Little ‘Sis’ has big-time talent: Bates of Ceres is Bee Softball Player of the Year

Her sweet swing and competitive nature were forged in the front yard during Wiffle ball games with the giants of her youth.

She was the tag-along, the little “Sis,” the last pick.

Today, Nicole Bates is a softball player in high demand.

She’ll spend the summer living out of a suitcase as she travels the country with her Huntington Beach-based club team, Firecrackers-Rico.

In August, The Bee’s All-District Softball Player of the Year will move to Washington to begin her career as a Husky, realizing a lifelong dream.

As her life springs forward at a pace almost too fast for her to catch her breath, Bates can’t help but look back at the genesis of all this success.

Back when the ball danced in the wind and she battled her brother, Jimmy, and his best buds – meet Taller, Faster and Stronger – in a pickup game.

“I grew up with an older brother and all his friends. We would play Wiffle ball, and I was always competing and wanting to win,” Bates said. “I would say my older brother really contributed to me being so competitive and wanting to work so hard. We still play to this day.”

Her mettle was tested this season as Ceres High School hunted its first Sac-Joaquin Section title in 21 years. The Bulldogs defeated Benicia 3-2 in the winner-take-all game of the Division III final, turning the infield at the Sacramento Softball Complex into their own dance party.

Gloves flew.

Tears dropped.

A banner was raised.

“This year was a good one. We knew if we played our game we could win it, but we had to play our game,” said Bates, the catalyst during the Bulldogs’ thrilling postseason push. “Winning together was definitely the best for me. I’ve been playing with a majority of these girls since we were in tee ball, so it was good to go out with that win.”

Though the Bulldogs were blessed with college-caliber talent, they were considered underdogs in a D-III field featuring two of the state’s top programs, regardless of division: Valley Oak League co-champions East Union and Oakdale, the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds.

Ceres wasn’t given much of a chance to win the tournament … until Bates shook up the bracket with home runs in her final two at-bats against Oakdale. She belted a three-run homer off the light standard in right-center field at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton and then sailed the winning blast into a cluster of trees in center field in the seventh inning.

The win propelled Ceres, which defeated Benicia in two of the next three games to seize the program’s first section title since 1995. In the final series, Bates was 6 for 7 with two doubles and she turned the title-clinching double play. On the edge of the infield that night, she fought back tears.

“Her shoes will be very tough to fill,” Ceres coach Angela Durossette said. “She has the whole package: speed, power, knowledge of the game. She came alive in the playoffs and was a huge reason for our title.”

Her time at Ceres had come to an end in the best possible way, but it didn’t make the “goodbyes” any easier.

“I don’t really think about my legacy or stuff like that,” said Bates, who earned all-state and All-America honors during her decorated career. “I like to think about what legacy our team is going to leave.”

No, her place in school history is left for others to discuss. A fourth-year varsity starter, Bates posted career highs in batting (.571), hits (60), RBIs (33) and home runs (five). She struck out just three times in 113 plate appearances.

She benefited from the element of surprise. Opposing teams weren’t sure how to pitch the All-America talent, who was fast enough to leg out a bunt and strong enough to leave the yard.

“I like to mix it up so defenses don’t know what I’m going to do,” Bates said. “If I hit the long ball and come back with the short game, they’re not going to expect that. I don’t like to be predictable at the plate. I learned that from my travel team – Firecrackers-Rico. That’s when I started implementing slapping.”

The fundamentals of her sweet swing, though, were honed in the front yard with her big brother and his buddies. Wiffle ball, anyone?

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Little ‘Sis’ has big-time talent: Bates of Ceres is Bee Softball Player of the Year."