Downey High School top batters, from left, junior Delilah Navarro, and freshmen Hazel Renteria, Sophia Hernandez and Juliet Gonzalez lead the team in batting. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

DOWNEY — The future looks bright for the Downey High School Softball program, where youth is the leader for the Vikings.

With 19 underclassmen, which includes an extraordinary seven freshman and five sophomores, the Vikings are closing in on a CIF-Southern Section playoff berth which begins in a little less than three weeks.

The additional highlight of that number is the starting lineup, which sometimes includes five freshmen and three sophomores.

Garcia, who is in his ninth year as coach, commented on the top four in the lineup.

“We’re going one-two-three-four with the freshmen, which I’ve never had here before,” Downey coach Ed Garcia said. “This is the first time with four in a row and I don’t think I’ve ever had four freshmen up here on varsity since I’ve been here in eight or nine years. The fact that I have four starting is insane.”

Again, the future looks bright for the Vikings, who are 14-9 overall.

Leading the charge for those freshmen is Madeline Garcia with a .357 average (12 games, 16 hits), but with more games played and hits is second baseman Sophia Hernandez with 21 games played, a .455 average, a team-leading 30 hits, 22 runs scored, 18 RBIs and eight doubles.

“That’s what makes our team so good, is that we’re all so young and very athletic and I think that works out for us,” Hernandez said.

As for the first four innings when the first four Downey batters combined for only three hits, Hernandez added, “I just think we struggled to slow pitching and after we adjusted, we were already in a deep hole.

“The rivalry is very exciting and to see how it gets in the stands and all the fans get excited, it’s a good feeling. It’s an adrenaline rush.”

Close behind Hernandez is outfielder Juliet Gonzalez (.423 Avg.) with 20 games played, 22 hits, 17 runs scored and 15 RBIs.

The fourth freshman, Hazel Renteria, who has played in all 23 games, has a .338 average, and leads the team in plate appearances (86) and at bats (68). The third baseman, who bats leadoff, is third on the team with 21 runs scored, tied for third with hits (23) and has 11 RBIs.

“For a freshman or any kid, to be on top of the lineup, is tough, especially a freshman,” coach Garcia said. “She’s handled it, and I can’t take it from her. She’s just earned it. She’s fantastic at the top of the lineup.”

Leading the sophomores in hits was catcher Hayden Hinchman (.317) with 19. Along with 14 runs and nine RBIs.

Sophomores Giana Castillo-Flores and Leilani Kaiwi Gonzales have identical .302 batting averages, and each have 13 hits, and six runs scored. Castillo-Flores has 13 RBIs.

As for the third underclassmen, the juniors, leading the way is Jiselle Rocha with a .466 average, 27 hits (second on the team) and 13 RBIs. Delilah Navarro (.354) has 23 hits, 22 runs scored and a team-leading 25 RBIs.

As for the first (Tuesday April 22) of two games with cross town rival Warren, the Vikings fell behind early and could not catch up, as the Bears finished with nine runs on 10 hits.

“They came out hungrier than we were, and this was a let up for us and it’s actually good that it comes at this time,” Garcia added. “It’s actually a blessing and it wasn’t a league game.

“This is the first time it was for bragging rights and Warren wanted it more than we did.”

The Bears scored in the first five innings to take a 7-2 lead.

Warren opened Tuesday’s game with two runs in the top of the first on an RBI single by senior catcher Alyssa Bueno, (2 for 4, HR, 2 Rs, 3 RBIs) scoring senior second baseman Lisa Garcia, who reached base all four times, and scored three runs in the game.

The second run of the inning came across on a scoring fly ball by freshman center fielder Julissa Gradilla (HR, 2 RBIs) for the 2-0 lead.

“It’s so exciting,” said Bueno, of the cross-town rivalry. “Every year I look forward to playing Downey, because the energy is different here and it’s more competitive and the tension on wanting to win.”

Warren, which improved to 13-11 overall, scored twice more in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Senior left fielder Sophia Munguia (1 for 3, sacrifice) tripled in two more runs, scoring senior first baseman Rachel Lopez (1 for 3) and Lisa Garcia.

Downey finally answered in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run home run to left field by Navarro to trail, 4-2, scoring Juliet Gonzalez (2 for 3, BB, 2 Singles, R) who singled to open the inning.

“I didn’t think it was going to go over,” said Navarro, of her sixth round tripper of the season. “It feels good to hit it against our rival Warren.”

As for the youth movement, Navarro added, “I was so excited this year because I knew what (the incoming freshmen) the girls could do on the field and how they played.”

The Bears added a fifth run in the third inning on a run-scoring double by senior right fielder Andrea Garcia (2 for 3, 2 Sgls, RBI), scoring freshman DP Vivi Navarrete to lead, 5-2.

Bueno, who also played on the flag football team this past season, gave the Bears a 7-2 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run home run to left center, scoring Lisa Garcia who reached on an error.

“I didn’t think it was going to go over,” said Navarro, of her sixth round tripper of the season. “It feels good to hit it against our rival Warren.

Gradilla hit a solo home run for Warren the next inning to extend the margin to 8-2.

“I just went up there to get a base hit and thought like, wait for your pitch, and I saw it and hit it.

“Our coach always just tells us to have fun, and I think that’s what we did,” Gradilla said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a league game or not. I used to come and watch (the rivalry game) and now playing in the game is a lot more fun.”

Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Emi Ibarra allowed only two hits for the first three innings and got out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings as Downey had runners on second and third in the fourth and on second in the fifth.

“It’s always more competitive when you’re facing people you know,” said Ibarra, who picked up the win and scattered four hits and two runs in her five innings of work. “It’s fun and not putting pressure on yourself and I think that’s where my dominance leads to.

“It’s always super exciting to play them and always super enjoyable.”

The Bears had three singles in the ninth for a run, which was scored by Gradilla on a single by freshman third baseman Kaylee Rangel (1 for 4, RBI) to lead, 9-2.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Garcia singled and eventually came home on a wild pitch to end the scoring at 9-3.

“I was excited to play, because I wanted to beat them and be able to brag about it,” Garcia said. “But, just because we lost, it doesn’t mean anything about our team, because we are going to try and take them on Thursday (April 24).”

Renteria, who won the leadoff spot early in the off season, talked of her role on the team.

“I think the faith to have a young player is a good thing to have,” said Renteria, of the freshmen starters. “It’s just cool to be here and it’s important to have. It’s not fear, but more pressure in certain spots and then you get over it.

“I believe (coach Garcia) thought that I could handle it (the position) and it was an important thing to do.”

Two big games for the Vikings was a one-run loss to powerhouse La Mirada, 8-7. And a come-from-behind win over Whittier Christian.

“We had runners on base every single time and were just one hit away in any inning in that ballgame,” said coach Garcia, about the one-run loss to the Matadores.

The Vikings defeated Whittier Christian, 8-7, as the two teams combined for 26 hits.

Leading 7-3, the Heralds came back and tied the game, 7-7, but Downey won in the bottom of the seventh scoring a game-winning run.

The second of the nonleaqgue games with Warren was Thursday (April 24). Results were not available at press time.

The Vikings return to Gateway League action next Thursday (May 1) at home against Paramount. In between, the Vikings will play two more nonleague games against Lakewood and Lynwood.

A victory against Gahr on the final day of the regular season for Downey could lead to a second place in the standings.

Warren, which is 7-0 in the Mid Cities league, can wrap up an undefeated league season with three consecutive wins to end the regular season against Dominguez, Norwalk and Lynwood, and can qualify as the No. 1 seed from the league.

Fresh talent fuels optimism for Downey softball