SANTA BARBARA – SBCC Athletics is in the midst of a pretty remarkable run of success.
The spring sports season had the tall task of following up one of the most highly celebrated fall semesters in Santa Barbara's athletics history. Major accolades, championships, broken records – any direction you looked, whichever Vaquero program you supported, there's a good chance you were witnessing something phenomenal.
So far in the New Year, the theme has only continued for many Vaquero programs: SBCC swim claimed a season-opening first place finish; men's golf had a pair of medalists and took second in its first conference competition; men's volleyball is out to a 2-1 start; both Vaquero basketball programs are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory.
It's hard to argue that any of SBCC's teams have had a better 2023 so far though than the Vaquero baseball and softball teams, which both remain undefeated now several weeks into the season.
With five conference championships in the last 11 seasons, Vaquero baseball has been a juggernaut in the past and is still enjoying incredible success. Coming off a year in which it challenged for another WSC title into the final games of the season, SBCC has relied on one of the most explosive offenses in the state to get out to a 7-0 start this season.
Since making the SoCal Super Regionals in 2016 with a 30-14 record, SBCC softball has been waiting to reach that level of success again. After two shortened years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vaqueros came out of it looking to start fresh with head coach Jasmyne Perry at the helm. In 2022, under difficult circumstances and competing with a shorthanded roster, the Vaqs finished 10-30.
This time around, in Perry's second full season at the helm, it's going a bit differently. Today, when the Vaqueros play their 10th game of the season at Allan Hancock, they can already match last year's win total and become the first 10-0 team in program history.
Let's take a closer look at some of the early-season numbers and moments that brought us here.
ROSTER OVERHAUL
The team has seen considerable upgrades in terms of depth this year, going from a roster of 12 in 2022 to 16 in 2023. Four returners – Isabella Huckaby, Lauren Indermuehle, Mellanie Barth and Sarah Hammonds – have been joined by 12 newcomers, many of whom have made an instant and significant impact.
Four of the new Vaqueros are batting at least .400, with freshman shortstop Delaney Neely leading the team with a .448 average and 13 hits. The others are Jessica Reveles (.429), Elliana Ryan (.412) and two-way threat Joslyn Soinila, who is also the team's starting pitcher.
The former Pleasant Valley High School standout Soinila has been nothing short of remarkable, boasting a perfect 6-0 mark thanks to a 0.66 ERA and 6.56 strikeouts per seven. Sharing responsibilities with her in the circle is second year Vaquero Lauren Indermuehle, who is having tremendous two-way success as well with a 1.93 ERA and a .406 batting average of her own.
"I came from a very intense program last year with winning culture being our center, so when I arrived here I kept that same mentality," Soinila said. "Coming to a new school I felt nerves in my first couple starts, but never from being unprepared. My coaches have made me a stronger player than I imagined, from the weight room to my mental game."
Soinila pitched the first five innings of the season, combining forces with Indermuehle to get a good 3-2 season-opening win over Riverside. Her second game at LA Valley was one for the books, as she became the first Vaquero to throw a no-hitter since 2016 and possibly the first ever to do it in seven full innings.
"The no-hitter is somewhat of a blur to me," she said. "I knew in the moment and in-between innings that I was throwing a no-hitter, but while I was out there I would completely forget about it. This team has been such a positive experience for me. I wouldn't have it any other way."
BIG MOMENTS, HUGE NUMBERS
Some say, "Defense wins championships." Others say, "The best defense is a great offense." Today, why don't we go with, "¿Porque no los dos?"
The offensive numbers being put up by the Vaqueros are simply staggering so far. Their .342 team batting average would be its best since at least 2006. They're putting up over seven runs per game while giving up less than three. Of the 12 batters in the rotation, five are hitting over .400, three are in the .300s and not one is batting below .250.
Last season, the Vaqueros made late-game, spectacular comebacks a habit. Many times though, it would be too little, too late. This year, they're winning games in all kinds of different ways, whether it be by blowing out opponents, pulling out close ones, or coming through with clutch bombs at the plate.
Freshman Alexia Ayala had her big moment just four days ago. Trailing 3-2 in the sixth inning against Porterville, she blasted a game-winning two-run homer to right field. It was the Vaqueros' first home run of the season.
"As soon as I hit the ball to right field I knew it was a shot and I knew to keep running," Ayala said. "As I was turning on second, I saw coach Jasmyne waving to me to go home and once I hit third I felt joy and excitement. I dove at home and ran into the dugout. The girls were all so excited for me and cheering me on. I fell to the floor exhausted from running all four bases. That really made me happy."
But, while the individual moments are always great for the team to enjoy together, keeping a winning mentality is what the San Bernardino native really cares about.
"My mindset stepping on the field is to always do my job in the outfield, catch every ball hit to me, make good throws, and stay in the zone," Ayala said. "The key to winning these games is our bonding and teamwork. We all have good relationships with each other and that tends to go well with how we perform. It feels really good being on this 9-0 team, which I honestly couldn't say I expected in the beginning of the season. Coach Jasmyne did say she was very excited about our team which made me excited. The returners welcomed us with open arms and, as someone who's not from Santa Barbara, they've done such a good job at making me feel comfortable and at home."
Ayala's shot started a run of three straight games with a homer for the Vaqueros. Just one day after her game-winner, sophomore Sarah Hammonds tried to up the ante with a three-run walk-off in a five-inning 8-0 win over Glendale.
"I actually had a conversation with my teammate Julz [Julianna Ortiz] right before the at bat. She came up to me and she said, 'You're going to hit a home run right now,'" Hammonds recalled. "I go out there looking for a base hit every time, swinging at the first strike I see. The chemistry I had in the batting cage before the game was unmatched. My timing and hands were so together during warm up. It was an unreal moment I'll never forget."
Hammonds was SBCC's best bat in 2022 and she's followed that up with an outstanding start to her sophomore campaign. On 10 hits, she has 14 RBI, eight more than any other Vaquero and nearly matching the total of all of SBCC's opponents, who have combined for 17.
"This year's team just has a willingness to leave it all out there on the field," Hammonds said. "We've adapted to overcome any errors made. We all share a mentality to strive to be better every single day and we're more determined. We have a solid defense to back up our great pitchers this year and it shows, but the main difference between this year and last year is our bats. We have a solid line up with strong bats to prove it."
Less than three weeks removed from the season opener, it's already been an incredibly memorable start to the 2023 season. While it's still only a small sample size, the Vaqueros have only done what they are supposed to – compete to win.
It's clear that the 2023 Vaqs have the potential, the talent and the leadership to continue competing at a high level. We'll be rooting for them to do just that.
