The Bonita Valley Girls Softball Association’s 10U-Acosta All-Star team represented San Diego by dressing as zookeepers for the opening ceremonies of USA Softball 2017 Fast Pitch Girls B Western National championship tournament, held July 25-31, in Boise, Idaho. It was a nod to the world famous San Diego Zoo.
But there was no monkey business on the field as the team went undefeated through bracket play to win the national title in its age division.
“The team traded in its summer for 12 weeks of daily practices and weekly tournaments, hundreds of hours logged spent driving, at the field, watching games, waiting for games, eating out of coolers and snack bars, all with one goal in mind … to bring home the national championship,” team mom Jessica Acosta explained. “We are beyond proud of this team. They accomplished the goal they set out to achieve … they came home from Idaho national champions!”
Bonita Valley finished 6-0 in the 30-team field in Idaho. Torrance took second place with a 4-2 record while Rancho Trabuco finished third with a 6-2 record.
The top 13 teams were all from California, including three from San Diego County.
San Marcos Gold finished fourth while El Cajon Gold finished in a tie for ninth place.
Teams from California, Idaho and Wyoming competed in the tournament.
Team roster
The team’s coaching staff included Anthony Acosta (manager) and coaches Cesia Gurrola,David Baca, Danny Liera, Erik Sanchez and Alex Flores.
Rostered players included outfielder Bryanna Baca, shortstop Alexis Acosta, infielder/pitcher Alexis Jimenez, outfielder Jayme Sanchez, outfielder Aryanna Baca, infielder Irie Iapala, catcher Nataly Lozano, catcher/outfielder Jaiden Liera, centerfielder Viviana Flores, pitcher Breanna Wilson, infielder/outfielder Lizette Vargas and pitcher/infielder Mariah Luna.
The Bonita Valley team competed in seven tournaments, including the national championship event.
Tournaments in order included the San Marcos Summertime Warmup All Star Tournament (first place), PQ Memorial Day Classic (first place), La Habra All Star Tournament (second place), Poway Summer Heat Classic (first place), District tournament (second place), state tournament (fifth place) and nationals (first place).
The Bonita Valley team, which finished summer all-star play 39-11 overall, posted a .475 hitting average at the national championships. Vargas hit an over-the-fence home run while Baca recorded multiple triples. Acosta led the team with 11 RBI.
The girls went through bracket play undefeated. Jimenez and Luna carried the team in the pitching circle through the week while Wilson came through on the championship day.
