SAN JOSE, CA - Saying Danielle Bowers wears her emotions on her jersey sleeve is like saying Donald Trump likes money.
"I cry over everything," Bowers said with a laugh after a recent practice. "The other day we had our last conditioning day and I cried over that. This may be my last interview and I'll probably cry over this too."
There may be a few more interviews in Bowers' future. After all she hit .433 with 12 doubles, five triples and four home runs last season. In Mitty's 7-4 section title win against Pioneer, she had a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. She also fielded a ball in the outfield and gunned it to Desiree Severance at first base, who turned and pegged a Pioneer runner out at home to limit a potentially huge Pioneer third inning.
"I was a little concerned at first because I thought I would miss the cut," Bowers told Prep2Prep after the game. "But then I saw Des throw home and I was very thankful she saw the runner going."
Bowers probably shed some tears after that game and she couldn't be blamed. The win secured Mitty's second section title in three years and eased the memories of a 6-3 section second-round loss to Gilroy the year before after Mitty had won its first 27 games.
"That was devastating," Bowers said. "We were undefeated until that game, but it really motivated me for my junior year. It's still motivating me this year. But at the time it was horrible. It was like a funeral. Everyone was bawling their eyes out."
Balling is all Mitty plans to do in 2015, coming off a 30-1 season in 2014 in which its only loss was to Valley Christian in a league game. The Monarchs return three, first-team All-WCAL players in outfielder Haley Wymbs, pitcher/infielder Severance and Bowers. Pitcher Stephanie Kristo and catcher Megan Nordin will also be formidable for the always amped Monarchs, one of the more lively teams in the section.
"We do a lot of funny things, like putting headphones on someone and nobody else can hear the music and they have to sing while everyone else listens," Bowers said. "They'll be off-pitch and dancing and everyone just laughs. We have a crazy team."
The Monarchs are also riddled with superstitions, with players assigned to stand in certain spots in the dugout and expected to fulfill specific duties when the cheering starts.
"We have so many superstitions that it's hard to keep up with," Bowers said. "You don't want to mess it up because you might jinx the team."
One of the Monarchs' unusual rituals, according to Danielle's mom Karen Bowers, is to gather in a circle in the outfield before a game and to share a Monster energy drink, which is at the end chugged by Danielle and then crushed and smashed on the ground by another player. Weird.
Presiding over this loony bin is Mitty coach Brian Yocke, who admires Bowers' competitive streak and just rolls his eyes at the rest.
"Dani is a competitor," Yocke said. "It doesn't matter if it's in softball or if it's a tennis ball/football game we play for team building. She gets this look on her face that shows she is ready to go. But knowing Dani for four years and her personality, the look just makes me laugh. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body."
Sports run in Bowers' family. Her mother used to sell popcorn and souvenirs for the Giants at Candlestick Park. Her grandmother, Sharon Murray, was an usherette at Seals Stadium and then later worked in the ticket office at Candlestick.
Her dad, former Branham football player Derek Bowers, probably fueled his daughter's competitive spirit. He signed her up for a variety of sports when she was young, including soccer, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and field hockey.
When it came to gymnastics, Bowers was not exactly Shannon Miller.
"The coach suggested I stick with softball," the Mitty star said. "I was not very flexible. I played field hockey when I was a freshman, but quit to spend more time on softball."
Derek Bowers helped train his daughter, establishing the California Kryptonite travel program. She honed her craft in that program, morphing from the pitcher she had been when she was younger to a star outfielder who is committed to Cal where she will someday play with such standouts as former Mitty shortstop Jazmyn Jackson and current Valley Christian star pitcher Brynne Fitzpatrick.
The summer before her junior year Bowers was asked to attend a camp at Cal and when the camp was done the Golden Bears offered her a scholarship. Berkeley had always been her dream and when they offered, Bowers said she cried.
Big surprise.
TEAMS TO WATCH (With last season's record)
CARLMONT (27-3)
The Scots have the state's winningest softball coach in Jim Liggett on the sideline and also return pitcher Mariko Kondo and sluggers Kelsey Ching (.432), Jacey Phipps (.413), Theresa Gomez (.444) and Kirra Loucks (.358). In addition to her pitching ability, Kondo hit .395 last season. Carlmont won its eighth CCS title last season, nabbing the DI title.
GILROY (8-16)
The Mustangs did not make the playoffs last season but are traditionally strong. Players to watch include senior pitcher Lauren Castro (2.64 ERA last season, 366 batting average), junior Anna Gamboa (.373 batting average) and sophomore Maria Sandoval (.333).
LEIGH (11-16)
The Longhorns also did not make the playoffs last season but did beat a decent St. Francis team 7-1.
LELAND (22-5) The Chargers made it to the section semifinals where they fell to San Benito. The Chargers will have to replace Holly Geranen in the circle, with senior Lindsey. Calcany-Blair being a possibility. Calcany-Blair also hit .367 last season and should be a top slugger along with fellow seniors Ashley. Boerner (.407) and Megan Wesolowski (.400).
MITTY (30-1)
Mitty loses the San Jose Mercury player of the year in shortstop Jazmyn Jackson to graduation, but returns three first-team All-WCAL players in outfielders Haley Wymbs (.360) an Danielle Bowers (.433) plus pitcher/infielder Desiree Severance (15-0, 0.63). Severance also hit .375. Also returning for the Monarchs are pitcher Stephanie Kristo (15-1, 1.18) and catcher Megan Nordin (.270). Mitty has won three CCS titles in four years and seven in nine years.
NOTRE DAME-SALINAS (26-3)
The Spirits in 2014 captured their 13th CCS title. They're loaded again, led by pitcher Hailey Meyer-Cohon (7-0, 1.43) and sluggers Sarah Muzik (.489), Marisa Given (.404), Aly Gomonet (.384), Emily Nguyen (.328) and Lauren Pullara (.301).
PIONEER (24-6)
The Mustangs lost just one senior off a team that made it to the final where they fell to Mitty 7-4. Returning for a loaded Pioneer team are senior Kiyanna Moneski (.361), senior Maddie Carlson (.333), s nior Caityn Weisner (.329), junior Sidney Fryoff (.281), sophomore Brook Niewoehner (.322), senior Alex Luna (.476, 10 doubles, five home runs, one triple, 25 RBI) and junior Makenzie Drake (.511). In the circle again will be sophomore Holly Azevedo (19-3, 0.83, 198 strikeouts in 151.1 innings).
PRESENTATION (22-8)
The Panthers fell to Hillsdale 11-2 in the second round of section play last season. Presentation returns senior pitcher Lorena Ukanwa (14-4, 1.67 ERA) and sophomore Elizabeth Skotz (.315), senior Gabrielle Forbes (.329), junior Lauren Blach (.435), senior Jessica Earnshaw (.325) and Ukanwa (.427).
SAN BENITO (23-4-1)
The Haybalers made it to the DI title game last season before losing and return pitcher Adriana Ibarra, as well as Victoria Silva. Other players to watch are Suzy Brookshire and Callie Heen.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN (22-8)
The Warriors get back the WCAL pitcher of the year in Brynne Fitzpatrick who went 21-7 with a 0.60 ERA and had 381 strikeouts in 186.1 innings, along with WCAL first-team picks catcher/infielder Marcella Kay (.425), infielder Jordan Dawkins (.366) an catcher/infielder Alexis Corini (.279). Jackie Borwn (.289) is another valuable piece.
WILCOX (22-8)
The Chargers fell to Carlmont 4-3 in last year's section semis. They return senior pitcher Amanda Ramirez (12-5, 2.53 ERA, 101 strikeouts), junior Ashley Yount (.296), senior Katie Stensrud (.383), senior Breanna Ledesma (.396) and Ramirez (.407).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Holly Azevedo, Pioneer
Pitcher, sophomore
Went 19-3 in the circle with a 0.83 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 151 1/3 innings.
Danielle Bowers, Mitty
Outfield, senior
Bowers hit .433 with 12 doubles, five triples and four home runs. Had a .472 on-base percentage and a .783 slugging percentage. The Cal commit hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run in the section title game 7-4 victory against Pioneer. Will play at Cal.
Mattea Carveiro, Prospect
Infield, junior
Hit .380 last season with nine doubles, five home runs and 23 RBI.
Makenzie Drake, Pioneer
Infield, junior
Hit .511 with 15 doubles and three home runs while batting leadoff. Named the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton sophomore of the year. Scored 21 runs, struck out just twice and had eight sacrifices.
Brynne Fitzpatrick, Valley Christian
Pitcher, senior
Named the WCAL pitcher of the year after going 21-7 in the circle with 10 shutouts. limiting opponents to a .096 batting average and hitting .348 herself, with two home runs and 16 RBI. She struck out more than two batters an inning (381 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings. Will play at Cal.
Callee Heen, San Benito
Infield, junior
Was named MVP of the MBL-Gabilan. Heen hit .617 with 12 home runs, two triples and 11 doubles; drove in 46 runs, had a .652 on-base percentage and a 1.247 slugging percentage. Also walked nine times. Will play at Hawaii.
Alexis Lindsey, Leigh
Infield, junior
Hit .408 last season with five home runs and 18 RBI. Will play at South Carolina.
Kirra Loucks, Carlmont
Infield, senior
Hit .358 last season with 17 RBI. Will play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Alex Luna, Pioneer
Catcher, senior
Hit .476 with 10 doubles and five home runs. Named the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton junior of the year. Had three hits in Pioneer's 7-4 section title loss to Mitty.
Morgan Martinelli, Sobrato
IF/OF, senior
Hit .464 last season with five home runs and 23 RBI. Will play at Dartmouth
Sarah Muzik, Notre Dame-Salinas
Infield, senior
Hit .489 last season in leading the Spirits to their 13th CCS title.
Morgan Ratliff, Wilcox
OF/P, senior
Ratliff hit .467 with 10 extra base hits and 23 RBI, stole 19 bases in 20 attempts and had a 3-1 record in the circle.
Bre Sabala, Live Oak
Infield, senior
Hit .415 last season. Will play at Cal Poly East Bay
Jamie Sugimoto, Soquel
Infield, senior
Hit .511 last season with 12 home runs, two triples, 12 doubles, 51 RBI and a 1.106 slugging percentage. Made first team All-SCCAL.
Desiree Severance, Mitty
P/IF, senior
Went 15-0 with an 0.63 ERA in the circle and struck out 92 and walked 26 in 89.1 innings with opponents hitting just .142 against her when not injured. Played first base the rest of the time and hit .375 with 24 RBI, four extra base hits and nine walks. Was named Prep2Prep's CCS Junior player of the year. Is healthy again this year. Will play at Drexel University.
Lorena Ukanwa, Presentation
Pitcher, senior
Hit .427 last season with four home runs, one triple, 12 doubles and 20 RBI. Went 14-4 with a 1.67 ERA in the circle. Will play at Amherst.
Noa Yakir, Homestead
Infield, senior
Hit .520 with 12 doubles, nine home run and 43 RBI. Named the SCVAL-De Anza MVP. Had a .574 on-base percentage and .950 slugging percentage. Also walked 14 times and struck out only seven times, while scoring 35 runs. Will play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
