Prep career closing, but Ramona standout not done

The day Lexi Slater accepted the softball coaching position at Ramona High, she recognized a familiar face.
Alexa Neil, a senior second baseman, was just 7 when Slater was in her final year playing for the Bulldogs in 2011.
She remembered Neil as the little girl who was running all over the field, picking up bats, shagging fly balls, playing catch, listening to stories in the dugout and spending a lot of time in the concession stand during the rec league games.
Prep career closing, but Ramona standout not done
drag
9 3
Paragraph
remove drag Align Emphasis Lead


The day Lexi Slater accepted the softball coaching position at Ramona High, she recognized a familiar face.
Alexa Neil, a senior second baseman, was just 7 when Slater was in her final year playing for the Bulldogs in 2011.

She remembered Neil as the little girl who was running all over the field, picking up bats, shagging fly balls, playing catch, listening to stories in the dugout and spending a lot of time in the concession stand during the rec league games.

"She was always the little girl who was running all over the place at 100 mph from one field to another," Slater recalled. "Back then, she reminded me of me at that age.
"When I got the job, I couldn't believe she wasn't still 7 or 8 anymore. She just laughed at that."

Neil is in her final season with Ramona before she heads off to Cal State Fullerton in the fall to continue her softball career.
And quite a career it's been for the 5-foot-6 left-handed swinger who can slap hit at a moment's notice.
Her freshman year was her worst when she batted .387 with four home runs and 25 RBIs.
As a sophomore, Neil hit .422 with four homers and 33 RBIs followed by last season when she hit .429 with a power surge that pushed her home run total to 11 with 37 RBIs.

This spring, she began the week hitting .667 (32-for-48) with 16 runs scored.

"I wanted to play with the big girls way back when I was 7," said Neil, a unanimous choice as team captain. "I was so nervous that first day of tryouts freshman year. "I had so many expectations before I even got here. I had to show everyone I was ready to play."

Neil's days at Ramona — she's lived in the community her entire life — are winding down.
"The four years (of high school) flew by so fast," she said. "I thought I'd be here forever. Now I understand why all the seniors told me to enjoy every day like it was my last one."

Ramona advanced to the San Diego Section Open Division championship game last season, losing to top-seeded Cathedral Catholic 3-0 in 10 innings.
"I'm still not over that one," Neil said. "I wasn't nervous at all because I've faced (Cathedral pitcher) Megan Faraimo in travel ball."
But that loss was more painful than any of the times Neil has fallen off her snowboard or her horse, Bambi.
"I've fallen many times, but I've never broken a bone, knock on wood," Neil said.
"I got my first horse when I was 6.
"I had my finger bitten by my horse P.J., but I was teasing her at the time. I haven't teased anyone since then."

Neil said she plans to major in education so she can teach and coach softball. That's a change from a criminal justice major that she considered at one time.
"I just love kids too much," Neil said. "I've been thinking about college since sophomore year.
"And now it's almost here."

Neil will miss living on the mountain, as Ramona is known among North County opponents.
"I love the small country town feeling," said Neil, who would like to play pro softball and take a serious shot at making the U.S. Olympic team at some point. "Everywhere I go I know someone.

"Going to the big city next fall will be a big change. You can leave your doors unlocked and the keys in your car in Ramona.
"Ramona has always been my home."

There's still plenty to do before college comes around — including the rest of this softball season.

HITTING MACHINE

Alexa Neil's year-by-year batting average for the Ramona softball team:

2015 — .387
2016 — .422
2017 — .429
2018 — .667

Written by