If you want to find Acalanes junior Kaylee Pond in action prior to the start of softball season, don’t head out to the diamond in January or February. Instead, you would have to make your way to a Dons’ girls basketball game, where Pond dominated the Diablo Athletic League’s Foothill Division in the 2018-2019 season. And after being named league MVP on the hardwood, she turned her attention to softball season, where she propelled Acalanes to a perfect mark in league play, capturing even more recognition as the top player to grace the field in the DAL-Valley.

The Iowa State commit hit .680 with seven home runs in her junior campaign for the Dons, leading them to an 18-4 overall mark and their first league title in a decade. She hit safely in 19 of 22 games for Acalanes, but even that number is lower than her actual impact, considering that Mt. Diablo walked her in both of her plate appearances against the Red Devils, and she reached base safely in all three plate appearances against Las Lomas, though none of them counted as hits. The more impressive stat might be the fact that she scored in all 22 games for the Dons, crossing home plate a whopping 47 times during the season, and helping her own cause with 25 stolen bases and walking 23 times for a .787 on-base percentage.

“Kaylee is just a great athlete and competitor,” said Acalanes coach Victor Silva. “Her work ethic on the field is contagious, and because of that, it made Acalanes softball better than ever.”

It was clear during her freshman year that Pond was going to be an impact player in the North Coast Section, but that was during a season in which she hit .400 for perennial powerhouse Alhambra. When her family moved before her sophomore year, she enrolled at Acalanes, but injury left her unable to play softball in her sophomore year. She made up for lost time as a junior.

In addition her eye for the strike zone and ability to make contact – she struck out just once all season – Pond also displayed power at the plate. Her seven home and five doubles helped her drive in 32 runs during the year. That included a 4-for-4, two-homer, eight-RBI performance in a win over rival Miramonte. In a title-clinching 7-6 win over Las Lomas, Pond homered, doubled and scored three times.

“She took on the role of unofficial leader, and led us to the success we had this year,” Silva added. “She gives it her all every game and consistently steps up to the challenge to lead the team to victory.”

Leading her team to victory is nothing new for Pond. In addition to the softball title, she led the girls basketball team to a 19-8 overall mark and a DAL-Foothill title. She also led them past Northgate in the first round of the NCS playoffs before falling in overtime to Redwood.

For her efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Kaylee Pond as the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Junior of the Year.

Other players considered include San Marin’s Madison Papenhausen, Cloverdale’s Tehya Bird and Northgate’s Katie Hicks.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of NCS softball.