Saunders Catches On Quickly For Mira Costa

Mira Costa High softball coach Dick Amberick lets his catchers call games, an unusual practice at the high school level.

But Amberick said he would rather have his catchers learn how to control the flow of the game instead of relying on the coach.

Amberick also said he doesn't let his catchers call game until they are juniors.

But Mira Costa sophomore catcher Katie Saunders was the exception. She called every game and led Mira Costa into the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs, earning a spot on the All-CIF Division II softball second team.

Saunders led Mira Costa with a .563 batting average and 49 hits. Her 24 RBIs in 30 games were second best on the team.

"She's really something special," Amberick said. "I don't know what she's going to do next year. It's almost impossible to improve on those statistics. She may be the best pure hitter in Mira Costa history."

Saunders was equally impressive behind the plate. She made only three errors all season and also guided the pitching staff to a 16-15 record, 6-5 against the Bay League.

"She's done a wonderful job this year," Amberick said. "She called them all and she did a great job. She always gives the best she has."

Mira Costa had a four-pitcher rotation during the season. Saunders said each pitcher was unique and presented different challenges from game to game.

She also said she was comfortable calling pitches. "I have a lot more confidence knowing the pitches I'm calling," Saunders said. "The relationship between the pitcher and catcher is much better."

Saunders made the All-CIF team for the first time in her high school career even though her numbers in her freshman season warranted some consideration. She hit .412 and drove in 19 runs in 28 games.

Amberick wondered how she would improve on those numbers in her sophomore season.

"I was thinking the same thing last year," Saunders said. "Hopefully I will go a little bit higher."

That might mean she needs to hit .600 to improve on her sophomore season. Saunders did have her her share of multi-hit games. She was a perfect 4 for 4  in a May 11 game against rival Redondo Union with a double and had one of her best games of the season.

While she improved her batting average by more than 150 points from her freshman to her sophomore season, she said her freshman season was a little better in one aspect. "My freshman year, I was hitting for a lot more power," Saunders said. "This year, I was just trying to get on and move people over."

Amberick has already started projecting what her high school career numbers might look like. She has 82 hits in two seasons - the CIF Southern Section record is 241 by Mater Dei's Kelsey Kollen from 1995-98.

But Saunders said she just wants to help her team win and continue to improve. "I was pretty surprised," Saunders said about making the All-CIF team. "It's an honor to make the team."