2009 Softball Preview:

GLENDALE — Storied as the Crescenta Valley High softball program is, seasons like the last don’t come along all that often.

The Falcons flew to the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals for the first time since 2000 by way of a 29-0 start to the year. For the majority of the season, they were the top-ranked team in the division, blazing to an undefeated run through a Pacific League that included second-ranked Burbank.

Whether or not that success can be duplicated or surpassed seems to be the area’s burning question.

The dark side is the losses of a slew of varsity mainstays such as Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo, Lainey DePompa and Caitlyn Cox, but the bright side is the return of a multitude of starters, many of them with NCAA Division I talent and past individual accomplishments aplenty.

Leading the charge is the area’s home run queen, Baillie Kirker, who enters the final season of her historic Crescenta Valley career with a scholarship to the University of Arizona, two All-Area Player of the Year accolades, last season’s co-CIF Division III Player of the Year honor and 37 career homers — already the Southern Section record and eight away from tying the state’s all-time mark.

Add that to All-CIF center fielder Stephanie Ziemann and the All-Area pitching duo of Kali Cancelosi and Heather Bacon and the Falcons have a potent nucleus poised for more success, but Coach Dan Berry is all about business as usual and one step at a time.

“We try to get the pieces together,” said Berry, who picked up his 500th coaching win during last year’s monumental season. “So far, everything’s good on paper.”

Crescenta Valley begins the season ranked second in its division, evidence enough that expectations are high, but, as Berry is quick to point out, no games have been played and nothing’s been proven yet.

“I think it’s an honor for them to be ranked that high,” Berry said, “but again, that doesn’t mean anything.”

Kirker will likely start at shortstop, but could also play catcher as she did for much of last year when DePompa was injured. It could be a developing trend for the Falcons, as they try to fill the holes of departed teammates.

“The whole team’s gonna go back and forth,” Berry said. “We’re gonna [emphasize] the word team player. You do what you do to make things work.”