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Sports

Softball Sophomore Continues Family Legacy

A closer look at Venice High's star first baseman and outfielder Bernadette Moran.

The love of sports and the love of a school are things that often come from one's family. In some cases, like that of softball star , the love is there on both sides.

Moran is a third generation sports standout at , and she is fully aware of the family pride.

“My aunt played here at Venice, my grandpa coached here, and my dad came here and played football and baseball," said Moran, a first baseman and outfielder. "It’s great that these things run in my family. Softball is my life. It’s everything. It’s what keeps me going."

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Moran has been playing softball since she was eight years old when a close family member taught her how to play the sport that would shape her.

“My grandpa got me into softball, and I‘ve been playing non-stop, year-round since then," she said. "He’s what pushed me and told me to never give up. He started this all.”

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Moran’s love of softball and sport has inspired her to volunteer for a program at her old middle school called .

“Team Primetime helps special needs children play sports, and it’s just awesome to go and see them," Moran said. "Things that come easy to us it takes them longer to get a hold of, but they never stop and keep trying. It’s really inspiring.”

Venice Coach is ecstatic to have an underclassmen as experienced and versatile as Moran. On such a young team, her leadership has been essential to the Gondoliers' success.

“She has been great for us," Ruiz said of the sensational sophomore. "She’s a leader on and off the field, and she has one of the highest batting averages on the team. She is the first to get to the field and the last to leave. She is a huge part of the team, and I can’t wait to coach her for the next two years.”

Even though its two years away, Moran already knows what she wants to do for college. It’s what she’s wanted to do for years now.

“I want to go to UCLA – it’s my dream school," she told Patch. "I want to play softball there. It’s a big thing for my family. My dad is always talking about it and having me watch the games with him. My goal is to get a scholarship. Softball is a great opportunity for me to get to my dreams."

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