Ernie Garcia, head softball coach at Pioneer Valley High School, said that there’s one player on his team who, after every game, without fail, garners unsolicited praise from attendees.
“Anybody who comes to watch our games always comments on our second baseman,” Garcia said. “They don’t even know who she is, but they notice her. She’s always moving and always playing hard. Her energy affects everybody.”
Junior Maxine Lopez is the mystery second baseman starring for the Panthers this season. A three-year varsity player, Lopez brings a valuable combination of experience and a passion for the game to the team.
“Her work ethic is unbelievable,” Garcia said. “Every drill, every grounder, she goes 110 percent. And that translates to the game.”
Lopez’s softball journey began at the early age of 9, when she learned the basics of the game from a familiar face.
“Ernie [Garcia] was my first coach; he taught me how to play ball,” Lopez told the Sun. “It was really cool. And now I get to end my high school career with him too.”
Lopez said she thrives on the adrenaline rush that comes during the tensest, most important moments of a game.
“It’s the rush of everything that really pushes me,” Lopez said. “The best part of it is just being out there and being in the dugout, when you’re in a super close game. That type of feeling you get in that moment … I just feed off of that.”
Batting leadoff, Lopez gets to set the tone every game and be the first player to report an opposing pitcher’s tendencies to her teammates. That privilege comes with some added pressure, though.
“It’s hard [batting leadoff]; I get nervous sometimes,” she admitted. “I think once I step into the box, I get into my comfort zone. The best part is getting to set the mood and set the tone and get it all started.”
For the moment, Lopez is focused on helping Pioneer Valley snap a six-game losing streak. She’s doing her part, batting a team best .485 and playing rock solid defense. Lopez feels like it’s just a matter of time for the Panthers to start clicking again.
“It’s been hard, but I think the group we have is so passionate, we’re going to be able pull together and get out of this,” she said. “Because this is not us. We can play so much better than this.”
For the future, Lopez said she wants to be an emergency room nurse or an EMT. She said she hopes softball can play a role in helping her get into a good college.
This article appears in Apr 21-28, 2016.