The Preps : Girls’ Player of the Week : Bickert Lets Her Pitching Do All the Talking

Marta Bickert of Trabuco Hills High School doesn’t have much to say about her sudden softball success.

Ask Bickert, a freshman right-hander who started to pitch seriously only 1 1/2 years ago, how she’s able to allow an average of only 2.3 hits a game.

“I don’t know,” she said.

Ask her how she has managed to throw three no-hitters.

“I’m not sure.”

Or how, in 12 games, she has struck out 115 batters.

All Bickert’s answers seem to be somewhere between a hem and a haw.

“She’s kinda funny that way,” said Carol Bickert, Marta’s mother. “She’s a woman of few words.”

Said Marta’s father, Glenn Bickert: “She’s real quiet about these things. But that’s the neat thing about her. She’s very humble.”

And, when pitching, very effective. Especially last week, when Bickert, The Times’ player of the week, led the Mustangs to the consolation championship of the Charter Oaks tournament.

In four games, Bickert pitched two no-hitters, one one-hitter and one two-hitter. She struck out 55 of 100 batters for Trabuco Hills (6-6).

This season, Bickert, the Mustangs’ only pitcher, is 6-6 with an earned-run average of 1.72.

“The thing I like best about her is her attitude,” Mustang Coach Paul Beidler said. “It’s just outstanding, especially for someone so young. She’s in no way a prima donna like some.”

Bickert, who is also an accomplished pianist and plays first violin in the school orchestra, has a 4.1 grade-point average. At 5-feet 10-inches, she is the starting center on the school’s basketball team and plays volleyball.

She started learning to pitch with the help of her father about three years ago. Her Bobby Sox team, the Mission Viejo Banchees, had no pitcher.

“Basically, she was the best athlete on the team,” Glenn Bickert said. “She really had a knack for it right away. But after a while, she was getting too good. I didn’t know how to handle her.”

So, a year and a half ago, Bickert went to Ron LeFebvre, a private pitching instructor in Orange. She still works with him year round.

At 13, she made the American Fastpitch Assn.’s 18-and-under all-star team. Last November, Bickert went 3-0 and allowed one unearned run in 17 innings during a 90-team AFA softball tournament.

“That was probably the turning point for her,” Glenn Bickert said. “It helped her confidence. A lot of people noticed her.”

As a lot are noticing her now. Particularly with three years of high school softball remaining.

Said Marta: “Yeah, there seems to be a lot of curious people out there. . . . I’m not sure why.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Tiffany Boyd of Woodbridge pitched a one-hitter and struck out 15 in a 3-0 victory over San Clemente Monday.

Julie Fletcher pitched a no-hitter for Linfield Christian Tuesday in a 10-0 victory over St. Margaret’s.

Michele Granger pitched a perfect game and struck out 17 to lead Valencia to a 1-0 victory over Woodbridge Monday.

Beth Lomeli of Mater Dei pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Bishop Montgomery Tuesday.

Janet Miyahara of Fountain Valley pitched a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Laguna Hills Tuesday.

Kristin Winn of Mission Viejo surpassed three All-American qualifying standards in winning the Trophy Dash at the Mt. Carmel invitational swimming meet. She won the 100 meter butterfly (1 minute 59.89 seconds), the 200 freestyle (1:53.50) and the 200 individual medley (2:09.70).

Marta Bickert

Trabuco Hills High

Position: Pitcher.

Height, Class: 5-10, freshman.

Last Week: In four games, Bickert pitched two no-hitters, one one-hitter and one two-hitter. She struck out 55 of 100 batters for Trabuco Hills (6-6), leading the Mustangs to the consolation championship at the Charter Oaks tournament last week.

Season: In 12 games, Bickert (6-6) has struck out 115, averaging 9.6 strikeouts a game. Bickert allows an average of 2.3 hits a game, and has pitched three no-hitters. Her earned-run average is 1.72.