Over the years, softball teams representing Bonita Vista High School have generally been very good. There are a slew of league banners attesting to that fact hanging in the Baron gym. But as good as many of those teams have been, not one of them has ever captured a section championship.
With just a few games remaining before post-season play, the county’s No. 1-ranked team has run up an impressive 29-1 record (after Wednesday’s 9-1 victory over visiting Eastlake) and scored runs by the bushel. The No. 1 ranking will mean nothing once the Division II playoffs begin, but earlier victories over many of the county’s top-rated teams have given these Barons confidence as they set their sights on a crown.
San Diego State-bound senior outfielder Kayla Jordan has led the extremely potent BV offense with her .506 batting average, eight home runs, five triples and 38 RBI.
“Kayla is a great hitter and she is as fast as lightning,” said veteran Barons coach John Carlson. “She is probably the fastest kid I have ever coached. She puts pressure on the defenses even when she hits a grounder. If she hits the ball into the gap it is at least a double, but she often doesn’t stop at second.”
While not quite as good in the field, she is a very solid outfielder. Jordan uses her blazing speed to get to balls that many outfielders simply would not be able to reach.
Carlson finds her easy to work with, highly motivated and a player who leads by example. Reserved by nature, Jordan lets her bat do most of her talking. Her quiet leadership has at times inspired the best from her teammates.
While Jordan is perhaps the team’s most outstanding hitter, four others — Hannah Flippen (.462), Celinna Cosio (.464), Anissa Pinedo (.435) and Alex Vargas (.486) — have been nearly as good at the plate.
Barons ace Jennifer Hartman has done the lion’s share of the pitching this season. Still only a junior, Hartman has been incredibly tough on batters while recording a 1.51 ERA. She has shared the mound this season with Flippen (2.25 ERA) and Vargas (3.39 ERA).
Behind them has been a rock solid defense led by players such as Andrea Lara, Jaycee Carlson, Ruby Elliot, and the aforementioned Pinedo, Flippen and Cosio.
Could this finally be the year in which the Barons hoist the trophy? Anything can and often does happen in the CIF playoffs, but with their excellent hitting, pitching and defense, these Barons head into the tournament as the team to beat.
Extra bases
Bonita Vista moved into a first-place tie with Hilltop by avenging its 3-1 loss on May 4 with last Friday’s 7-3 victory. Carlson had a triple and two RBI while Cosio had a double and drove in one run and Vargas had three hits.
Bonita Vista remained deadlocked with Hilltop following Monday’s 17-8 victory at Otay Ranch in which Jordan belted a double and home run, drove in four runs and scored three runs.
On Wednesday, Natalie Cox cracked a two-run homer while Jordan went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs. Hartman hurled a complete game to improve to 21-1.
