It is not at all surprising that the Bonita Vista High softball team (13-3-1) is off to a promising start. After all, John Carlson’s charges have advanced to four consecutive CIF finals in the last four years, winning a coveted crown in 2012.
What is surprising is that this year’s team is winning with youth. Of the 16 players currently on the roster, only two of them are seniors. Nine of the remaining players are either freshman or sophomores. They are young, but they are talented.
Just ask the Granite High Eagles. On Monday, the Barons crushed highly regarded Granite Hills, 12-2, in an impressive display of pitching, defense and hitting.
The Barons ace is freshman pitcher Mia Marinakis.
“Mia has four or five pitches and she is constantly improving and getting more consistent,” Carlson said. “She has some pop, but she relies more on her ability to hit her spots, put some spin on the ball and throw an effective change-up.”
Chula Vista High transfer Natalie Samaniego, now finally eligible, is hoping to log some innings on the mound in support of Marinakis.
Facing the county’s top hitters who are in some cases four years older is a tough assignment for any pitcher, but so far Marinakis has acquitted herself well.
The Barons best all-around player might be junior center fielder Aaliyah Jordan.
“Aaliyah hits with power, has good speed and has a good glove and arm. She is our leader on offense,” Carlson said.
Coming into Wednesday’s game against Otay Ranch, Jordan was hitting .408 with a home run, four triples, four doubles and 13 RBI.
Defensively, junior second baseman JoJo Nicolas and sophomore shortstop Lani Graft form a highly effective middle infield. Both are adequate hitters.
Rounding out the infield, the Barons feature junior Brittany Wyllie at the hot corner and Kaylynn Lopez-Liu at first base. Wyllie has been known to make some highlight reel plays at third, but needs to improve her defensive consistency. Batting (.351) she provides power at the plate and has notched 15 RBI. She smacked her first home run of the season on Monday against Granite Hills.
Lopez-Liu provides senior leadership at first base and is solid with a glove. She has found her groove at the plate in recent games (.368) and can provide the expected power of a four-five hitter.
Behind the plate is another freshman, Madison Pacini.
“It’s kind of scary having a freshman catcher, but Madison started off super hot for us,” Carlson said. Her .432 batting average is the best among the team’s starters and she also has a team-high two home runs and 18 RBI.
“Defensively, she is learning to deal with adversity and she is improving,” Carlson noted.
Flanking Aaliyah Jordan in center field is senior Ashley Quidolit in left field and sophomore Cassie Gonzalez in right.
“Ashley is our senior lead-off hitter. She is the fastest kid I have ever coached,” Carlson said. “How she goes, we often go. When she gets on base we seem to feed off of that and we do better at the plate.”
Freshman speedster Crissy Ramirez, while not a starter, is utilized a lot as a runner. Carlson likes her potential.
“We are working her in when we can for the short-game stuff. I often pull her off the bench to run for people and she has done well.”
Carlson believes playing in the competitive Metro-Mesa League against perennially strong teams like Eastlake, Otay Ranch and Mater Dei Catholic is an advantage when it comes time to face county powerhouses like Poway, Rancho Buena Vista and Patrick Henry. Despite their recent success, Carlson expects a tough battle for both the league title and the CIF championship.
