Howley chosen for Valley League first team

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Two Fallbrook High School softball players were given all-league recognition by the Valley League coaches.

Baylee Howley was selected to the Valley League first team. Berlin Broussard received honorable mention designation.

"I think it's a great thing," Fallbrook High Coach Lisa Stehle said of having two all-league players.

"I'm very proud of the ones we have," Stehle said. "It makes me happy to know that we have recognition for those girls."

The two all-league selections were achieved despite Fallbrook placing last in the Valley League standings with a league record of 0-10. The Warriors had a 2-16 regular-season record, although the power rankings which determine playoff selection and seeding utilize strength of schedule as well as win-loss record and Fallbrook was in the CIF Division IV playoffs. A first-round loss at Sage Creek finalized the Warriors' season record at 2-17.

The 2021 team included only one senior and seven freshmen, so the players were not burdened by the team win-loss record. "Everyone was having fun," Howley said. "It was amazing."

Howley is a junior. Broussard is one of the freshmen.

San Pasqual junior Kylee Sweet was selected as the league's player of the year, but Howley was mentioned in the discussion for the superlative award. A 10-0 league record gave San Pasqual the league championship, and the Golden Eagles also won two CIF Division I playoff games. Stehle did not mind Sweet rather than Howley being selected as the player of the year. "There are some phenomenal players out there," Stehle said.

Howley is primarily a catcher for the Warriors. "She just continues to improve herself. She just continues to show what the effort of her hard work and dedication does," Stehle said.

"For her to see success from that only fuels the fire for her to get better," Stehle said. "I think it says a lot about her."

Howley batted .511 for the season, including non-league games, with 24 hits in 47 at-bats. Eight of her hits were doubles and three were home runs. She scored 17 runs, had 12 runs batted in, stole 11 bases, and drew 10 walks. She only struck out three times in 58 plate appearances (she was hit by a pitch once). Howley had a .603 on-base percentage and a slugging average of .872. She also pitched in five games, hurling 11 2/3 innings with a 6.60 earned run average. On the mound Howley struck out eight batters.

"It was my goal at the beginning of the season to get first team all-league, and I was very excited that I did," Howley said.

Howley started for the Warriors in 2019 and was on the all-league second team as a freshman. The coronavirus shutdown ended the 2020 season prior to the start of league play, so there were no all-league awards.

Broussard played third base for Fallbrook. She batted .306 with 15 hits including five doubles in 49 at-bats. She scored six runs while driving in 11. She drew two walks and stole three bases. Her on-base percentage was .333 and her slugging average was .405.

"Berlin has a lot to offer," Stehle said.

Stehle hopes that the growth of the team will result in more all-league players in the near future. "You want to develop more," she said. "I'm excited to see what next year brings for this team."