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Archive for the ‘Softball’ Category

Maya Lucero keeps busy with a wide variety of activities, from playing three sports to participating in drama, band, and Girl Scouts. (Photos courtesy Jess Lucero)

Catching some quality time with dad Aaron on the softball diamond.

“I’m super busy, but I thrive on that.”

Try and keep a list of everything Maya Lucero does, and you’ll eventually end up flipping the paper over and still be writing.

Let’s just say Lucero, who will join twin sister Allie as freshmen at Coupeville High School this fall, likes to stay active.

She played basketball, volleyball, and softball through middle school and before, and plans to remain a three-sport athlete as she switches out CMS uniforms for CHS ones.

Toss in appearing in theater productions, playing trumpet in the band, Girl Scouts, cooking and baking, playing with her dog, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends and family, and Lucero’s schedule is booked.

But staying busy has helped her build a strong work ethic, something which has benefited her greatly in the past, and should continue to do so in the future.

“Some of my strengths as an athlete include my focus, commitment to my sports, and loyalty to my teammates and coaches,” Lucero said. “Being so dedicated is important, but not always easy.

“I always honor my obligations for team practices, volunteer work, training, and camps.”

That includes a recent four-day basketball camp in Soap Lake, “so I couldn’t submit my answers to you until now…,” she said with a laugh.

Lucero, who is following in the footsteps of older bother Dane, a 2019 Coupeville grad who was also a three-sport star, has been around athletics her entire life.

Dad Aaron is an assistant coach with the CHS baseball team, who pulled double duty this spring, working with Maya and Allie’s Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball squad.

With the Lucero sisters ripping base-knocks to all fields, the young Wolves roared through a 13-1 season, and now will send a ferocious pack of hit-happy players on to the high school program.

Maya wants to “work my way to varsity, and to become stronger as an athlete,” and she credits her father with helping to shape her and fuel her dreams, both on and off the field.

“My dad has had one of the greatest impacts on me as a person and an athlete,” Lucero said. “He always pushes me to be my best, and has taught me mental toughness, perseverance, and determination.

“From the start, he has always supported me, led me through difficult times, and has always been at my side,” she added. “He is an amazing dad and softball coach.”

Lucero hails from a tight-knit, super-friendly family which includes mom Jess and two younger sisters, and having a large, loyal support crew is huge for the young Wolf.

Allie has also always been at my side and has always been there for me, no matter how hard things get sometimes,” Maya said. “Overall, my family has helped me to be my best self, and has always supported me and my passions.”

Lucero loves that sports allows her to be “active and competitive.”

And, while she approaches every season with joy, she’s clear – her #1 passion is being on the diamond every spring.

“Without a doubt, softball is my favorite sport of all,” Lucero said.

She’s played school and SWISH basketball, as well as school and club volleyball, but put a bat in her hand and she’s at home.

“It has been one of my greatest passions. I have been playing it since second grade, eight years old,” Lucero said. “I love softball because it’s not the type of sport that you can pick up easily.

“Softball is a difficult sport that teaches you determination, perseverance, to work hard, and to stay mentally tough. Not everyone can do that.

“I feel that softball is my strongest sport because I’ve played it longer, so I have a strong softball IQ.”

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Cypress Socha will be a freshman at Coupeville High School this fall. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Cypress Socha is here for the fun.

The multi-sport athlete, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, enjoys her time on the court or diamond.

“I love being with my team and having fun,” Socha said. “I just want to have fun.”

That philosophy has helped guide her through multiple sports, with stints on the Coupeville Middle School volleyball squad and little league softball teams on her resume.

She currently plans to drop volleyball as she enters high school, but is looking forward to joining the CHS softball team.

This spring, Socha was part of a Central Whidbey Little League Juniors squad which rolled to a 13-1 record.

Regardless of the sport, the bright young woman, who enjoys language arts, math, and history classes, approaches everything with a positive attitude.

“Volleyball, softball, and tennis are all ranking #1 for me,” Socha said. “I like these sports because, to me, it’s about having fun.

“Having fun while being a little competitive is one of the biggest factors in what goes into being my favorite sport.”

Socha hails her ability to work with others as a strength (“I’m definitely a team player”), while pledging to keep on working on her skills.

Away from sports, she enjoys walking and biking around her neighborhood, hanging out with her best friend, Adrian, and going to the swimming pool.

Whether competing in sports, working in the classroom, or boppin’ through everyday life, Socha thrives on her relationships with her friends and family, which includes her parents and cousins Audra, Piper, and Eden.

“A lot of people in my life have had some sort of impact on me throughout my life.”

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Karyme Castro (left), seen here with softball teammates Sofia Peters (center) and Melanie Navarro, will be a CHS freshman this fall. (Maricela Sotelo photo)

She’s mixing things up.

As she went through middle school, Karyme Castro tried a bit of everything, playing volleyball, basketball, and little league softball.

Now, as she moves up a rung and enters Coupeville High School as a freshman this fall, the hard-working young woman is shifting gears.

While she plans to stay with softball, she’s dropping volleyball and basketball in favor of joining the Wolf cheer squad.

Castro, who wants “to get a home run” at some point in her diamond career, was part of a Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball team which went 13-1 this spring.

The thrill of launching a ball off her bat helps makes the sport her favorite.

“I really like softball, because I think batting is really fun,” Castro said. “I like the excitement of the games and the way they cheer for you.”

She wants to “work on my running,” and enjoys a busy life outside the sports world.

Castro picks wood shop as her favorite class, loves the movie Finding Dory, and looks forward to baking in the kitchen and hanging out with friends.

Ask her to pick who has the biggest influence on her life, and it’s an easy selection for the young Wolf.

“My mom and dad,” Castro said. “Because they always say you can do whatever you want, and we will be here to support you in any sport and anything.”

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Former Coupeville softball supernova Sarah Wright closed her travel ball career with a strong performance at a tourney in Auburn. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Sarah Wright is a real dirt bag.

The Coupeville High School grad plays select softball with SnoCo Express Fastpitch, but, for that team’s final tournament, its leader decided to mix things up a bit.

So he handed out new-look uniforms which combined the Express logo with a new name also plastered across the top of the jersey.

“Our coach gave us Dirtbag uniforms as a way to inspire us to play for each other and to leave it all on the field,” Wright said. “And he told us that yesterday we finally earned them.

“Our coaches are good old fashioned baseball players,” she added with a big laugh.

Inspired by the upgraded uniforms, or driven to go out on top, as it was the end of the road for this team, the Express/Dirtbags roared through the tourney in Auburn, claiming 2nd place when all the dust had settled.

“We played really well,” Wright said.

Now, having put a bow on her high school and travel ball career, the former Wolf ace will take her softball skills to the next level.

Wright plans to attend Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, where she’ll study politics and play ball for the NCAA D-III Tigers.

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Katie Marti and Co. spent the weekend at the state little league tourney. (Jackie Saia photos)

Aleksia Jump gets ready to crush the ball.

Mayleen Weatherford is ready for her close-up.

Central Whidbey coach Fred Farris offers words of wisdom to daughter Mia.

The Hammerheads charge to the dugout.

Brionna Blouin (left) and Allison Nastali entertain themselves between games.

Sitting at third after smoking a triple, Savina Wells eyeballs the pitcher.

Christina Jump was part of a loud ‘n proud Hammerhead support crew which made the trip to Poulsbo.

Taylor Brotemarkle slaps the tag on a rival runner, while Nastali backs up the play.

Jada Heaton makes the running catch, while her hat and braids jump for joy.

One state tournament is done, so that means it’s about 363 days until the next one.

The Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad roared through the spring of 2019 to the tune of 17-4, winning a district title and going toe-to-toe with Kitsap and Seattle all-star teams at the big dance this weekend.

As the Hammerheads head out for summer vacation, here’s one more photographic time capsule, thanks to team mom/wanderin’ paparazzi Jackie Saia.

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