Jan. 19 was the night of the California second-grade musical. Under the direction of Stacy Friedrich, the elementary students performed "It's a Hit!" at California High School.
In addition to the theme song "Play Ball" performed at the beginning and end of the program, four other pieces were performed by the youth. Songs performed were: "You're at Bat," "Strike Zone" with a rap solo by Camelia Castro, "In a Pickle" and "All Stars!"
"It's a Hit," from Hal Leonard, is the story of a new girl in town who has joined the boys' baseball team. This is acceptable, but not so acceptable is that she wants to be the pitcher.
The third-graders get to play the parts of many of the favorite baseball players in the history of the game, learning to be true All-Stars regardless of the final score is a win or loss. Batter Heston Gatlin, catcher Landen Dunham and pitcher Ace Currens are at the forefront of the play. Fiona, portrayed by Camelia Castro, convinces the coach to let her pitch and does very well.
Roles played, and the students playing the part are: Jackie-Jackson Barnard; Robinson-Braden Norman-Irey; Erin-Claire Peterson; Mickey-Haden Oliver; Willie-Brenden Jones; Ruth-Vanessa Gentry; Alex-Boden Wasser; Fiona-Camelia Castro; Yogi-Eli Heisinger; Reggie-Jose Pena; Coach-Chase Trimble; Umpire-Grant Furcinite; Sandy-Tayte Higgins; Sammy-Preston Flora; Shortstop-Sahara Labuary; Suzuki-Amelia Motley; Maris-Anna Boyd; Ryan-Corbin Lawson; Cy-Isaac Haile; Ty-Reece Mitchell; Derek-Trenton Birdsong; Clemente-Tim Holtsclaw; Assistant Coach-Adler Koestner; "You're At Bat" Announcer-Addy McGee; Announcer-Preston McMillian; Rose-Madelyn Butts; Barry-Bradley Roney; Lou-Addison Arnold; Honus-Zaden Walk; Gibson-Haley Stark; and Mariano-Abby Stuedle.
"In a Pickle" actors were: Base Runner-Derek Jordan and Infielders-Blain Borgmann and Andy Cram. "Strike Zone" Pitchers were: Tristan Balsley, Isaac McCarty, Jose Medina, Andrew Faulkner, Gonzalo Deaguero, Alec Bryant, Isaac Hurtado, Blain Kusgen, Ty Oerly, Lane Ryan, Cody Schneider, Byron Brown, Jose Martinez, Kaysen White, Hunter Clark, Aiden Reed, Brody Schlup, Exander Cisneros, Drew Steele and Dayson Siegel.
"Play Ball" Team 1 was: Noah Boguski, Aman Patel, Cheyenne Roark, Bailee Ball, Jason Corona, Peyton Dunham, Brooke Wood, Madison New, Shaun Spiedel and Briar Hoskins. "Play Ball" Team 2 was: Mikey St. Jacques, Angel Aguado, Karson Fischer, Lilly Griffith, Angel Gardner, Olivia Marriott, Gracie McGuire, Hailey Rank, Clinton Stafford and Caleb Peters. "All Star" Singers were: Madalyn Ferguson, Haley Green, Adelyn Kolb, Hannah Schollmeyer, Sydney Wetzig, Jordan Wood, Calli Allen, Madyson Harkins, Yareli Jimenez, Paris Kendrick, Reagan Mosely, Danielle Ramos, Alana Stepp, Cadence Swope, Zoe Artelt, Moriah Charles, Alexis Diehls, Ella Keeran, Jade Koontz, Ava Purvis and Triniti Tucker.