Enjoying fun drills and wacky activities to stimulate the interest of 5- and 6-year olds, Krista Hernandez began appreciating the joys of competition six years ago as one of a few girls on the Culver City Little League A’s T-ball team. Her father, Tino, assisted with practices and games to ensure the experience was rewarding for his daughter and the squad of bouncy youngsters.
Few people might have forecast that this introduction to sports would propel Hernandez to star status as a middle school student athlete.
Hernandez carries a 4.0 grade point average at Culver City Middle School and plays a few musical instruments. She is also a standout on the varsity volleyball team as a setter and outside hitter, and she is also the ace hurler for the middle school varsity softball team. The sixth-grader battled eighth-grade adversaries all season.
Hernandez honed her volleyball skills with the local United States Youth Volleyball League and currently for the Culver Volleyball Club. She earned the tournament Most Valuable Player award for Culver City at the St. Mels Volleyball Tournament, where her squad went undefeated.
Culver City Middle School varsity volleyball Coach Marty Siegal said her leadership skills reveal her ability to act as a second coach running the floor.
“It’s great to have such a talented player who knows the game so well,” Siegal said.
In her first outing as the pitcher against Archer Middle School, Hernandez left the mound with a shutout in her pocket. Culver City went on to win the game 25-4. She later pitched a complete game against a touted Oaks Christian team in which she allowed two earned runs. She tossed another complete game win over Paul Revere, 7-1, with 12 strikeouts.
With the season over, Hernandez was among the team leaders in hitting and led Culver City in home runs.
“She pitched and batted well all season. I am so proud of her,” her father said.
