Power Hitters Find a Match

Break out the camcorders because Bianca Mejia of Woodland Hills El Camino Real and Christina Schallig of Carson have been engaged in the high school softball version of the 1998 home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.

These prodigious City Section sluggers are among the best in Southern California when it comes to hitting the long ball.

Michigan State-bound Mejia is batting .589 with 16 home runs, one short of the state record set by UCLA’s Lisa Dodd in 2003 as a high school senior in San Diego. California-bound Schallig is hitting .466 with 10 home runs. Both have led their teams into the City Section quarterfinals.

“She’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen,” El Camino Real Coach Lori Chandler said of Mejia. “She just crushes the ball. Everywhere we go, you’ll hear, ‘Oh.’ Most of her home runs are line drives into the gaps, and they keep going.”

In her four years as a starter, Schallig has hit 35 home runs, which places her second in the state behind Oakland Bishop O’Dowd’s Jennifer Lizama, who hit 38 from 1993 to 1996.

Earlier this season, Schallig hit two home runs over the eight-foot fence that’s 220 feet from home plate at Manhattan Beach Mira Costa. Only three players had hit the ball over that fence since it was installed in 1993, according to Mira Costa Coach Richard Amberik.

“I’d like to say a hurricane wind was blowing out,” Amberik said. “I’ve been coaching for 40 years, and she’s good.”

The two haven’t been following each other’s accomplishments this season, but somehow they are matching each other’s.

On April 21, Schallig struck out 15 and hit a home run in a victory over Harbor City Narbonne. The same day, Mejia hit her 12th home run and had five runs batted in during a victory over Lake Balboa Birmingham. Mejia has had a 10-RBI game and also hit three home runs in one game.

Both are shortstops and have played against each other for years on the club softball circuit.

“I love the way she plays,” Schallig said of Mejia. “She’s very vocal. She’s a leader. You can tell she’s the type of player you want in a clutch situation.”

Mejia doesn’t recall Schallig as much but respects her skills.

Schallig has received universal praise at Carson for the way she approaches softball and academics.

“She’s the total package,” Coach Cam Werner said. “She’s got the grades and she’s got the work ethic, second to none. You can have all the skills in the world, but good players don’t develop overnight. It’s years and years of hard work that’s paid off. She has more heart than anyone I’ve seen.”

Mejia had to sit out last season after transferring from Sylmar, where she was involved in an off-the-field incident that she says she learned from. Her father, Carlo, was an All-City infielder at Sylmar in 1972, and her uncle, Oscar, was the City player of the year in baseball in 1980.

“She’s a good person,” Carlo said. “She’s still a kid and is still learning and growing.”

Asked how she became such a dominant hitter, Mejia said, “I have no clue. My dad just told me to keep my eye on the ball.”

Mejia is 5 feet 7; Schallig is 5-6. People wonder whether they’ll be able to continue their hitting success at the next level.

“When you face the best pitching, you’re not going to get the best pitch you want,” Schallig said. “You have to hit their mistakes. I love the game. It’s my passion, and I’m going into the top conference there is. I want to be as prepared as I can be.”

Mejia originally committed to 10-time NCAA champion UCLA, but academic issues led to a change in plans, and Michigan State Coach Jacquie Joseph couldn’t be happier.

“She is, without question, the highest profiled position player we’ve ever signed,” Joseph said. “Briana is truly an exceptional player. She’s so athletic, has hands like butter and a cannon for an arm. She’s going to be an impact player. The question is just how quickly.”

Whatever happens in the future, Mejia and Schallig have raised the standard for excellence when it comes to hitting home runs in the City Section.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at [email protected].