A cat-and-mouse game broke out during a May 5 softball contest at Malibu High.
Betsey Hopkinson of the Malibu Little League’s Hornets softball team had taken a big lead off third base. The pre-teen was itching to score a run for her team of 10- and 11-year-olds, but the pitcher of the opposing team, the West LA Vipers, didn’t want to give up a point that easy. On consecutive instances, the pitcher would stare at Betsey and scoot quickly toward her while holding the ball in a throwing position. Each time Betsey stared down the opposing player for a second and backtracked to third base.
Betsey turned out to be the cat—she eventually scored a run for her squad.
“I really feel if she is not two feet away from me I do not have to move,” Betsey said. “If she is not going to run it at me or throw it at me I will be able to take home.”
Her score was one of many in a matchup the Hornets lost, 9-8. Malibu held an early lead in the game, before West LA stormed back. The Hornets led, 8-7, in the bottom of the last inning but then West L.A. runners stole home plate twice to snatch the win.
Betsey’s father, Hornets manager Peter Hopkinson, called his team’s plays fantastic.
“They battled really hard against one of the harder teams in the league,” he said. “I was impressed to see what we have been doing in practice applied on the field.”
Hopkinson said Malibu, owners of a 7-3 record, bonded during the loss to West LA.
“We really gelled,” he said.
It showed on the diamond. The girls continuously rooted for each other when a teammate was at bat or on the mound pitching. A Hornets staple was also aggressive base running and stealing.
For example, after hitting a single in the first inning, Jocelyn Zabaldo stole second and third base, and her teammates started a “She stole on you” cheer in the Malibu dugout. Anniston Aragon then hit a single, allowing Jocelyn to score. Anniston immediately stole second base. Soon after, Betsey, who has hit eight in-the-park homers, hit a double that allowed Anniston to score.
Hopkinson said the girls enjoy stealing bases.
“Kids love to run,” he said.
The loss to West LA was the first of two games the Hornets had in the tournament the team was hosting. Malibu faced Beverly Hills later that day. The group played a doubleheader in Culver City on Sunday. Anniston and Tess Hopkinson, Betsey’s sister, received player-of-the-game dog tags after the first contest.
Jocelyn’s dad, John Zabaldo, a Hornets coach, along with Malibu High softball player Amelia “Pip” Goudzwaard, said they wanted the Hornets to raise their effort levels for both the tournament games.
“Things are more critical,” he said.
Jasmine Bellamy said the loss to West L.A. was probably the closest game she and her teammates have played all season.
“It was really fun,” she said. “The last time we played this team we lost by quite a few.”
Malibu’s roster also includes Reghan Marlow, Maizee Marderosian, Raye Israel, Tyler Seashols, Olivia Berns and Emma Yoffe.
Hopkinson said the Hornets have improved throughout the season by applying what they have learned during practice to games.
“We have really gelled,” he said. “From where we were a year ago to now—it’s great.”
Zabaldo said at the beginning of the season the Hornets, a mix of experienced and new softball players, did get nervous before games and would just watch hittable pitches sail by them without a swing. Those butterflies are gone from the Hornets’ stomachs now.
“They have improved drastically,” he said.
In describing Mlibu, Jasmine said, “We are really strong. Powerful.”
