A river of competitiveness flows throughout the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy softball field.
It can lead in many directions, including the infield or behind the plate or in the circle. Those are some of the locations that Alexis Garcia can be found as a standout member of the Flintridge Sacred Heart softball team.
No matter the position she's patrolling, Garcia is one of the premier athletes on a Tologs squad mixed with experience and up-and-coming talent.
Garcia has been a valuable commodity, often showcasing her ability to compete as a shortstop, catcher and pitcher.
She's adroit with the bat, too.
"Softball is my passion, and I can't see myself not playing it," said Garcia, who missed a 1-0 nonleague road loss against Temple City on Thursday after suffering a left-hand injury when a pitch struck her knuckle while swinging during a nonleague loss to Alverno on March 16. "I always think that I can do better because I think I need to contribute more to my team.
"I play softball year round so I can better myself at Flintridge Sacred Heart."
So, she just might be the consummate team player for a squad fresh off its first playoff appearance last season after taking third in the strong Mission League. Through Wednesday, the Tologs are 7-5 and 1-1 in league.
The Tologs, who have had several players miss multiple contests because of injuries or illness, sure could use Garcia back.
When Garcia returns, they will get their clean-up hitter and catalyst back in time to make another playoff push during the next six weeks.
Here's what the Tologs would be getting from Garcia, whose older sister, Jeannette, starred at catcher for the Tologs earlier in the decade.
In nine contests, Garcia is batting .414 with one home run and six runs batted in. She's also recorded one double and one triple.
In the circle, she's 2-1 and recorded 32 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.
Second-year Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Dennis Williams said many high school athletes understandably have trouble adjusting to the varsity stage as freshmen.
That wasn't the case for Garcia, who was an all-league second-team pick last season.
"There's just not too many who can do that," Williams said. "She's one of those all-around athletes who can do so much for us.
