The 2023 season was supposed to be one of new beginnings for the San Bernardino Valley College softball team. A new softball complex was going to bring the team back on campus for the first time in about a decade.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion of the complex was put on hold. And the softball team was forced to play another season at a home away from home.
But that didn’t mean that the 2023 season wasn’t one that signaled a new beginning.
For the first time since 2015, the team finished with a winning record (20-16) and was in position on the final day of the season to win the Inland Empire Athletic Conference championship before finishing a game behind Chaffey in the standings.
The final results from the season earned the Wolverines a spot in the California Community College Athletic Association championships and top honors in the All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference team.
SBVC, seeded No. 18 in the playoffs, will open the playoffs in a play-in round game at 2 p.m. Tuesday at No. 15 San Diego Mesa (18-13). The two teams met each other in a doubleheader in February, with both teams picking up a win. If SBVC wins Tuesday, they would begin a three-game series at No. 1 Palomar on Friday, while should Mesa advance, they would play No. 2 Mt. San Antonio.
The Wolverines go into the playoffs with the IEAC’s top pitcher, Sofia Gonzalez, leading the way. Gonzalez, a sophomore out of Summit High School, was named the conference pitcher of the year in voting by coaches. She finished the season with a school record 126 strikeouts, bringing her career total to 216, also a school record. Overall, she posted a record of 13-9, but was 9-2 in conference play with an ERA of 1.66 against IEAC opponents.
Joining Gonzalez on the IEAC First Team was freshman Kaitlynn LaFleur. The fellow Summit High grad finished the season posting a .425 batting average, .427 on base percentage and .529 slugging percentage, including a blistering .511/.500/.644 in IEAC play. The outfielder was also a threat on the basepaths, swiping 16 bases in 18 attempts.
Three SBVC players were chosen for the second team: third baseman Hannah Guilfoos, outfielder Aubrey Slider, and second baseman Tara Walker. Guilfoos (W.A. Carter) led the team with 37 runs batted in, while also hitting two home runs. Slider (Beaumont) had a school record five triples on the season. And Walker (Norte Vista) was tied for third on the team with 34 hits, and second in steals with 11.
Second baseman Monique Davila (Fontana) earned honorable mention honors. Davila was one of the three players tied with 34 hits, while also earning 21 walks.