For Johnsen, Stealing Time Is All the Time : Softball: Southern Section record will fall soon to Woodbridge center fielder.

Alison Johnsen reaches first base and looks into the catcher’s eyes. Looks for doubt. Looks for fear. Looks for an edge.

Johnsen likes to know what she’s facing.

The next thing Johnsen does is get in a sprinter’s position--her left foot on the bag, her right foot in foul territory. Then she steals. It’s almost a sure thing.

She has done so 172 times in her career at Woodbridge High. On Saturday at the Woodbridge Classic at Harvard Park, or sometime next week, she’ll reach 178, and when she does, she will be the Southern Section’s all-time career leader.

Only seven times has anyone thrown her out. Through 15 games, she has stolen 31 bases. Tenth-ranked Woodbridge (12-3) reached the Woodbridge Classic quarterfinals last weekend with Johnsen’s perfect performance in a doubleheader sweep: She went six for six, scored six runs and stole eight bases.

“The record isn’t important as long as I get my team to where we need to be,” Johnsen said. “As long as we keep winning, the record will come. It doesn’t matter if I get it this weekend or next weekend.

“(Stealing a base is) crucial to the team and helps out a lot, but for me to steal, the batter (who is) up has to do her part, and for that it’s a team effort even though I’m the one stealing the base.”

Johnsen praised Liz Lemire, a freshman second baseman batting behind her in the order, for helping her along this season: “She’ll have to fake bunt or swing late, or move to the back of the box to distract the catcher.”

Johnsen was the only junior from California recognized as a 1993 All-American by FastPitch Magazine, and it’s easy to understand why.

Last year, Johnsen batted .473 and stole a section-record 63 bases, eclipsing the record 59 set by Calvary Baptist’s Carla Black in 1988. She is a three-time All-Southern Section first team selection and a two-time member of the Times All-County team. Next year, she’ll play for national power Arizona.

She’s batting .647 this season and has a career average of .457.

Johnsen, a 5-foot-6 1/2 center fielder who bats left-handed, has exceptional raw speed and quickness, and says she’s helped along by an adrenaline rush “that just pushes me over.”

She has come quite a way from her freshman year, when she just hoped to play her best, get to know some people and win a few games.

“I never thought it would carry to this extent at all,” Johnsen said. “I remember after my freshman year (and stealing 37 bases), I thought, ‘There’s no way I could ever steal (177) many bases.’ ”

Woodbridge Coach Alan Dugard told her earlier this year the career record was within reach.

“Just keep your skills up, get on base and be ready to steal and you’ll probably be able to do it in half a season,” Dugard said.

He was right. Johnsen should push 200 by the time the playoffs end. Her goals, however, involve victories: she wants to win a Southern Section title, which the Warriors won her sophomore year. They were upset in last year’s quarterfinals despite being the top-seeded team.

Johnsen gives Woodbridge a scoring opportunity every time she bats. A single, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt and a ground ball will score her. And if there’s an out, she might steal her way to third base.

“I’m on first base trying to determine what the catcher is thinking,” Johnsen said. “Either she’s thinking, ‘I’m going to get her,’ or ‘Am I going to get her?’ If she questions herself, it’s going to make it hard for her. When they look at me on first base, I can see it in their eyes.”

Even though she has been thrown out twice this season--as many as all of last season--Johnsen isn’t worried.

“They’re preparing for me beforehand,” she said. “I feel I’m a marked man.”

Though it hardly matters.

On the Run

The career record of Alison Johnsen, left, Woodbridge’s two-time all-county selection and base-stealing leader:

Year AB R H BA SB CS 1991 89 22 28 .315 37 2 1992 67 29 32 .478 41 1 1993 110 38 52 .473 63* 2 1994 51 25 33 .647 31** 2 Total 317 114 145 .457 172*** 7

Notes:

* Southern Section record (previous record, 59, by Calvary Baptist’s Carla Black, 1988).

** Through 15 games.

*** Southern Section record is 177, set by Rio Hondo Prep’s Kristy Walsh, 1978-81, and Calvary Baptist’s Carla Black, 1985-88.