Banning Pitcher Is No Hit With Her Opponents

During her current string of no-hitters, opponents of Banning High’s Lisa Bautista have awarded each other prizes for hitting even a foul ball. They’ve been nearly ecstatic when they could bunt a fair ball off her or loft a lazy fly.

Thanks to Bautista’s dominance and a solid defense, Banning--which opened the City softball playoffs with a 12-0 win over Taft last week--is seeded second in the City and is hoping to collide with top-seeded El Camino Real in the final.

Bautista pitched a perfect game--her sixth straight no-hitter--against Taft. In the quarterfinals today, Banning will play host to Chatsworth at Dolphin Park in Carson at 2:45 p.m.

Bautista ended the regular season with 15 no-hitters, including streaks of seven and five, and has scholarship offers from Florida State and Arizona. It’s just about been a perfect season, but Bautista has learned a little bit about life’s disappointments along the way.

A year ago, Bautista and Banning were beaten in the second playoff game--by El Camino Real. The defense was porous and Bautista felt she had to keep batters from touching the ball.

“She put too much pressure on herself,” said Coach Carol Cox. “Last year she felt she had to do it all. We had some problems. (Now) we’re starting to play real good defense. I’m happy with the way we’re playing. We’ve finally got that unity back. I’m sure it’s why Lisa is comfortable out there.”

Indeed, Bautista said her teammates take as much pride in the no-hitters as she. Against Gardena two weeks ago, three straight batters tried to bunt, and third baseman Tina Magana made fine plays on them to keep the no-hitter intact.

“If somebody gets a hit or scores an unearned run, the team doesn’t like it,” Bautista said. “The defense has helped me a lot in the no-hitters.”

The 18-3 Pilots--two of the losses were 1-0--started so well that Bautista, whose heart was set on playing for UCLA, began sending letters and schedules to Westwood. The interest was never reciprocated and Bautista, who has been accepted there academically and cannot afford to go as a walk-on, probably will attend Arizona. The Wildcats have offered a full ride for three years and a partial scholarship her freshman year. She said she will decide soon.

If UCLA’s lack of interest is perplexing, it may be that Bautista doesn’t look like a power pitcher. At 5-5, the senior barely weighs 100 pounds.

Bautista said she has “seven or eight” pitches, including several curves, a change-up and a devastating riser that is often up around the eyes by the time batters swing at it.

“Everything’s been working,” Bautista said. “I’ll probably have to mix up my pitches more against the tougher schools like Kennedy and El Camino.”

Bautista likes the Pilots’ chances for a City title. “If we hit and keep up the defense,” she said, “we should be able to get to the finals. I think we have a good chance.”