Coast Union softball faces rebuilding year in 2017

After a 10-0 Coast Valley League championship season, the Coast Union softball team dispatched its first CIF Division 7 foe, Orangewood Academy, 12-2. That was the end of smooth sailing for the Lady Broncos as they were obliged to face CIF softball powerhouse Faith Baptist in the second round, losing 13-1 in Canoga Park on Tuesday, May 24.

For coach Rocky Fordyce, playing on Faith Baptist’s turf, which features a tall chain-link fence down the right field line about 100 feet from home plate, gave him a sense of déjà vu. In his senior year at Coast Union, the Bronco baseball team played at Rio Hondo Prep in Arcata, and that field “was the exact same as the Faith Baptist field.”

Still, while Fordyce viewed the uncharacteristically tall fence in short right field as “home field advantage,” he was taking nothing away from Faith Baptist, “a very good team.”

His team had a “great season” although with “five graduating seniors it will be a rebuilding year in 2017 — not to mention the loss of their leadership roles.” Moving on to college are seniors Ellie Magnuson, Reagan Kniffen, Diana Cisneros, Maddie May and Ashley Martinez.

However, the rebuilding season will be helped because “the returning players have playoff experience, and they are a good group of athletes,” Fordyce explained. “They will do fine.”

He thanked “all the parents and fans” for their support in 2016.

As to the five seniors, they can always reflect back on their success over four years in the Coast Valley League. They were undefeated at 37-0.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Coast Union softball faces rebuilding year in 2017."