When the season abruptly stopped midway through the 2020 schedule, the West Valley softball team was on course for a 20-win season, a NorCal playoff spot, and was battling for the top spot in the Coast-South Conference. The Vikings finished 14-6 and were playing some of the best WVC softball in recent years thanks to some phenominal first-year players and six sensational sophomores: Lily Chavez, Mya Galindo, Sierra Hillman, Angelina Molina, Hunter Miramontes and Megumi Pennebaker.

Chavez, out of San Jose's Independence High School, was a steady force in right field and at the plate in 2020. She finished 2020 with a .452 average, a .521 OBP, a .524 SLG%, 14 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, nine RBI, three doubles and a .900 fielding percentage.

A starter in center her entire Viking career, Galindo, a slap-hitter from Fremont of Sunnyvale, was a base-running demon, stealing 18 bases in 18 attempts and scoring 28 runs. Her two-year totals include a .287 average, 32 hits, 19 RBI, three doubles and only three errors in 75 fielding opportunities.

Usually in the leadoff spot on coach Vicky Piatt's lineup card, Hillman was a 2019 All-Coast Second Team selection. The shortstop, who played with Galindo at Fremont, had 61 hits in 197 at-bats for a .310 average in her WVC career. She finished with 48 runs scored, 26 RBI, 20 stolen bases, seven doubles, a triple and a .955 fielding %, committing only 10 errors in 224 attempts. Hillman received the West Valley Coaches Award following the 2019 season.

A power-hitting catcher out of Branham HS, Miramontes was West Valley's Offensive MVP and an All-Coast First-Teamer in 2019. Her career stats include a .387 average, a .464 OBP, a .521 SLG%, 22 RBI, 22 runs scored, four doubles and four round-trippers. An outstanding defensive catcher, Miramontes committed only three errors in 122 opportunites for a .975 fielding %.

Molina, a speedy left-hander from Independence, was a regular starter in left her two years in the orange and blue. She finished her career with a .291 average, 28 runs scored, 19 RBI and nine stolen bases in nine attempts.

Rounding out the Viking sophomores is the cerebral Pennebaker. The Monta Vista HS product was a key pinch-hitter, pinch-runner and right fielder for Piatt. Career stats include a .256 average, a .407 OBP, 12 doubles and a .900 fielding percentage.

A season cut short for Lily Chavez, Mya Galindo, Sierra Hillman, Hunter Miramontes, Angelina Molina and Megumi Pennebaker, but six academic and playing careers still in full swing.