Softball Notebook: Q & A with Rebels Senior

8 Burning Questions for Abbey Deckop, Flintridge Prep

The Prep star athlete is off to a strong start, she leads her team in RBI and is second in doubles. Right now, with the Rebels off to a 3-2 start, she has very high expectations to finish her final school year as a Rebel. 

Q: What are your expectations as a team this season?

A: I expect in league to be definite contenders for the title. Playoffs are not only on our radar, but we really want to go far. 

Q: What’s life like as a prep athlete?

A: It really teaches you time management skills trying to balance academics with athletics. Starting from freshman year on it does get easier to deal with, but academics here always comes first. Coaches know that, the players definitely know that, so playing out on the field each game is truly a privilege.

Q: What is your pregame routine like?

A: As weird as this may sound, I like to take a nap on the field before each game. I want to be one with the field, and wake up five minutes before warm ups begin.

Q: What are your college plans?

A: I have a number of options, but Ohio State and UConn are on the top of my list to study business. I still plan to play club softball. 

Q: Who was the toughest player or pitcher you’ve faced?

A: Jessica Ferri from (Flintridge) Sacred Heart was my toughest challenge yet. It is no surprise, since she is playing at Harvard. 

Q: This year, the boys basketball team had its best season ever, winning their first CIF-Southern Section title and reaching the second round of the state tournament.  What was the atmosphere like around the school?

A: Every student was just as invested as the boys were. Our heart and soul went into helping the team out as much as possible.  Being best friends with Kenyatta Smith, he would always tell me to rile up as many students as possible, even during non-league or playoff games. The fan base at the end of the season was as strong as ever. 

Q: Is it tough to be a multi-sport athlete?

A: Coming into Prep, I was good at other sports besides softball and volleyball. I would be playing sports year round, no matter what it was when I was a kid, but coming into high school it was tough to limit my choices to just two. No matter what, I felt like I chose the two I would have the most fun at. 

Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

A: I really see myself being in law school. And once I’m done, hop on a plane and go wherever it takes me.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Heavy downpours last week greatly affected softball games across the San Gabriel Valley. Though the rainstorms were rather short across the region, conditions made many fields unplayable. 

Flintridge Prep had two games canceled last week. Last Tuesday’s game against Santa Clarita Christian and Thursday’s league game against Webb have been taken off the schedule, and there have been no plans of rescheduling those games. 

With rain lasting through early morning Friday, playing conditions at La Cañada forced its league match with Monrovia to be postponed over the weekend.  The matchup will be played Monday at La Cañada at 3:30 p.m. The game against the Wildcats will be the Spartans’ first Rio Hondo League game of the season. The Spartans were ranked No. 2 in last week’s CIF-Southern Section Division 5 coaches poll.

The team affected the most, though, was Crescenta Valley. Two days after the rain subsided, the weather still caused problems for the Falcons’ two-day weekend tournament hosted by Savanna High School. Playing conditions were unfit to host any games at Yorba Regional Field, and changes were made to the tournament’s format. Instead of a bracket-style tournament, the teams will play a two-game round robin schedule. On Saturday, Crescenta Valley will play Village Christian at 11 a.m. and then will take on Savanna at 12:30 p.m.

Scores from around the SGV

Crescenta Valley 12, Hoover 2

Senior pitcher Erin Ashby went four innings in the circle, striking out nine and only allowed two base hits in a Pacific League game against Hoover. As a team, the Falcons had 19 hits in just six innings played. Senior infielder Brielle Walker led the way offensively for the Falcons going 2-for-4 with four RBI.

Others notable scores from last week: Flintridge Sacred Heart 8, Mayfield 6; Crescenta Valley 33, Muir 0; Bishop Montgomery 7, La Salle 2; Burroughs 8, Arcadia 1; Monrovia 10, South Pasadena 0; Monrovia 10, Rio Hondo Prep 0. 

Games On Tap

Monday: Bishop Amat at La Salle (at West Covina’s Big League Dreams Sports Complex) 3:15 p.m.; Monrovia at La Cañada 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday:  St. Paul at La Salle (at West Covina’s Big League Dreams Sports Complex), 3:15 p.m.; La Canada at South Pasadena, 3:30 p.m.; Temple City at Monrovia, 3:30 p.m.; Burbank at Crescenta Valley, 3:30 p.m.; Chaminade at Flintridge Sacred Heart, 4:45 p.m.

Wednesday: Temple City at La Cañada, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday: Louisville at Flintridge Sacred Heart, 3:30 p.m.; Crescenta Valley vs. Burroughs (at Olive Park inBurbank), 3:30 p.m.; San Marino at Monrovia, 3:30 p.m.

Friday: La Salle at Arcadia, 5 p.m..

Saturday: Crescenta Valley vs. Village Christian^, 11:30 a.m.; Crescenta Valley vs. Savanna^, 12:30 p.m.

^ Savanna Tournament (Yorba Regional Field, Anaheim)

Manny Nunez's weekly “Softball Notebook” appears on all Patch sites in the San Gabriel Valley area.