Bonsall High School adds baseball and softball

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Bonsall High School has added baseball and softball to the CIF sports the school fields.

“It’s really happening,” said BHS Athletic Director Andrea Breuninger. “We’re getting some softball and baseball jerseys ordered and finishing off the field and all that.”

Danny Costa and Danny Mencias will be Bonsall’s baseball co-coaches. “They’re both Bonsall Unified employees, which is exciting,” Breuninger said.

Costa teaches 11th grade social sciences. Mencias teaches social sciences at Sullivan Middle School. The softball head coach, Emily Casillas, is a Bonsall Unified School District classified employee; she is a campus supervisor for the area shared by Sullivan Middle School and Bonsall High School.

Adding baseball and softball required more than obtaining the commitment of those who will be coaching. “Finding a field, I’d say has been the biggest struggle,” Breuninger said.

Encouraging enough students to play the sport was also difficult. “Some of them, it’s their first time playing baseball or softball,” Breuninger said.

The Pala Indian Reservation is within the BUSD boundaries, and the Legionnaires will play their baseball and softball home games at the Pala Sports Complex. “They’re going to be doing that free of charge for us,” Breuninger said.

“The tribe is really excited about partnering,” said Bonsall Unified School District superintendent Joseph Clevenger. “We’re very grateful for their ongoing support and partnership.”

Pala will even make modifications to the facility which currently has two softball fields. “They are happily going to transform their softball field into a baseball field for us,” Breuninger said. “One of the softball fields is going to be converted for baseball.”

That will create a new field. “No one’s ever played out there,” Breuninger said. “The fields are in outstanding condition.”

In softball, the bases are 60 feet apart. In baseball the bases are 90 feet apart. The conversion of the softball field will thus create strange ground. “Second base is three to four feet into the grass,” Breuninger said. “First and third base are right up against the grass.”

The baseball field which had been a softball field will have an outfield fence 275 feet away from home plate at the foul lines. “The fence is a little short,” Breuninger said.

Breuninger notes that the short fences will be pitching obstacles and batting enticements for both teams. “It’s fair for everybody,” she said.

Some of Bonsall’s opponents don’t have their own fields, so some games will be played at the Pala Sports Complex with Bonsall designated as the visiting team. “We’re really excited about having a facility,” Breuninger said.

The Legionnaires will also have their practices at the Pala Sports Complex. “Transportation’s also an issue,” Breuninger said.

Parents will provide much of the transportation, and district school buses will be used if they are not needed to transport students between school and their homes. “It’s been a lot of hurdles to overcome,” Breuninger said.

Approximately 15 aspiring baseball players and 15 aspiring softball players have expressed interest. “We have been building great momentum,” Breuninger said.

On-campus coaches have aided that. “They already have a relationship with the students and the students are excited about some of the teachers becoming their coaches,” Breuninger said.

Some of the players have previous organized baseball or softball experience. “We’ve got pieces. It’s just that we don’t have everybody who’s played,” Breuninger said. “The coaches are excited about getting the students ready.”

If weather and other circumstances permit the first baseball game will be March 1 and the first softball game will be played March 3.

“I really know what an impact sports can have on kids,” Breuninger said.

Breuninger attended Christian High School. She played varsity basketball and junior varsity softball for the Patriots. “It just taught me so many life skills, how to get along with others, how to respect authority,” she said.

“It put me on a good path,” Breuninger said. “It kept me out of trouble.”

For Breuninger, sports was an incentive to remain academically eligible, and her parents’ academic conditions exceeded those of the CIF which requires only a 2.0 grade point average. Breuninger’s parents would not let her play sports if she received any grade lower than a B.

Breuninger also retained such traits as competitiveness and putting in extra effort after her playing career ended. “It just made me more well-rounded,” she said.

Mencias played baseball at Rancho Buena Vista High School. Clevenger also attended Rancho Buena Vista High School; he played volleyball and basketball for the Longhorns.

“The superintendent has also been very instrumental as well,” Breuninger said of the addition of baseball and softball.

“This is going to be such a good opportunity for our kids,” Clevenger said. “I’m so excited to provide additional opportunities for kids to be connected to the school in ways they’re excited and passionate about.”

Casillas is a 2015 Fallbrook High School graduate who played softball for the Warriors including two years on the varsity. “She’s showing the kids some basics,” Breuninger said. “She’s awesome.”

Bonsall’s softball team was originally not in a league, although two Patriot League teams dropped out and the Legionnaires were added to the league.

The baseball team will also be in the Patriot League. That provides a league schedule, and Breuninger is hoping to obtain more non-league games. “That’s one thing I’ve really got to work on is getting them more opportunity. Probably not Fallbrook. We’re going to steer clear of that matchup,” she said.

“I’m just grateful for the coaches in particular who put in this time and Andrea for spearheading so much of this work,” Clevenger said.

“It’s just really exciting. I’m so excited to partner with the Pala tribe and get this underway,” Breuninger said