Sports
Banning Softball Opens Season With Double Header Sweep of Indio
Broncos score 22 runs in double header sweep of Shadow Hills.
Banning High’s softball team couldn’t have asked for a better season opening weekend.
The Broncos tuned up for a busy week with a double header sweep of Indio Shadow Hills on Saturday. Beaumont won the opener 21-0 and won 12-0 in the nightcap.
Banning (2-0) open the week on Monday at Twentynine Palms. Then the Broncos play every day the rest of the week in the Valley View Tournament.
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“I love the way this group loves to play softball,” Banning second year coach Maso Lara said. “They really get after it.”
The Broncos produced 22 hits in the two wins, including a two run home run by Laura Becerra in the opener and an inside-the-park home run by Felicity McCafferty in the nightcap.
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“As long as the girls keep their heads on straight and keep working on getting better, the sky is the limit with this group,” Lara said.
Last season Broncos were 11-9 and missed the playoffs. In the big picture that will likely be a team goal – the Broncos haven’t qualified for the playoffs in at least six seasons.
“We had a strong start and then fell off (last season),” Lara said. “We ended strong but didn’t get to the playoffs.”
The team is relatively young. The team roster includes seven sophomores, two juniors and three seniors. Eight of those players are returning from last season.
The team also includes All-Mountain Valley League selections in Jesicah Lara, McCafferty and Becerra.
The Broncos had 14 hits in the opener, including doubles by Jesicah Lara (2), Chantel Torres, Andrea Villegas, Mejauni Rosales, McCafferty and Becerra.
Becerra got the start on the mound and registered a 5-hitter. She struck out five in picking up the win.
The highlight of the opener was the Becerra’s homer. It flew over left field.
“As soon as it left the bat I knew it was gone,” Coach Lara said. “She has been murdering the ball in practice and in our scrimmage.”
The Broncos had eight games in the second game. Jessica Jackson, Valen Thibault and Becerra doubled while Jo Anne Lamas doubled and tripled.
Lara pitched the second game.
“This was good for us,” Coach Lara said. “It was the first time we played as a group and the girls are really into being a team. It was good to see them laughing and having fun. It’s a good group.”
