Softball star Chita Aguirre headed to the University of North Dakota

**Santa Fe's Herlinda "Chita" Aguirre practices at a park as she gets ready to attend North Dakota University in the fall. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)**

SANTA FE SPRINGS — Santa Fe High School senior softball standout Chita Aguirre is all but 5’4”, but has developed a strong bat and great glove and more importantly, a tremendous love of the game.

Those three combine for a ticket to the next level of competition - a scholarship to NCAA DI University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

“I am so proud to hear that she was getting a chance to play at North Dakota next season,” Santa Fe softball coach AJ Reyes said. “She has earned it. UND is lucky to have her on their softball team.”

This all came to fruition, you might say, when she was a then 13-year-old incoming freshman. She heard her fielding coach, Kevin Helms, tell her that she has the opportunity to get her college paid for with hard work and a scholarship. It worked. Helms was coach at La Habra in 2019.

Chita, whose actual first name is Herlinda, but has been called Chita since she was a baby because she had a love for hot Cheetos.

“Growing up we just started calling her Chita,” said her mother, Rebecca Aguirre. “She was a chunky baby and we never called her by her name.”

No matter what name she has been called, she is also a double CIF-Southern Section Champion.

As a sophomore she was part of the Division 4 softball champions. The next fall in her junior year, she was a member of the Division 4A Basketball championship team.

“It was surreal,” Chita said of the two title wins ”Winning and living it was great. Honestly, I’m real grateful that I won two titles.”

As for heading to UND, Chita said: “I knew I wanted to go there once I went there on my official visit in August (of 2019). It’s like a home-town feel.”

A Norwalk resident, she also realizes it's pretty cold in the winter, but has no problem with the drastic change of temperature. “I’ve never complained about the weather.”

UND is also known for its college hockey team and she is a fan of the sport.

“I’ve always been a fan of hockey and they showed us the hockey arena,” she said.

Aguirre will be majoring in Business and Business Economics.

“My passion is to open a facility to work on the mental aspects of the game, something like Kobe Bryant's Sports Academy” she added.

She loves to read and is reading a book titled “The Champions Mindset.”

She also believes playing sports is a privilege.

She believes in three main things, that if she is not paying attention to the sport, it won’t be there for her. “If I don’t do my chores, I don’t play. If I don’t honor my parents, I don’t play. If I don’t keep up my grades, I don’t play.”

One low point in her life was the passing of her Uncle Jamie last year. “I kind of lost my way.”

She rebounded and had a great season eventually.

“What can I say about Chita, but that she’s the heart and soul of the team,” Reyes said. She is our vocal leader and that person you want on your team.

“She’s a 3-year letterman and got a chance to start last year as a junior. This was the year that she was going to break out. She’s been working hard on and off the field, so that this year would be her best year, but unfortunately this virus stopped it.

“She’s the girl you want up when you need that clutch hit.”

**Santa Fe's Herlinda "Chita" Aguirre works out with coach AJ Reyes as she gets ready to attend North Dakota University in the Fall. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)**

Several times this year she got clutch hits to get Santa Fe back in the game. The Chiefs, who were off to a 6-2-1 start, were having a close game against Temple city this season.

“She hit a huge two-run double to secure our victory,” Reyes added. “She played a great shortstop as well.“This years’ team was meshing together and playing some awesome softball. We had a perfect mix of youth and veterans on our team. These girls had the drive to do great in our league (Del Rio) and make a run in the playoffs.”

But, it wasn’t meant to be and Aguirre is ok with that. “Everything happens for a reason,” said Chita, who played baseball from the age of four (T-ball) up to seventh grade.

“There’s not much you can do about it (the stoppage of the season). Honestly, it (the virus) hit close to home.”

Her mother came down with the virus and had a fever for 16 days and spent two of them in the hospital.

“I had Covid-19 and now we have to see the bright side,” said her mother. “We need to be grateful and God is giving us something to look at. Be grateful for it.”

She still has to be careful, but as Rebecca Aguirre says, “You have to keep going.”

Her mother kidded about her upcoming journey to North Dakota. “I’m going to get her a horse. She already has the cowboy boots!”

Chita also has a brother, Fidencio, who is a senior at Don Lugo and plays varsity baseball.

“It was hard for both of them,” Rebecca Aguirre said of the stoppage in play. “I tell them so much to not give up.”

Becky, as she goes by, remembers one instant about Chita when a nine-year-old asked for her autograph. “I’m very proud of what she has accomplished.

“I’m proud of my kids. You have to stay positive.”

Chitas brother Fidencio is also her personal trainer during this ‘stay at home’ time we are living in.

“He pushes me in every workout.”

Coach Reyes, who played college baseball at Rio Hondo and La Verne, was heart broken on the loss of the season, especially for the four seniors - Jackie Cardena (4-year varsity second baseman who has committed to the University of New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, New Mexico), Alex Martinez (who became a starter this season and was batting over .400 and will enter the military), Cheyanne Hernandez (pitcher) and Chita.

“I feel bad for those girls this year,” said Reyes, who is a L.A, Sheriff's deputy. “There was nothing I could do. It was a whole season that was lost.

“I feel bad because they worked so hard the last four years.”

Chita Aguirre had great things to say about Reyes.

“What can I say about coach,” Chita said of Reyes. “He cares about his players. About your future, your plan is his plan.”

And Aguirre has a plan.

“Everyday I try to switch it up,” Aguirre said “I’m excited to get out there and get after it.” The 5-4 dynamo certainly will do just that on the field and in life.