San Diego Section Softball Playoffs : On the Field, Schott Sisters Are All Business : Vista’s Karrie and Kim, Both Seniors, Help Pave Way for Freshman Kelli

When Kelli Schott found out she was the only freshman to make the Vista High School softball team, her first reaction was excitement.

Then she had to deal with the pressure.

Soon, however, she felt right at home. Who wouldn’t with two older sisters on the team?

Karrie, Kim and Kelli Schott start for Vista, which is the top seed in the San Diego Section championship tournament this week. Karrie and Kim are fraternal twins. In Vista’s 2-0 victory over Patrick Henry High on Tuesday, Karrie, who has a 0.70 earned-run average, struck out five to earn the victory, and Kim scored the winning run to advance the Panthers (15-6) to today’s 3-A semifinal against Madison High School (24-1).

Seniors Karrie and Kim have played on the same team since they were youngsters. Kelli, a shortstop with a .302 batting average, is playing on the same team as her sisters for the first time.

“At first, I was a little worried that (Kelli) would not be able to handle that type of adjustment,” Vista Coach Mary Trotter said. “But she fit in fine. I think a big part of her adjustment was having her two sisters on the team.”

Kelli said that although her sisters are critical at times, they have made it easier for her to adjust to being the only freshman on the team for most of the season. For the playoffs, Trotter elevated freshman Renee Richardson from the junior varsity two weeks ago; there is only one sophomore on the team.

“The main reason I didn’t feel out of place was because my sisters made it easier for me to meet people,” Kelli said. “I wouldn’t know as many people on the team if my sisters weren’t on the team.

“They don’t just give me instructions on the field, they demand that I do better. But I like it that way because they tell me what I’m doing wrong and a lot of people don’t have the guts to do that, so I think it helps.”

Kim, a second baseman with a .290 average, said she also enjoys the frankness among the sisters but added that sometimes she wishes she was the team’s only family member.

“Sometimes people will compare us,” Kim said. “If my sister gets a hit, I should get a hit. Karrie is a pitcher and she’s pretty good. You can’t compare a pitcher to a second baseman, but people do anyway. They say Karrie is better because she pitches.”

The three girls said they are like most sisters off the field, arguments and all, but that on the field they are teammates first, sisters second.

“They are an interesting group of girls,” Trotter said. “Once you put them on the field they are real team players. But off the field, they are typical sisters, arguing over everything . . . but they are really sweet girls.”

Said Kim: “We are like normal sisters off the field. . . . We argue about stupid things. But when we start getting excited about a game, the arguing usually fades, and we usually aren’t mad at each other anymore.”

Trotter said she has had trouble remembering the girls’ names because they all sound alike. Last season, Trotter said that a lot of the other players had trouble telling Kim and Karrie apart, even though they are not identical twins.

“In the heat of a game, I would be yelling at all three and hope that one of them was close to the ball and heard me,” she said.

Trotter said she is happy with the performances of the Schott sisters but noted that the entire team has been solid. Last season, Vista finished second in the Palomar League but was defeated in the first round of the playoffs by Mount Miguel, which won the championship.

Karrie Schott, who is 10-3, and Malia Faumunia lead the team with .410 batting averages.

Still, Trotter is amazed at the play of the Schotts and how they have supported each other throughout the season.

Kelli, the freshman, will attest to that.