YORBA LINDA – Paige von Sprecken has heard the whispers in opposing dugouts before.
“I have a grunt when I pitch, so a lot of people recognize me for that,” she explained. “In travel ball, girls will hear it and go, ‘Oh, she’s the Yorba Linda pitcher.’ ”
While the grunt is one of von Sprecken’s so-called trademarks, so too is the protective face mask she wears out in the circle.
“With the mask, I actually saw a girl get hit by a line drive that broke her nose,” she added. “So my mom always said as long as I’m living in her house, I’m wearing a mask.
“I guess the grunt and the mask kind of point me out. If people want to establish me by that, I’m cool with it.”
Opponents have every right to identify von Sprecken by those two quirky attributes, they’d just be foolish if that’s all they knew her for.
Over the last 12 months and change, Yorba Linda’s softball program has elevated itself to another level. In just its fourth full varsity season, the Mustangs seem to pose the greatest threat to dethrone Pacifica for Empire League supremacy.
At the center of the program’s rise is von Sprecken, who alongside teammate Rachel Loera, are the first four-year varsity players in Yorba Linda’s history.
“She’s been solid since day one, but she has gotten better and better every single year,” Mustangs coach Sharon Farrell said. “It’s been really neat to actually see her grow as a person and a player.”
When Yorba Linda High was opened in 2009, the softball program only played a junior varsity schedule with Farrell at the helm.
The Mustangs officially joined the Empire League in the 2010-11 season, which also happened to be von Sprecken’s freshman year.
“I was nervous just because I didn’t know the types of players that would be coming here,” she recalled. “But I also saw it as a great opportunity to come in as a leader and help build a program.”
With a lineup loaded with youth and inexperience, Yorba Linda debuted with a promising 12-12 record in its first varsity campaign. In year two, the Mustangs qualified for their first postseason, but were quickly upstaged by neighboring rival Esperanza High.
An early postseason exit stung, but it set the stage for a breakthrough 2013 season.
“Last year we were nobody as far as everybody was concerned,” Farrell said. “But we had a strong year and surprised a lot of people.”
A roster once chalked full of youngsters had developed into a talented core group of veterans, motivated to take the next step in the program’s brief existence.
The Mustangs knocked off Santa Margarita, Canyon and Etiwanda High in the first three rounds of the CIF playoffs before losing to eventual Division I champion, Santiago of Corona.
“I don’t think people expected us because we weren’t a name school like a Pacifica or an Esperanza who has had multiple years to make a name for itself,” von Sprecken said. “Because we weren’t established, I think people thought, ‘Oh, they’re just a little start-up team.’ I think that helped us because we didn’t play pressured.”
The squad’s clear cut No.1 option in the circle, von Sprecken spearheaded the playoff run with dominant start after dominant start. She finished 2013 with a 24-4 record, a 0.96 ERA while tallying 220 strikeouts in 168 innings of work. von Sprecken also hit .316 along the way, earning her first-team all-state and CIF honors in addition to her being recognized as Empire League MVP for the second consecutive season.
“Like I said, she’s grown into one of the top pitchers in Orange County and beyond,” Farrell said.
Happily monitoring Yorba Linda’s success 100 miles south was University of San Diego softball coach Melissa McElvain. The Toreros had spotted von Sprecken’s abilities when she was a freshman attending a USD softball camp.
“We noticed right away just how athletic and versatile she was,” McElvain said. “We knew she could pitch, but we saw she could play third base. And she could hit. And she could even play first.”
Von Sprecken verbally committed to USD as a sophomore, and she made that promise official when she signed with the Toreros in February on National Signing Day.
“It was huge to get a player of her caliber to commit so early on in the process,” McElvain added. “I think the best part of it, though, is that I’ve been able to develop a good relationship with Paige and her family through this whole process. It’ll make the transition that much easier for Paige when she comes down here.”
Before playing college ball becomes a reality, von Sprecken and her teammates still have the second half of their schedule remaining. The Mustangs are currently 11-5 overall, 3-2 in the Empire League.
Von Sprecken is off to another all-county type start, holding an 11-4 record with 180 punch outs in the circle while batting .400 at the dish.
“I really want to set an example for all these girls,” the senior said. “Winning would be nice, but winning isn’t everything. I just want the girls to know that they can come to me for anything, softball related or not.”
Von Sprecken has big plans moving forward, and she’s formulated some unique ideas for the softball team banquet. She wouldn’t divulge of any spoilers, but promised it would be memorable for the coaches and players alike.
Regardless of what she presents on banquet night to her team, von Sprecken leaves the program with something even more valuable – a winning reputation.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
