Mission Hills High School is starting the 2022 year strong with the Mission Hills Girls Softball team. There have so far only been a handful of games but for every single one, the Grizzlies have come on top with a win. This is an exciting year for all of the players, fans, and coaching staff. Everyone is excited to see how far Mission Hills will go. Many of the players have already shown a lot of their team spirit and great attitudes through the course of this season.
“I feel like we’re going to do really well with all the talent that we have, we should make it pretty far out,” catcher and senior Valerie Mendoza said.
So far the Mission Hills softball has been undefeated with all the games that they have played. They started off the season winning two scrimmages. Then jumped into The Falcon Fiesta tournament, their first game against Mira Mesa. Winning the game one to zero with an out-of-the-park home run. Mission Hills then went on to play Cathedral in the first Cougar Classic tournament game winning the game five to two with four out-of-the-park home runs. With this positive momentum, the girls went on to play Imperial High School, winning 12 to two with two out-of-the-park home runs. They then went to play their final game against Otay Ranch. Mission Hills once again took home the win beating Otay Ranch three to zero with one home run.
Mission Hills High school was in the platinum seed which is the top seed. Mission Hills then went on to play the division games. The first game that Mission played was against Rancho Buena Vista. The girls won the game with a score of seven to zero, with one out-of -the-park home run. The same day the girls went on to play their next game against Cathedral Cathloic. The Mission Hills dugout was loud with cheers and chats and the game was close all the way to the end. Mission Hills took home yet another win with the score of one to zero with one out-of-the-park home run. Mission Hills next game is championship against Valhalla.
“So far I think that we are going into the season pretty strong, we haven’t lost a game…we have a pretty strong team,” said Lizzy Olivas (12), the right and left fielder.
Mission Hills gets ready to play their championship game against Vanhala High School. The game started off with Vanhalla starting the game scoring 4 homeruns but the Grizzlies slowly were able to battle back. The girls played strong Defense throughout the whole game. Mission Hills was able to battle and hold the tie as they entered the last inning. The grizzlies were the home team so as they entered there last to bat the dugout was loud and full of excitement. The first two girls up to bat got out both with the first pitch. One of our Seniors, Cameron Zytkewicz-Ray, hit an out-of-the -park homerun. Giving Mission Hills the championship win.
“We had some bad umpiring, we were getting squeezed up on the mound but our team battled back. We were down four to zero, we rallied back and had great energy, last inning we were tied. I had a walk-off homerun to finish the game and it was a great game.” said Team Captain Cameron Zytkewicz-Ray (12) the second baseman.
This is the first time Mission Hills Softball was ever in the Platinum Seed. And the girls did not disappoint, taking home the win. This is only the start of the Mission Hills season. Next the Grizzlies will be entering the Hilltop Tournament. And we’ll see how far the Mission Hills softball team can really go.