West Valley softballers attack college-level competition

READY FOR NATIONAL: Former West Valley standout Cassidy Olson beats the tag on her triple in the first inning for the North Valley Rapids.

A few West Valley softball players and some graduates playing for the North Valley Rapids played against the Redding Riptide - a team populated by mostly college players on July 8 in Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) competition.

"This will be like a practice for them," Cassidy Olson said before the game.

But after the Riptide was held scoreless in the first inning, the Rapids team huddled and chanted for "first blood."

Moments later, Olson, the lead-off hitter, hit a long, fly ball over the left fielder's head and slid into third for a triple. She scored on a bunt. It would be Olson's only hit of the game, but her teammates hailing from West Valley supplied all the run support the team would need.

"The chemistry is really good," North Valley Rapids coach Tito Cervantes said of the team. "Some of them have played together a lot. We get that in spurts. West Valley has been dominant the last four years."

"We hit really well as a team," said Olson.

Although was a full-time pitcher for the Eagles, she plays mostly center field for the Rapids.

"We might have six all-star shortstops, but some will have to play outfield," Cervantes said, illustrating the reorganization of available talent in the ASA play.

The final score was 8-2, and the girls were building up steam before traveling to Las Vegas for the 18U class A USA/ASA National Championships beginning July 26. The qualifying North Valley Rapids are one of 142 teams across the nation.

WV graduate Hanna Emmen went 2 for 2 with three RBIs. She plans to attend Shasta College this fall to play softball and soccer and major in exercise science.

Haylee Turpen hit a single and said she would attend Shasta College.

WV senior Cassidy Horner went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Another senior, Amber Buchanon had an RBI single against the collegiate competition.

Olson recently received all-state softball honors for medium schools according to CalHiSports.com. It was her third year in a row receiving the award, Olson said. She said she was considering Chattanooga State Technical Community College but added that she was not keen on the distance from home.

"It's pretty far away. . . I don't know how to do my own laundry yet," she said.

The school sweetened the deal, offering to pay tuition, books, food, and transportation.

Olson said Rapids teammate Kayla McConnell also wants to attend the Tennessee school, and she said the two may head there.

"Kayla is pushing a bit (for Olson to join her)," she added.