At Highland High School this year's softball team is acting like they've been there before. Even if they haven't. The Scots just missed out on a league title on the final game last year but have gotten off to a good start this season thanks in part to their good start in every game.
Senior shortstop Michelle Puente bats leadoff off for the Scots and has the highest batting average on the team with at least one hit in all but one game this year. "She gets on when she needs to get on," said assistant coach Jackie Puente. "She's just a real aggressive batter."
"I just feel like if I'm going to get on I feel like people behind me in the lineup are going to get on too," said Michelle. "My mom's always said hitting is contagious and I've always believed that."
And her mom, when she's not dodging balls as the team's assistant coach, knows a thing or two about the game. All three of her daughters grew up on a softball field and got their competitive edge playing against one another.
Her older sister, Nette Puente, was an outfielder for CSU Bakersfield. There in the stands for all of her games was Michelle. "I looked up to my sister a lot," said Michelle.
But now it's Michelle's time and thanks to her hitting and glove at a critical spot in the infield it could maybe be Highland's time in league.
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