Shy Freshman Turns Tough on the Field : Former Banning Star Adds Spark to Bruins

Lorraine Maynez may be a shy college freshman, but on the softball field she seems like an aggressive old pro.

The UCLA center fielder, a three-time league MVP at Banning High, has all the qualities of a great softball player. She’s quick and powerful at the plate.

“We call her ‘Scooter,’ ” said catcher Stacy Sunny, “because she’s real sneaky and fast on the bases.”

The 18-year-old appears like a timid newcomer when she strolls through the UCLA campus. Her teammates say she hardly talks.

“She really doesn’t say much,” said UCLA all-American pitcher Lisa Longaker, who played three years of summer softball with Maynez. “She never complains about anything and she’s just real quiet.”

But when Maynez is in her blue-and-gold uniform, words aren’t necessary. In her case, actions speak for themselves. So do statistics.

“I’m just playing, “ Maynez said, almost whispering, “just playing my game. I don’t even feel like a great hitter. I mean, I guess I’m doing good.”

Good guess.

Maynez leads the top-ranked Bruins (36-5) at the plate with a .367 batting average. She may not appear like a powerful hitter at only 5 foot 4, but she’s led UCLA’s offense, which has four batters hitting over .300, for most of the season.

So far Maynez has a team-high 47 hits, including 8 doubles and 5 triples. She’s second in RBI (22) to junior Janice Parks (34), who has a .344 batting average.

Last month Maynez had a nine-game hitting streak and a great performance in the title game of the San Jose tournament, which UCLA won, in late March. Maynez went 3 for 3 with 3 RBI against the University of Nebraska in the championship game.

In last week’s double-header against cross-town rival Cal State Fullerton, Maynez had success in three of her seven visits to the plate. She scored a run in the first game, which UCLA won 6-1 and had 2 RBI in the second game, which the Bruins lost 6-4 because pitcher Samantha Ford gave up 7 hits and 5 runs in the first three innings.

“I know when Lorraine is up, she’s going to hit,” said Longaker, whose record is 18-1 and earned run average is 0.20. “I have a lot of confidence in her. Not only does she have great speed, she hits the heck out of the ball.”

The left-handed outfielder is also a force on defense. UCLA Coach Sharron Backus says Maynez is one of the best center fielders she’s seen in 13 years as the Bruins’ coach.

“We’ve had a lot of great players here with unique qualities,” said Backus, who has led teams to four national titles and to the national tournament in seven of the last nine years. “And as far as physical talent goes, Lorraine is one of them. The only difference between her and Susie (UCLA assistant coach Sue Enquist, who played center field for the Bruins), who is one of the premier players I’ve ever seen, is that Lorraine doesn’t have that burning desire to be the very best yet. It’s the same physical talent but not the same burning desire.”

Maynez’ talent has earned starting positions on many top caliber softball teams besides UCLA. She played on two national championship Amateur Softball Assn. squads and was a Marine League MVP and a first team all-City player for three years at Banning.

The Pilots won the league title and reached post-season play every year that Maynez was there. They reached the L.A. City finals her first year and the semifinals the other two years.

“She’s just a natural athlete,” said Carol Cox, who coached Maynez at Banning High. “She’s the first high school girl I’ve seen that could throw somebody out at first from center field. Her arm is a rifle.”

Last summer Maynez helped the U.S. national team win a gold medal at the Junior World Games in Oklahoma. The United States beat defending world champion China 2-0 for the title.

Maynez hit a one-out triple in the seventh inning with a runner on base that won the championship game for the United States. She hit three home runs in the 15-game tournament and set an RBI record of 10.

One month later, she was an Amateur Softball Assn. all-American as part of the Inland CityRaiders girls 18-and-under team. She received the honor for her performance in the women’s nationals played in Nebraska.

“I saw her four years ago when she was a shortstop,” said Raider Coach John Longaker, who also coached Maynez on the national team that won in Oklahoma. “And she had an awful lot of quickness even though she was out of position. She has very good hands and she’s very, very quick.”

In 1986, Maynez helped the Raiders win the senior girls national title in San Antonio. She set a team hitting record with a .395 batting average, even though she was only 16 years old.

“Lorraine can hit against anybody.” Longaker said. “She’s a very strong long-ball hitter, singles hitter and she can bunt because of her quickness. She’s just a threat all the way around.”

Before high school, Maynez, who is the second youngest of 11 children, played Pony League baseball with boys. She was an all-star four consecutive years.

The admiration she received then and throughout her career continues in college. Maynez has already impressed many in the rough and competitive arena of NCAA softball, even without the “burning desire” Backus says is required to be the best.

“She just needs to mature a little,” said Gina Vecchione, a former UCLA all-American center fielder, who was on the 1982 national champion team. “But she’s incredible. She’s quick as lightning and has a very strong arm. Lorraine is definitely one of the top outfielders UCLA has had.”

That doesn’t present any extra pressure for Maynez, but it has toughened her up mentally.

“I used to be able to take a loss,” she said rolling her eyes, “but softball here is serious stuff. I don’t want to lose anymore. In fact, now that I think about it, I’d like to become national (NCAA) champ . . . and I guess I wouldn’t mind being in the 1992 Olympics.”