Kennedy softball forges City title shot without home field; practicing in thrower’s pit, on blacktop
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GRANADA HILLS — It’s sixth period at Kennedy High. The football team is on the field behind the east end zone doing pushups in unison. A mix of boys and girls are running around the school’s dirt track. And, of course, there were a dozen-or-so teens bundled together in the bleachers not participating — like something out of a movie.
However, there was an unusual addition to this typical high school scene. There was activity in the thrower’s pit. Instead of athletes working on the shot put, the softball team was working through batting drills beyond the west end zone of the football field and inside an enclosed corner sectioned off by a tall chain-link fence.
“We have to find somewhere different to practice every day,” Kennedy softball coach Christian Carbajal said. “We’ve been doing it all season.”
The Cougars haven’t played a true home game this year. They haven’t had a real field to practice on, either, due to the school’s modernization process that’s essentially erased the softball field from the face of the campus. It’s part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s $7 billion bond measure to modernize its schools, one of which is Kennedy.
The softball team has used every corner of the campus to practice, including the blacktop. On those days, the players can’t wear cleats, they wear tennis shoes, Carbajal said.
“When we’re on the blacktop, we have to take groundballs while other students are around,” senior Jayleen Piedra said laughing.
The team plays its home games at Petit Park.
“The backstop has graffiti on it and there are homeless people in the outfield sometimes,” junior pitcher Miya Ramirez said. “Our games get interrupted by little kids sometimes running onto the field at the park.”
Despite all the challenges, Kennedy will play in the City Section Open Division final against top-seeded El Camino Real on Saturday at Cal State Northridge at 3 p.m.
“When there’s a will, there’s a way,” Carbajal said with a smile.
Kennedy softball has to find space to practice every day during school renovations (including the SB field). The go-to place is the thrower’s pit. Sometimes, it’s the blacktop…
Despite the challenges, the Cougars are in the City Open final Saturday. Remarkable. Story coming… pic.twitter.com/omGFtYHst7
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 19, 2022
What once was green grass, a lined dirt field and two dugouts is now a large, flat lot used for portable classroom buildings, better known as bungalows. A temporary softball field intended to last four years is being built while the modernization plan is being executed. Once the bungalows can be moved, a permanent softball field will be built on the field’s original location.
The Cougars finished 23-5 this season, including a 12-0 campaign in the Valley Mission League. It earned them the seventh seed in the Open Division’s eight-team field. Unfazed, the team won two playoff games on the road, beating second-seeded Granada Hills 7-6 last week before taking down No. 6 Carson 9-3 Tuesday.
“At the beginning of the season, it bothered us. We were asking, ‘Why now? Why us? Why can’t they do it in the summer?’ ” said Piedra, explaining the challenge of finding somewhere new to practice each day. “But eventually we got used to it and started embracing it. Now, we feel like nothing can stop us.”
The team has been without CSUN commit Gizella Vargas all season due to injury and lost top pitcher Savannah Arreguin midseason to a concussion. She has not returned due to concussion-related symptoms. Ramirez has stepped into the pitcher’s circle valiantly for the Cougars.
Go-ahead run for Kennedy in the top of the 7th inning. Cougars take a 7-6 lead over Granada Hills on this play at the plate.
Is she safe? Is she out? You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/Q5xL3TatIL
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 12, 2022
Perseverance, togetherness and attitude — and of course — talent. All attributes the Cougars have displayed to reach the program’s first City final appearance since 2010, a game they won 1-0 over Chatsworth. That victory was largely due to the pitching performance from the person who is now the Cougars’ coach, Christian Carbajal. She threw a two-hit complete game and struck out eight batters in that final 12 years ago.
“This year has been a great opportunity to teach my players that no matter what you’re dealing with, adversity makes you better,” Carbajal said. “On the field and off the field. I also tell them to stay humble. We’ve dealt with a lot, but it doesn’t mean we get better treatment because we’re winning. Nothing changes.”