Phenoms : With Talent Beyond Their Years, These Athletes Will Likely Leave Their Marks : Tia Bollinger: Softball

If Mater Dei pitcher Marissa Young qualified as a phenom last year, when she was the Southern Section’s and Times Orange County’s player of the year as a freshman, Tia Bollinger probably qualifies as phenom light.

The 14-year-old freshman was supposed to pitch a handful of games this season and leave all the showdowns against state powers to Young. But a not-so-funny thing happened on the way to a possible second consecutive section and state title. Young had arm trouble, and Bollinger has emerged as a surprising--and surprisingly effective--replacement.

“When she came here this year, we had no idea she was as good as she was,” Mater Dei Coach Doug Myers said. “I wouldn’t have thought of her as a phenom at the beginning of the season, but I definitely think that now because of her importance to the program now. If she continues to impress and improve, I would say that’s definitely the case.”

Mater Dei, now 12-3, opened the season ranked No. 1 in the state and in Orange County. Bollinger opened the eyes of her coaches the first time she faced a game situation.

The startling moment was a scrimmage against Foothill, one of Orange County’s traditional powers and ranked No. 3 in the county and 10th in the state at the time.

Bollinger struck out all six batters she faced, including Jaime Clark--who rivaled Young last year as the county’s top freshman.

“I said, ‘This girl is something,’ ” Myers recalled. “We still weren’t sure who we were going to use if something happened to Marissa.

“The thing that really struck us was [Bollinger’s] poise. It’s amazing. They play tons of travel ball, but that initial scrimmage in high school scares them to death. Her poise was really incredible, and she had great control.”

That scrimmage well behind her, Bollinger is 5-2, her only losses to Pacifica, the state’s top-ranked team.

All three runs she has given up have been to Pacifica, and only one was earned--a home run off the bat of Amanda Freed, a phenom two years ago. That homer was the only hit Bollinger gave up in a 1-0 loss on Saturday.

She has struck out 56 in 42 innings and surrendered only six hits and five walks. She pitched a perfect game against Huntington Beach, five innings of a no-hitter against Antelope Valley, a no-hitter against Fountain Valley on Saturday, and one-hitters against Pacifica and San Diego Scripps Ranch, last year’s San Diego Section champion.

In the game against Antelope Valley, 30 of her 35 pitches were strikes.

“The pressure on me is to prove myself, that I really deserve to be out there with my teammates,” Bollinger said. “The team is a great bunch of girls and we’re doing really well, and with them being [section] champions last year, and Marissa now hurt, it put quite a bit of pressure on me to step up and hopefully fill her shoes and accept the challenge.

“Under the circumstances, it’s a great opportunity for me, but it came under bad circumstances. I think the pressure that I feel, it’s not really from the team but from me. I want to do well and live up to that tradition.”

Mater Dei has been to the last two Division I section finals. If the Monarchs are to repeat, Bollinger will likely play a major role, sharing duties with with Young (if she returns).

Bollinger’s best pitch is a changeup, her strikeout pitch is the drop. And though her high-school career is just beginning, “she’s a great finisher,” Myers said.

“She gets hold of something and she won’t let go,” Myers continued. “When runners get on base, it doesn’t seem to rattle her. When umpires don’t give her certain pitches, it doesn’t seem to faze her.

“When we got the lead against Scripps Ranch [in a 1-0 victory], she was just like Marissa.”

Which is phenomenal.