Though she wouldn't admit it, Yannira Acuna is a good reason for the Lancers success this season.“My team, all together we can do that together. It's not really just me,” says Acuna.
Spoken like a veteran, the junior played for Sunnyside in the Little League World Series in 2013. “I was only 13, but it was a lot of fun,” says Acuna. And it was a different atmosphere.”
Hitting .698 with 26 RBI and 6 home runs this season...Acuna was recruited by the u of a to play softball, but a lot went into her decision to commit to ASU. “My freshman year is when schools started to recruit me, says Acuna. “I was a little bit nervous, I would start to cry because I was being pressured to commit so early.”
Acuna wanted to stay close to home, and yet still experience college away from her family at the same time. “I’m very happy for her that she will get the opportunity to play down the road, says Salpointe Softball head coach Amy Rocah “So all of her fans here in Tucson will be able to see her, because she is going to do amazing things up there.”
The Lancers have lost twice this season to CDO, but Acuna doesn't let stand in her way. “I don't want to make it a bigger deal than it should be. I just want to go there and play the game,” says Acuna. “Yannira, I think, will be an amazing role model for softball players for the years to come.” Salpointe plays CDO at 6:30pm on Thursday in the 4A state semifinals at Hillenbrand Stadium.
