Ray Conner
Sports Editor

With measured success in the past, this might be the time for the varsity softball squad to be really special.

In his seventh year as head coach, Ben Goffinet likes his team’s chances for not only competing for the High Desert League title, but also improve on last year’s CIF playoffs run.

Kayla Evans, of the Lady Broncs varsity softball squad unleashes a pitch in a game last season. Kern Valley returns eight players in hopes of improving on their second place finish in the High Desert League and the reaching of the semi-finals in the CIF playoffs.

Since taking over as the head coach for the Lady Broncs, Goffinet has led his team to four league titles and two second place finishes.

Last year the team went 22-7-1, 6-2 HDL (2nd place) and reached the semifinals of the CIF playoffs. Included in all that was Goffinet’s 100th varsity softball victory at Kern Valley.

As in past seasons, Goffinet will be assisted by Maury Meadors and Nick Howard.

Goffinet returns eight players, including starting pitcher, junior Kayla Evans who was impressive as a sophomore.

Other returning players include, seniors, Kelsie Robinson and Taylor Williams who are four-year varsity players, seniors, Katie Bletcher and Haelee Powell, junior Katy Emery and sophomore Jamie Duran.

New to the squad this season for the Lady Broncs are juniors, Allyson Borthick, Adrianna Villegas and Erica Stoddard, sophomores Morgan Eirich and Katie Clifton and freshman, Jessica Yasin.

Goffinet decided to keep 15 players this season, knowing full well he will lose five seniors next season and he wants to let some younger players gain some key varsity experience for the future.

In their non-league season, Goffinet hopes that the experience of his team results in winning some games. He also wants to see his team improve steadily and reach some tournament finals.

Goffinet said, “I want to make a dent in the tournament we are playing in. I also would like to beat some of the teams that we have struggled with in the past .”

The Lady Broncs schedule this season is a few more non-league games before the HDL action begins.

Goffinet said, “The schedule favors Kern Valley in that coming off spring break we play a couple of non-league games before we start the HDL games.”

Goffinet sees Rosamond (last year’s HDL champion) and Bishop and the Lady Broncs as the teams that will be battling for the HDL title.

He said, “On paper, Kern Valley looks to be the team to beat. If you polled the coaches we would probably be the favorite to win the league, but you still have to play the games. My goal never changes it is to win league”

Goffinet sees the strength of his team in the pitching and the defense. He said, “I think it might be tough to score runs on us this year.”

On the flip side, the challenges he sees is the level of aggressiveness. “We could do a lot more than we do. We are talented and we’re going to play defense, but I would like to see us more aggressive on offense,” said Goffinet.

After trying to contend for the league title, the secondary goal for the Lady Broncs is to go deep into the CIF playoffs.

Goffinet said, “Every coach wants to have a CIF championship on his record.”

In closing, Goffinet would really like to see the community come out and show his team some support.

He said, “I would really like to see a lot of fans out there. Honestly, I have such a good feeling about this group and they are going to be special. Special like we haven’t seen in a lot of years. I would like for the community to come see how special these girls are and I would like to see the stands packed to make our home games intimidating for other teams. This team is impressive.”

With last year’s success in reaching the semi-final game, the Lady Broncs now have had a taste of what it is like to have considerable success. The coach is hoping that feeling stays with his team all season and drives them to want to be special.