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Legionnaires 2-3 after five softball games

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

After five games, four of which were contested, Bonsall High School’s inaugural softball team had a 2-3 record.

The Legionnaires defeated Borrego Springs on the field March 17 at home, which is the Pala Sports Complex, and were also the beneficiaries of a forfeit win against Warner when the Wildcats were the victims of field problems. Borrego Springs had previously defeated Bonsall, and Classical Academy had two victories over the Legionnaires.

“We’ve been doing well, considering we have a lot of girls who have never played before,” said Bonsall coach Emily Casillas. “We’re kind of picking up from nowhere.”

Casillas, Bonsall athletic director Andrea Breuninger, and other school staff along with students were able to find 18 girls for the school’s first-ever softball team. Seven of those are freshmen, five are sophomores, two are juniors, and four are seniors. About half a dozen of those have some organized softball experience in recreational leagues.

The Legionnaires were supposed to open their 2022 season March 3 at home against Warner, but the Wildcats had to postpone that game. “We got pushed back,” Casillas said.

Bonsall’s first game took place March 8 at Borrego Springs. The Rams had a 9-0 lead after two innings before Bonsall scored three times in the top of the third. Eleven Borrego runs in the bottom of the third and one run in the bottom of the fourth created a 21-3 final score when the game was called after four innings.

“We only had one pitcher at the time, so eventually she got tired,” Casillas said. “We made a lot of small errors, and we did not hit well.”

The issuance of 13 walks provided the Rams with most of their baserunners while two other Borrego batters reached base after being hit by a pitch. Borrego Springs only had nine hits, including four by senior Brianna Del Bono whose hits consisted of a single, a triple, and two home runs. The Rams were successful on all eight stolen base attempts.

Bonsall was supposed to travel to Warner Springs for a March 10 game against Warner, but the Wildcats’ field problems resulted in an agreement that the Legionnaires would receive a forfeit win. Bonsall then traveled to Escondido for a Classical Academy home game March 15. The 10-run mercy rule called the game after 4 1/2 innings and gave the Caimans a 24-8 victory.

Casillas was encouraged by the Legionnaires increasing their run total from the previous game. “We were also hitting. That’s where we seemed to swing our bats,” she said.

Each team scored three runs in the first inning. The Caimans scored 10 times in the bottom of the second. A Bonsall run in the top of the third was countered by four Classical Academy scores in the bottom of the frame. Classical Academy added seven runs in the fourth. Four Bonsall runs in the top of the fifth closed out the scoring.

“We’re all still learning; we’re all still putting in the work to try to do better,” Casillas said.

That includes Casillas, who has never previously coached a softball team. She attended Fallbrook High School, did not play softball as a freshman, was on the Warriors’ junior varsity as a sophomore and junior, and spent the 2014 season on the varsity before graduating that spring. Her sister, Maddy, who graduated from Fallbrook High in 2016 and played for the Warriors, is the assistant softball coach.

“These girls are learning. I’m learning. It’s just one big learning experience,” Casillas said.

The team learned enough that they were able to dominate Borrego Springs in the rematch. Bonsall scored six times in the first and 16 times in the second. Bonsall pitcher Cali Sauileone, who is one of the freshmen, allowed one hit and no runs in those two innings. Borrego Springs coach Vanessa Rodarte requested that the game be called after two innings, so Bonsall had a 22-0 win.

“They’re just continuing to keep improving and playing hard,” Casillas said.

“I am extremely proud of the girls that I have,” Casillas said. “They have really just taken it up and made it part of their lifestyle.”

The pitchers also included Pala tribal chairman Robert Smith, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Legionnaires’ first-ever home game.

Effort was not enough to prevent an 18-3 loss March 18 at home against Classical Academy. “I would never be disappointed in a loss like that, especially seeing how hard my girls worked,” Casillas said. “They made some small mistakes which have been corrected and worked on, but in the end I couldn’t be more proud of them for just getting out there.”

This year, the Patriot League consists of Bonsall, Chula Vista Learning Community Center, King-Chavez Community, and Ocean View Christian. If weather permits, Bonsall will begin league play April 7 at home against King-Chavez. “We’re looking forward to it,” Casillas said.

 

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