Mia Valbuena enjoyed a fine freshman season as a pitcher for Marina’s softball team this past spring.
Her record was 19-7 and she had seven shutouts and 156 strikeouts in 141 innings.
Valbuena had the kind of success that could lead to a college scholarship. But when the opportunity to play the newest high school sport arose, she went for it with enthusiasm.
Valbuena is now the quarterback for Marina’s girls flag football team. This is the first season for the sport in the CIF Southern Section.
The sport has quickly reached a high level of popularity among Orange County high schools and in other areas. The CIF-SS office reports that 114 schools said they planned to have a girls flag football team this school year.
The games begin Friday, which also is the first Friday night of action for the boys football season, and the season continues through Oct. 28.
Girls flag football is played 7-on-7. A minimum of seven players must be on a team for a game to be played, and a team must field a minimum of five players.
As she was growing up, Valbuena played flag football in the Friday Night Lights program that exists in Huntington Beach and in many other areas. The Matt Leinart Flag Football League, created by its namesake, the former Mater Dei, USC and NFL quarterback, also has provided play opportunities over the years for many girls.
Valbuena also played flag at Stacey Intermediate School in Huntington Beach.
She said once word got out that Marina would have girls flag football, interest at the school grew quickly.
“Most of the girls wanted to join the team because their friends are on it,” Valbuena said. “It was ‘If you’re going to do it, then I will do it, too.’” Most of the soccer girls are playing it.”
Playing quarterback was natural for the softball pitcher.
“Since I first started playing softball I always had the arm,” Valbuena said before adding with a laugh, “At least that’s what I was told.”
In a scrimmage against Orange…
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