won three of its last four consecutive City Section championships behind the pitching of Ashley Esparza, but the senior has a slight pull in the quadriceps.

Coach Tony Dobra said he would be cautious with his two-time City player of the year.

“I’ve got to look at the big picture here,” he said. “Hopefully, it doesn’t get any worse.”

Junior Courtney Lyons (2-2) pitched a five-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 3-0, 10-inning victory over Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula on Tuesday.

The Pirates have games today at Torrance Bishop Montgomery and Saturday against Lakewood St. Joseph in the Downey tournament.

Esparza, who has signed with Penn State, is 3-0, but the Pirates, ranked No. 15 in the Southland by The Times, are 6-2 after losing only once in 31 games last season.

Martin Henderson

*

Boys’ Volleyball

Irvine Woodbridge, Santa Margarita, Fountain Valley and defending champion San Clemente are the top-seeded teams in their respective Gold Division pools at the Orange County Championships, which begin play at 3 p.m. Friday at Edison and Marina highs in Huntington Beach.

Costa Mesa Estancia, Lakewood, Lake Forest El Toro and Arcadia are the top-seeded teams in the Division II tournament, which also begins at 3 p.m. Friday at Newport Harbor.

Play continues in both divisions Saturday at the three sites.

On Monday at Edison, the Division II final is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the Gold Division championship at 7 p.m.

Paul McLeod

*

Girls’ Swimming

Upland will try to defend its Southern Section Division II title without the services of three of its top swimmers.

Senior Ashley Rothweiler and senior twins Vanessa and Brianna Lindsey, who helped the Highlanders’ girls’ water polo team to its second consecutive Division V title, have chosen to focus on playing water polo for their club teams and are not competing for Upland’s swim team.

Rothweiler, who has signed to play water polo at USC next season, swam the freestyle sprints, Brianna Lindsey swam backstroke and Vanessa Lindsey swam the 200-yard individual medley.

-- Lauren Peterson