On April 24, BVH’s varsity softball team lost a home game against Mater Dei Catholic (MDC) with a score of 2-7. However, BVH did not go down without a fight. In the first ten minutes of the game, MDC scored a homerun against BVH. While the Crusaders get excited making the first point, BVH cheers for their players as they get ready to bat in the next inning. BVH outfielder and senior Bryanna Baca (12) is set to bat, hitting a single and igniting the dugout.
“MDC is a tough team to play against, they are a big competitor in our league. We prepare ourselves by seeing who is most likely going to face pitching wise. We practice every week Mondays to Thursdays after school,” left field, first base and senior Viviana Flores (32) said.
Next up to hit is BVH sophomore Ariana Magdeleno (99), who strikes out. Shortstop and senior Irie Iapala (4) is next to bat, getting on base as a result. With both Baca and Iapala in their spots, Flores is next to swing, and as she cracks the ball, the seniors sprint to home, scoring BVH’s only two points of the game. The future hardships of the match will only remind the Lady Barons of the challenges that come with playing MDCS.
“Every year we play MDC at least twice a season, but this year was different. This year was the first time we’ve played MDC in league,” first base and third base, senior Alexis Jimenez (33) said.
In the next inning, MDC is the one to pitch as BVH are the batters. As one of BVH’s players hits, MDC quickly shoots the ball to get them out before hitting first base. Junior Anaissa Del Rio (10) focuses where the ball is going to be thrown; they hit it, which makes its way to the other side of the field, and the opposite team caught it before it hit the ground, leading to another out.
“MDC is very good and has good players that have a killer mentally that many of the players on my team need to focus on. Even though my team is very young and full of sophomores and juniors, I believe that they too have grown a lot throughout this season and should know how to carry themselves differently when playing the game,” Jimenez said.
They switch to the next inning, making the Barons the one to pitch, the opposite team makes a point leaving the scores neck to neck at 2-2. As the opposite team makes a hit, they start to run towards first base until sophomore Leah Letuli (8) catches it. BVH’s Assistant softball Coach, Rene Munoz shares how he became the BVH’s Assistant softball Coach.
“I’ve been coaching youth for over 30 years. I was coachi
ng before I even had my own kids, mentoring the student-athletes. Coaching is not only about the sport, it is also about teaching our students life lessons that they will use once they graduate. In my 30 plus years of coaching, I’ve had my share of challenges,” Munoz said.
The next batter on MDC starts to hit the ball. It goes all the way at the end of the field and earns the Crusaders three more points. MDC takes the score 5-2. However, BVH picks their heads up and continues to do their best. Jimenez shares some challenges that she faces.
“One thing that I face while playing softball is the mental aspect of it. Softball is a game of failure and three times out of ten, players will succeed in the sport and most of the time fail in it. It’s just about making adjustments and learning from them and not letting the game define who you are. That’s what I struggle with the most,” Jimenez said.
Sophomore Gianna Flores (00) for MDC starts to get ready to bat. Junior Danica Aboytes (1) on Barons continues to throw sharp throws. All of a sudden, Flores for MDC hits the ball while one of the barons tries to retrieve it. In the midst of the Lady Barons’ distraction, the Crusaders send another runner to home and get their sixth point on the board.
“How I have overcome some challenges throughout my softball career is learning to brush off people and coaches that have no faith in me and my ability to succeed in my path to play in college. I’ve had a few coaches that never believed in me and would bring me down telling me I would never play in college but I would push myself to prove them wrong. Even though that was very difficult, especially being a little girl going through that, it taught me the importance of believing in yourself because nobody else will,” Jimenez said.
In the next inning, senior Alisa Quitoriano (27) on BVH’s team hits the ball in the middle of the field while junior Lilia Alpuche (2) on MDC tries to pick up the ball; it drops and leaves senior Alisa Quitoriano (27) on first base. In the next inning as one of MDC players hits the ball sophomore Leah Letuli (8) on, Bonita catches it, getting an out on the Crusaders. BVH’s senior Alexis Jimenez
(33) hits the ball to the left side of the field as one of the players on MDC tries to catch the ball it slips out.
“Our players also encounter life challenges that impact their focus on the game. Us coaches try to guide them through those challenges in order for them to overcome their challenges and stay focused on our team goals. Bonita has a very talented softball team. If we can play as a team, our chances of winning a CIF title are great,” Rene Munoz said.
BVH got someone at first base, then another player on first leading the other to second. MDC took a strike out by catching the first ball hit and passing it to third base getting two people out from BVH. Then MDC makes a home run leaving the score 7-2. Flores shares what challenges the team has faced and overcome in the past season.
“Some challenges we face are our mentality when we’re down in the game. I have overcome some challenges by the help of my teammates cheering me on. I have developed a lot since the first time I have played. Learned a lot from different coaches. I love the sport. I have learned so many life lessons through it,” Flores said.
