Ron Pietila is best known as the longtime girls soccer coach at Bonita Vista High School, and more accurately, as the godfather of girls soccer in the Metro Conference. He guided Southwest High School to Class 2A San Diego Section championship runner-up appearances in both 1984 and 1985.
Moving over to Bonita Vista, he led the Lady Barons to seven CIF finals appearances. The 1987 team finished as Class 3A co-champions.
Pietila subsequently did a stint at Otay Ranch High School before eventually retiring. However, he continued to serve as an assistant football coach at Otay Ranch under head coach Lance Christensen, his son-in-law.
Family ties indeed run deep. His daughter Ronne Pietila-Wiggs, a former soccer star at BVHS, is now the assistant principal at her alma mater.
Grandson Ronnie Beeson helped the Barons boys soccer team reach the Division IV championship game last year.
Another grandson, Micah Pietila-Wiggs finished as the top hitter at the 2013 Little League World Series for Eastlake Little League’s U.S. championship team. He is now playing varsity baseball at Eastlake High School.
The elder Pietila is back in the coaching ranks after being coaxed out of retirement. He’s the softball coach at Bonita Vista, and the Lady Baron program is lucky to have him.
During a brief chat during preseason practice, Pietila was still getting to know his team and its potential. He has to be pleasantly surprised by the team’s 15-5 start, including a 2-0 record in Metro-Mesa League play.
The Lady Barons host likewise league unbeaten Mater Dei Catholic Tuesday at the BVHS softball complex. The Lady Crusaders are also off to a 2-0 start in league play and are 12-6 overall.
