SPORTS WATCH : Equity Pitch

College baseball has returned to Southern California in recent weeks, a welcome reminder of the small, reassuring certainties of the seasons of life. The rhythms of daily existence have been quietly resuming for many after the disasters of recent months.

However, a story out of Southern California College in Costa Mesa this week brought national TV crews rushing in, and the college fielded requests from a national news magazine and even from a movie studio.

Pitcher Ila Borders, a freshman, struck out the first 10 batters she faced, almost pitched a shutout and went the distance in the game as her small school defeated Claremont-Mudd, 12-1. This impressive outing marked the first time a woman has pitched in a “men’s” college baseball game.

Borders’ coach had taken some criticism for offering her a scholarship, and even in victory she had to endure silly questions at a rare postgame press conference held at second base. But as remarkable as the event was, and as circus-like as the atmosphere became, there was still that familiarity of baseball surrounding it.

The pitcher said she was just interested in winning a game, not making profound statements. She revealed that when the coach approached near the end to ask her how she felt, she did what any tired pitcher wanting to hang in there does: She fibbed a bit, saying she felt fine.

Despite the hoopla, the landmark event was, in a sense, wonderfully ordinary. And what a winner the winning pitcher was.