San Jose Sting

Girls: Elena Fata
(San Benito, Hollister)

To say Elena Fata has meant a lot to the athletic program at San Benito High is a bit of an understatement.

"Elena is an exceptional athlete who has brought a winning attitude and helped upgrade our girls' athletic program at the school," coach David Kaplansky told Cal-Hi Sports. "Of the four Central Coast Section titles in the school's history Elena has been on three of the teams."

Those teams would be this year's CCS Division I champion basketball team and the past two CCS D1 softball teams. In addition, Elena is a member of the school's tennis team.

Although basketball is not her No. 1 sport, the 5-foot-3 Fata has excelled at the guard position and been a major factor in the team's success this year. Last weekend in the section championship 53-43 win over Carlmont of Belmont she had a game-high 17 points with three treys, six assists and three steals. For the entire CCS tournament, Fata averaged 15.6 points a game and made over 70-percent of her free throws. On the season, her per game averages are 10.3 points, five assists and five steals and she made just under 70-pecent from the charity stripe while being named first team All-Tri-County Athletic League.

"She was at her best at tournament time," said Kaplansky. "Elena's leadership and work ethic was phenomenal. She made everyone around her a better player and was a tremendous example to the younger players."

Fata didn't have her best game in the NorCal semifinal, a 50-38 loss to Berkeley, but nonetheless she led the team in a game against a state-ranked opponent in which virtually no one gave them a chance of winning. Holding Berkeley to its fourth lowest point total of the season is something Fata and the team is proud of. "We gave it our best shot and we left it all on the court," said Fata, who scored seven points with four assists and four steals.

Now the pint-sized ball of fire can concentrate on her top sport, softball, where last year she batted .560, played flawlessly at shortstop and led her team to its second consecutive CCS D1 title with a 2-1 win over the same rival Carlmont team the Haybalers beat in basketball. The year before, they beat Carlmont in the semis before dispatching Watsonville in the title game.

This season, the Haybaler girls kick off the softball campaign by traveling next week to Huntington Beach for the prestigious Nike Faster to First tournament as the No. 2-ranked preseason team in Northern California behind Sheldon of Sacramento and Fata is excited about the prospects this season.

"We have a solid team and it would be great to get another title for the school," said Fata, who would like to study nutrition in college with an eye on becoming some type of nutritionist and trainer combined. "I'm into organic foods and natural health and I'd like to incorporate that into being an athletic trainer. That way I can teach them how to eat right."

When the question of family and athletics came up, Elena was quick to answer affirmatively about dad, Vince, currently a controller for a manufacturing company, being an athlete. "He sure was," said Fata. "He played everything in high school; football, baseball and basketball. Unfortunately mom was a cheerleader," she said jokingly about her mother, Ann, who manages the household that includes a four-year-old little brother. Elena also has an older brother, Geno, currently playing baseball at San Jose City College.

Although Nevada Las Vegas has expressed interest in Fata for her softball prowess and 3.4 GPA, she's holding her options open and applying to several other schools.

"Softball is important but education is first," Fata said. "If I'm accepted at a top school, then I'll just try to walk on."

With a .560 average on the diamond it sounds like she does a lot more hitting than walking.

That being said, we're sure there is a college match out there for this talented young woman.

Congratulations to Elena Fata from CalHiSports.com and NorCalPrepScores.com