Photos by Taegan Maysami

Softball:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

In 2022, the Bonita softball program literally had its best year ever.

They won a record 28 games.

The Bearcats claimed their first outright league (Palomares) championship in nine years.

And most noteworthy, Bonita won its first CIF-SS (Division 3) softball title in school history.

BHS had gone 43 years since its last appearance in the CIF-SS finals.

Bonita would also win their first CIF State Division 2 playoff game, before falling in the semifinal round at top-seeded Torrance.

And while every member of their roster and coaching staff provided invaluable contributions during this historic season, no two players did more than Brooklyn Shroyer and Alyssa Doucette.

Shroyer dominated in the circle, and Doucette’s play at shortstop and in the leadoff spot were critical in the Bearcats success, and it’s why they have been named the 210 Prep Sports Softball Players of the Year.

Brooklyn Shroyer was clutch, dependable and tough in 2022.

She went 22-3 in the circle, with a 1.01 ERA.

In 25 appearances, the Bonita junior finished what she started 20 times.

She went 159 1/3 innings, walked 14 batters and struck out 212.

What many don’t know is that Shroyer had been under the weather in a number of games, including the playoffs, but she dug deep and found a way to grind out win after win.

In their seven playoff games, Shroyer surrendered just nine earned runs.

She threw a perfect game at Kennedy in the second round and a shutout in the D-3 title game, as BHS defeated Tesoro, 6-0, at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

Perhaps Shroyer’s most impressive stat was her 14-to-1, strikeout-to-walk ratio in the postseason.

In seven games, six of which were victories, Shroyer walked four and struck out 57 batters.

What made Brooklyn’s 2022 run in which the Bearcats won more games than any team in program history and also included Palomares and CIF-SS Division 3 championships was the fact that she got to do it with her twin sister, Bryce, who plays catcher for Bonita.

And if her play in the circle wasn’t impressive enough, keep in mind that the BHS junior maintains a GPA well over the 3.0 mark.

I asked Shroyer to touch on the following topics: what were your individual and team expectations, why did you have so much success in the circle, who else stepped up big in 2022 and what would she want to tell the graduating seniors.

Said Brooklyn Shroyer: “Heading into the 2022 season, my role was to pitch my hardest, and allow my defense to make plays behind me and support my teammates in any way I could. I wanted to up my strikeout totals and help lead our team to a CIF championship. Another goal we have is to get bumped up to Division 1. I think I had a lot of success in the circle because I really trusted my team behind me and I also had a lot of trust in my pitches. As a program, we had so much success because we trusted out coaches and our coaches really trusted us. They spent a lot of time with us on and off the field.

I take pride in my pitching and helping to lead out team to victory, and at the same time, none of this could have happened without the contributions of each of my teammates, or the support they gave me. I would really like to give credit to my dad and my sister, as well as my grandpa. Growing up, they would spend everyday with me at the park. Their support means everything to me. I definitely would not be where I am right now if it wasn’t for all of them. I would also like to thank everyone else in my family for taking me to practice and always giving me what I need to succeed. Lastly, I would like to tell my senior teammates that they have made this the best season I have ever had here at Bonita. They always made sure I felt included, and whenever I was struggling on the mound, they always knew how to calm me down and get my mind off of the game. I’m going to miss them so much, and I wish them all the best in their future plans.”

Alyssa Doucette is easily one of the SGV area’s most versatile softball players, and her clutch play at shortstop as well as her setting the tone for the Bonita offense was invaluable to the Bearcats having their most successful season in school history.

Doucette led BHS in average (.395), hits (49), runs (31), RBIs (27), doubles (8), triples (3), home runs (6), on-base percentage (.423), slugging percentage (.654), and OPS (1.076).

To put into perspective just how big her sophomore season was, this is how Doucette’s stats compared to her teammates:

Her batting average was 39 points higher than the next closest teammate (Mireya Rico, .356), she had nine more runs than (Rico’s 22), and 15 more hits than (Kailey Scott’s 34).

In 124 at-bats, Doucette struck out just twice, which was a team low amongst BHS starters.

And she had both of Bonita’s two grand slams in 2022.

Just like Shroyer, some of Doucette’s biggest moments in 2022 came in the postseason.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning in the D-3 quarterfinal round showdown with visiting Sunny Hills, Doucette hit a two-run HR to lead BHS to a 2-1 victory.

In the 6-0, title-game victory over Tesoro, she singled, tripled, scored twice and had an RBI.

Doucette singled and scored in the CIF State Division 2 first-round victory over Rancho Buena Vista, and her two-RBI triple at top-ranked Torrance would account for both Bonita runs in the semifinal round loss to the Tartars.

Aside from her undeniable physical skills, one could argue that Doucette’s 3.8 GPA was her most impressive accomplishment in 2022.

Alyssa’s coaches and teammates rave about her selflessness and putting the team’s needs over any individual glory.

I asked Doucette to talk about what she saw as her role, those who she appreciates most in her life and her time with the graduating seniors.

Said Alyssa Doucette: “I knew my role was going to be that of a leader and a person who comes through for their team. As a very competitive person, and a person who loves their teammates, I wanted to contribute in every way I could. As far as the team goes, we didn’t know exactly what to expect because it had been a while since we had all played together. But we all came together and ended up showing all of our talents. I always hold myself to a very high standard and push myself to be the best I can be. I believe a lot of my success comes from my hard work. I work everyday, either before or after practice. It became an everyday ritual for me.

It also comes from being in the Corona Angels program. From day one, we were always taught to compete and fight for your spot. They always tell me “It doesn’t matter what you do when there isn’t pressure, but what you do when the game is on the line.” I think those are the main reasons why I succeed. A lot of our success can also be attributed to our chemistry. It doesn’t matter how good you are if the chemistry isn’t there. Teams without chemistry don’t win because you’re only thinking about yourself. We had great team talent and our chemistry made us even better, because we fought for each other. There wasn’t a player on this team that didn’t chip in to make us champions, and that makes this experience even more special for all of us.

I have to give a lot of credit to my mom, Wendy Doucette. My mom is one of my biggest supporters. Without her, none of this would be possible. She sacrifices everything for me and makes sure I have everything I need to succeed. She comes with me to the park and tosses to me to make sure I get the reps I need. She takes me to fielding, hitting, and/or any training I need. I know it isn’t easy for her sometimes, but she always finds a way to get it done. I love her so much and will forever appreciate her for everything she does for me. I can’t wait until I am successful one day and I can take care of her, and pay her back for all the sacrifices she made for me and my siblings. Lastly, I would like to say that I enjoyed playing with our seniors the last two years. They are amazing people and great leaders. I love them so much and will miss them everyday.”

Both Shroyer and Doucette wanted their teammates recognized, because the entire Bearcats roster did something that made this year the best in school history.

The other offensive leaders include:

Mireya Rico: (.356 batting average, 32 hits, 22 runs, 18 RBIs, six doubles & two HR’s)
Hailey Marquez: (.352, 31 hits, eight runs, 26 RBIs, six doubles & three HR’s)
Kailey Scott: (.324, 34 hits, 19 runs, 15 RBIs, five doubles, three triples & one HR)
Kali Blount: (.302, 29 hits, 19 runs, 24 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple & four HR’s)
Lauryn Ureno: (.284, 19 hits, 20 runs, 13 RBIs, two doubles & one HR)
Bryce Shroyer: (.261, 18 hits, four runs, 14 RBIs, three doubles & two HR’s)

Quotable:

Bonita coach Darren Baumunk on Shroyer: “Brooklyn was obviously our No. 1 pitcher. After the first week of practice, I can honestly say that the coaching staff all felt that she was going to be one of the best pitchers in the area as well as the best pitcher compared to anyone we would face this season. Brooklyn has worked so hard this year and had that calm demeanor that you would want in a pitcher. You would never know if she was nervous and you would never see her get rattled no matter what the situation was. Brooklyn is definitely a leader by example and is an awesome teammate.”

Bonita coach Darren Baumunk on Doucette: “Alyssa is our shortstop and leadoff hitter. She dictated right from the start as to how successful we were going to be offensively. As a sophomore, it speaks volumes that she was our starting shortstop as well as our leadoff hitter. The amount of time that Alyssa put in outside the daily practice is the definition of an elite softball player. Her quick decision making and understanding of the game was a key aspect as to how far we got this year. Her great work ethic made me extremely grateful that she is a part of our program.”

Bonita junior, Bryce Shroyer, on her junior year, catching her sister and Doucette’s contributions: “I had a blast this season catching my sister and being able to see her succeed, and knowing that my team would back the both of us up. It was honestly great and I couldn’t be more grateful to be apart of a team that was able to make school history. I think my sister has so much success in the circle because I hold her to a very high standard, and when she doesn’t preform well, I push her to work harder. Alyssa contributed both on offense and defense. She made amazing plays at shortstop and got clutch hits.”

Bonita sophomore, Alyssa Doucette, on Shroyer: “Brooklyn is just a flat-out amazing pitcher. She took care of business all the time, not just when it was needed. Her level of intensity never changed no matter who we were playing. If our team wasn’t having the best hitting game, Brooklyn would hold them down in the circle and work with the runs that we scored. For example, the Sunny Hills game. She gave up a run and we weren’t hitting. Every inning, I told her that we would figure it out and we would come back. She locked in and didn’t let another run across the plate, and we ended up winning 2-1. She is effective in the circle because of her movement and speed, she is able to strike people out, roll us grounders, and give up pop ups, which makes her a great pitcher.”

Bonita junior, Brooklyn Shroyer, on Doucette: “Alyssa was huge this season, not only was she a big help on the field making plays and having key hits, she was the type of teammate who would joke around with me anytime I was stressed out. When going back onto the field for the next inning, she would never let me pick up the ball. She would pick it up, hand it to me, and reassure me that her and the rest of the team would get more runs so that my job as a pitcher would be easier.”

2022 Palomares League Standings:
Bonita (28-6-1, 13-2)
Ayala (14-7, 10-5)
Glendora (18-10-2, 10-5)
Claremont (11-10, 6-9)
Alta Loma (7-15, 5-10)
Colony (11-17, 1-14)

Bonita’s 2022 CIF-SS & State Playoff Results:
5/5: Bonita 9, El Rancho 2
5/10: Bonita 5, Kennedy 0
5/12: Bonita 2, Sunny Hills 1
5/14: Bonita 4, Temescal Canyon 1
5/20: Bonita 6, Tesoro 0
5/31: Bonita 5, Rancho Buena Vista 2
6/2: Torrance 3, Bonita 2

Bonita High School Softball, 2005-2022:
2022: (28-6-1 overall, 13-2 in league)
2021: (11-8, 9-6)
2020: (7-5, 1-0)
2019: (18-10, 9-6)
2018: (14-10, 10-5)
2017: (14-15, 7-9)
2016: (11-14, 4-7)
2015: (11-13, 5-4)
2014: (17-7, 10-2)
2013: (23-7, 12-0)
2012: (18-8, 10-2)
2011: (23-5, 10-2)
2010: (25-5-1, 10-2)
2009: (20-6-1, 9-3)
2008: (11-14, 4-8)
2007: (11-14, 5-7)
2006: (9-15-1, 5-6-1)
2005: (15-11, 8-3)