Devan Lee |Staff Writer|
Alyssa Flores, senior third baseman for the Coyote softball team, ends her athletic career with honorable recognition and high hopes for her future.
Born in West Covina, she was raised in Fontana after moving to the Inland Empire at a young age.
According to Flores, the game of softball has been a beneficial aspect of life since she was eight.
“I’ve been playing softball for so long I have just grown a passion for the sport,” said Flores.
“It is designed to make you fail, so you learn do whatever it takes to win.”
Her life on the diamond began with the simple game of t-ball.
She would then gradually work her way up to competitive fast pitch softball playing for a club team known as Rock Steady.
As the years passed she would develop her skills on the field.
Flores transitioned to better club teams and played for Kaiser High School in her adolescent years.
When the time came to play college softball, she came to realize there was more to the game than what she had previously anticipated.
“High school was chill, but college was a big transition for me,” said Flores.
“You realize how much of an impact your emotions have on not only the game but on your team, and you learn to appreciate the knowledge your coaches give you.”
In her first year playing for Coyote softball, she made the team as a red-shirt freshman.
As the years went on, she progressed into becoming a key player for the team and would eventually become a captain her senior year.
In her final season as a Yote, her impact on the field would prove to be more than worth mentioning.
She would be the first player to hit a batting average of over .400 in the last 15 years of the program.
Fruthermore, Flores earned conference player of the week honors twice in one season, and earned a spot on the all CCAA conference first-team softball squad all in her senior year.
“It’s exciting because I felt like I wasn’t really getting recognized my first couple of years. I was also happy to be a benefit to the team,” said Flores.
Although she may appear to be complex on the field, off the field she is a simple, easy going individual who enjoys spending time with family and friends.
“I wouldn’t have done so great this year if it wasn’t for all the love and support of my parents, brother, and boyfriend,” said Flores.
As far as her future on the field goes, she plans on playing in the summer for a school club team along with a handful of other juniors and seniors.
Her achievements on and off the field are driven by a quote that, according Flores, has been helpful to her all year.
“Success comes to those who are not afraid to fail. I pretty much live by that now,” said Flores.
The fifth year senior will graduate this Spring with a bachelors degree in kinesiology.
Her goal is to eventually attend graduate school after taking a short break from her education.
Leave a Reply