LAKEPORT >> Aliza Atkins of Clear Lake High School goes by the nickname “Bean.” Perhaps it’s because she’s “Bean” doing it so well for so long as a three-sport athlete for the Cardinals.
A standout in volleyball, basketball and softball for Clear Lake, the senior Atkins will still be playing for the Cardinals even after she graduates Friday night at Don Owens Stadium. That’s because the Clear Lake softball team is participating in the North Coast Section Division V playoffs and hopes to be doing so for another week or so. The Cardinals had a first-round bye Tuesday and play at home Saturday at 4 p.m. in the quarterfinals against Valley Christian of Dublin. If Clear Lake wins, the semifinals follow next Tuesday or Wednesday against either Calistoga or St. Vincent, with a possible championship game berth on June 5 or June 6.
Regardless of how far the No. 1-seeded Cardinals advance into the postseason, Atkins will still be a finalist for the Lake County Record-Bee Athlete of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top female and top male athlete in Lake County. Finalists must be juniors or seniors who compete in a minimum of two varsity sports and who are in good academic standing at their respective high schools. Winners will be named sometime next month along with Coach of the Year winners in girls’ and boys’ sports.
Atkins hit for the All-League cycle in 2014-15. She was named to the All-North Central League I first team in volleyball as the Cardinals’ powerful middle hitter, she averaged 11.5 points a game (fifth best in the county) during basketball season and was named to the All-League second team, and she starts at shortstop and bats cleanup for the Cardinals in softball where she is among team leaders in hits and RBIs. Results of All-League voting in softball haven’t been disclosed yet, but it’s a good bet Atkins is on the team after helping the Cardinals secure a league co-championship as well as the No. 1 seed in the Division V playoffs.
Atkins’ next stop is College of the Redwoods in Eureka where she will continue playing volleyball.
If you’re wondering about Atkins’ nickname “Bean,” it’s after “Lima Bean,” or in her case, “Liza Bean.”
