Freshman Softball Twins Coming of Age

It is often said that success can be contagious and that is certainly true in the case of Palisades High varsity softball players Calia and Talia Hunter.

The twins are always trying to outdo each other, in a sisterly sort of way, and when one does something good, the other is likely to follow. An example was last Thursday’s Western League opener against LACES, when the freshmen both contributed to the Dolphins’ 2-1 victory on their 15th birthday.
“ I kind of knew I had to catch it,” Calia said after snaring a line drive at second base for the final out. “We’re really motivated to work hard in practice and make less mental mistakes. My sister and I always play on the same team so we’re used to it. I know how to play everywhere around the infield and shes gravitates more towards pitching.”
While Calia came through with perhaps the biggest catch of the game, Talia delivered one of the key hits – an  RBI double that scored Sasha Vanley to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth inning.
“I really wanted a hit so we could get started,” said Talia, who the older sister by one minute. “We’re both good at different things but we do critique each other and we do try to one-up each other. If I get a hit, she has to get one too.”

Palisades went ahead 2-1 on a single by Monika Swanson that scored Talia Hunter and Paulette Ely made the lead stand,  tossing a two-hitter with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Calia began playing tee-ball at the age of 7 and her sister took up the sport shortly thereafter. Both played at Paul Revere Middle School and have started practicing with the Santa Monica Patriots, a U14 fastpitch club squad.
The twins were at it again in Monday’s 4-2 win at Hamilton. Talia pitched a four-hitter with three strikeouts while Calia went two- for-three with two singles and again recorded the final out, this time on a lazy fly ball to left field.
“We knew Hamilton was going to be a tough game – especially playing them on their field,” Pali High Coach Tori Dario said. “We played those two games [against King Drew and Santa Clara] on Saturday and I like playing strong teams because the girls learn from them. We stole a lot of bases today because the girls saw what those teams were doing to us. They put the ball in play and it worked.”
Daisy Jones went two-for-three and scored two runs, Vanley had two hits and two RBIs and Jenny Talbot added a single and two runs scored for the Dolphins, who host Venice at 3 p.m. today at Stadium by the Sea. The winner  moves into sole possession of first place in the league standings.
On Saturday, Palisades traveled to Garvey Park for a pair of Lincoln Classic games. With only nine players, the Dolphins gave up eight runs in the third inning of a 9-3 loss to King Drew, then took a 3-1 lead in the first inning before falling to Santa Clara 10-3.