Warriors defeat Frogs to open softball season

The first Fallbrook High School softball game of the 2021 season ended with the Warriors taking an 18-17 victory over Guajome Park.

"I think the game was a good first game," said Fallbrook coach Lisa Stehle. "I'm happy with what I saw."

The game was played March 26 at Brengle Terrace Park in Vista. The Warriors held a 16-5 lead after 3 1/2 innings before the Frogs scored 12 runs in their final four batting innings.

"It showed us where we need to improve. It showed us where we need to work," Stehle said.

The game began with a leadoff homer by junior Baylee Howley. "That always helps to get others excited," Stehle said.

Howley had a single, a double, and two walks in her other four plate appearances. She scored a total of three times, had two runs batted in, and stole one base.

The Warriors scored six times in the top of the first inning. Guajome Park crossed the plate twice in the bottom of the first and three times in the second. Seven Fallbrook runs in the third were followed by three runs in the top of the fourth. The Frogs rounded the bases four times in the bottom of the fourth and three times in the fifth. Fallbrook added single runs in the sixth and seventh for an 18-12 lead. Guajome Park scored five times in the bottom of the seventh.

Fallbrook had a total of 15 hits with junior Melany Becerra matching Howley's three safeties and freshman Kacey Sanchez reaching base on a hit twice. Two of Becerra's hits were doubles and she added a run scored, two runs driven in, and three stolen bases.

Sanchez had one of Fallbrook's seven doubles and was one of three Warriors to advance to first base as a hit batter. Two juniors, Alexis Perez and Yadhira Flor, drove in three runs apiece while sophomore Claire Hawthorne joined Howley and Becerra with two runs batted in. The Warriors also drew six walks.

Although Howley was the only Fallbrook player with three runs, five Warriors scored twice: Hawthorne, Perez, freshman Berlin Broussard, freshman Valerie Hernandez, and freshman Hazel Rodriguez.

Fallbrook was successful on 17 of 18 stolen base attempts. Rodriguez advanced four times on a steal while three steals apiece were obtained by Perez and freshman Larissa Ramirez as well as by Becerra.

The Warriors committed six errors, and 11 of the 17 runs allowed by Hawthorne, Rodriguez, and Sanchez on the mound were unearned. The pitchers yielded a combined 10 hits although they also issued nine walks and hit five Guajome Park batters. Seven of the Frogs outs were by strikeout.

Stehle noted that Fallbrook's varsity includes eight freshmen. "We have a big freshman class who just came in," she said. "They don't necessarily know what to expect."

This year's team also has four juniors. "They really work to help the younger players," Stehle said.

The roster consists of 14 girls. Fallbrook does not have a junior varsity team this year. "We just don't have enough girls coming out for the team at this stage," Stehle said.

Only five of the 2020 varsity players are on the 2021 team. "We've got to start over," Stehle said.

The 2020 Warriors, who had two seniors, posted a 2-3 record before the coronavirus outbreak ended the season early. "We definitely had a great start to the season," Stehle said.

Last year Stehle was the assistant coach and Hannah Stahler was Fallbrook's head coach. Rey Harmon was the Warriors' head coach in 2018 and 2019, and Stehle was also an assistant coach those years.

The 2019 squad had four seniors. "The hope is that we grow this program and it becomes bigger," Stehle said.

Stehle was hired as the Warriors' head coach in November 2020. "I always wanted my own program, and now I have that opportunity," she said. "It's about showing my passion with these girls and hopefully empowering them in the process."

She played softball at Norte Vista High School in Riverside and then at the University of San Diego. Stehle was a middle infielder at Norte Vista and an outfielder at USD. "I had an arm and I had the speed back then," she said.

Stehle continued her playing activity in recreation leagues and has more than 35 years of playing experience. "I come from a player perspective as well," she said.

She coached her oldest daughter, Faith, from six-and-under recreational softball to the high school level. Stehle's husband is in the Marine Corps and the family was in South Korea before returning to California in July 2017. Faith Stehle played softball for Fallbrook High School in 2018 and 2019 and is now at Northern Arizona University, although injuries prevented her from playing collegiate softball. Lisa Stehle and her husband have four children altogether.

Fallbrook's new assistant coach is Matt Lerche, who coached in Fallbrook Girls Softball for five years. "A lot of our freshmen had actually played for him," Stehle said.

Stehle will work on building a relationship with the youth league. "If we don't have a feeder program we really are starting over from scratch," she said.

If there is an Opening Day for Fallbrook Girls Softball, the high school girls often participate, which creates a bond between the high school and youth players and acquaints the youth players to the high school program.

"We want to create the relationships within the community as well," Stehle said.

The coronavirus shutdown gave Stehle time to obtain her master's degree from Capella University in 2020. Capella is based in Minnesota, but the school's education programs meet state licensing requirements for other states including California. Stehle obtained her counseling credential in November 2020 and considers her counseling expertise as another tool to grow the softball program. "I want to invest in every one of those girls," she said. "I love working with this age group."

Personal growth off the field will assist the team concept, and support of team goals leads to improved individual skills. "At the end of the day I have to make them play better and to make them a better team," Stehle said.

What went less than desired in the 2021 season opener will be the near-term focus of Stehle's improvement plans. "I'm excited for this year," she said.

Stehle foresees a strong future for the Fallbrook girls. "It drives me to work harder," she said.