Bonita Valley Defends 10U Title With A Brand New Lineup

By Sara E. Wacker

With a twinkle in their hearts, and bats, the Bonita Valley (CA.) 10U All-Stars found their silver lining as they became this yearís ASA West B National Champions in St. Louis in early August.

The Bonita Valley All-Stars, assembled in May of this year, consists of a compilation of players from different teams in the league. Last yearís 10U team won the National title in College Station, Texas, leaving this yearís team with big shoes to fill.

With only three returning players, this yearís All-Stars won two first place tournaments defeating Placentia-Yorba Linda (CA) and Murrieta (CA) to start out the season and finished fourth in the SoCal State tournament behind Hart, Northridge and Placentia-Yorba Linda respectively.

With their minds set on Nationals, the girls worked hard to get ready for the countrywide tournament. Three weeks before Nationals, the All-Stars wore jackets to practice to get ready for the heat and humidity and ran a lot perhaps, the secret to their success.

After ten games and over 50 runs, Bonita Valley again wears the crown. They beat out Code Red (OK), 9-1; Jack Penny All-Stars (IA), 9-0; Texas Blasters, 8-0; KC Caboom (Corpus Christi, TX), 3-2; San Mateo Slammers (CA), 5-1; and Scripps Ranch (CA), 3-0 consecutively.

Then, in game seven versus Placentia-Yorba Linda (CA) Bonita Valley lost by two, 2-0. Once we got to the end, they [the competition] got harder and harder, said 11-year old Gaby Torimaru.

Three games went into international tie breaker! Coming off a devastating loss from Placentia-Yorba Linda, the turning point came when Bonita Valley beat rival Scripps Ranch for a second time, 3-0, in game eight. The game was a highlight because, in the prequalifying district tournament, Scripps Ranch pretty much shut us down, said Head Coach John Carlson.

Once we beat Scripps we felt we could beat any team there, added Carlson. Our defense and Gabyís pitching shut down the Scripps offense. Gaby also
added our third run in the 6th inning by crushing a solo home run.

With some incredible plays, Bonita Valley battled Placentia-Yorba Linda twice in games nine and ten for the championship. The All-Stars felt that they needed to overcome the team that eliminated them from the State championship earlier in the summer. And they did - with scores of 5-3 and 3-2.

They were well coached (teams) with incredible young athletes. Hart, PYL (Placentia-Yorba Linda), Scripps were outstanding. Any one of those teams could have won the National tournament, said Carlson, who visited the city in 2002 with the Bonita Valley 12U team as they won the National tournament that year on the very same field.

We started out very slow, explained Carlson. The first few tournaments highlighted our weaknesses. These kids worked extremely hard to better themselves.

Over the summer, Torimaru became a championship pitcher, described Carlson. She learned how to get a no nonsense approach while pitching. One of the nicest kids youíll ever meet, but when she pitched she truly learned how to focus on the task at hand. Suffice it to say, without Gaby pitching, we would not have been as
successful as we were.

Olivia Nebo, the catcher for the team with the nickname O, was as tough as nails. She caught all four games on the final day of the National tournament and she was as energetic in the fourth as she was in the first, explained Carlson.

Carlson believes that some of Andrea Laraís plays at second base should qualify for ESPNís web gems. She was an anchor in our infield, he said. Right fielder Stephanie Sholan played every game at Nationals and not only did she play perfect defense, but she also got many clutch hits throughout the week. Accolades can also be extended to Jaycee Carlson at shortstop and Rheanna McElyea in centerfield and leadoff hitter.She set the tone for us on offense, said Coach Carlson. She frustrated defenses with her ability to bunt, slap and hit.

Other outstanding All-Stars players include: Heather Gearhart, outfield; Victoria Hernandez, pitcher; Jennifer Hartman, pitcher; Nikki Furuya, first base; Ruby Elliot, third base; Anissa Pinedo, left field; Nichole Hollister, outfield; Hannah Bronson, outfield; and Adriana Angulo, outfield.

Assisting Carlson as coaches are Chuck Lara, Ricky Torimaru and Travis Elliot. It is very hard to repeat a National championship in the same age bracket because of the number of players that move up each year, said Carlson. The reason Iím involved in coaching is to teach these kids that they have the ability to do anything they set their mind to. This team knows that now ... and theyíre only 10.

For more information on the Bonita Valley All-Stars, log onto http://www.bvgasa.org