The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
Photos by Dayanara Martinez.
In a 2006 Nike commercial, NBA legend Michael Jordan promoted the idea to “let your game speak,” emphasizing restful humility with successful results fueling athletes. Jordan’s six league championships, 10 scoring titles, five regular-season and six Finals MVP awards all echo this message.
Cabrillo freshman Camila Johnson may have been born after this ad aired, but she embodies Jordan’s message like no one else. Johnson lets her game speak without needing many words, just as Jordan pointed to, serving as a quiet yet strong force on the softball field.
“You know those girls that don’t say much but they let their game speak for themselves — Camila is one of those people,” Johnson’s former coach Eddie Gomez said. “She doesn’t say much, she’s very quiet, always smiling or giving her side eye, but when she comes up to bat, she does damage and is the perfect teammate to have too. She backs you up, cheers when you’re doing good, cheers when she’s on the bench — just a great overall teammate.”
Cabrillo Head Coach Natalie Kalasa reiterated Gomez’s sentiment, emphasizing Johnson’s athletic ability speaking for itself. Kalasa said it was immediately evident Johnson was a force on the field the second she became a Jag.
“The moment she stepped out on the field, I could tell she could already play,” Kalasa said. “She’s a good catcher and she can hit, she can do whatever she wants. I was just like, ‘Wow, thank God, we need this.’”
Gomez coached Johnson in recreation softball both at Heartwell and Downey, stating in the recent years he has spent with her, he has already seen her grow. One trait of Johnson’s that Gomez admires is her steadfast ability to stay true to herself and to her game.
“Softball girls can be very cliquey, but Camila wouldn’t be in that,” Gomez said. “She wasn’t one that would just hang out with this group because they were doing good or because she was good. She stayed herself. She would talk to everybody. She was part of every group.”
This devotion to the game that Johnson pours out in every game and practice is a testament to her heart, Kalasa said. Whether she’s leading her squad on the dirt or bonding with her teammates off the field, Johnson is in her comfort zone when it comes to softball.
“Even though she’s quiet, she pulls her heart out on the field,” Kalasa said. “That’s her outlet. She can speak big volumes with so little words. It’s her comfort zone.”
While some may view her quiet nature as pure shyness, many parents who have interacted with Johnson have said this demeanor is a blessing for their daughters. Through the friendships Johnson has formed with more outspoken teammates, the dynamic between them is a perfect balance of personalities.
Michelle Lopez, a mother of one of Johnson’s rec ball teammates and a friend of the freshman, said she has seen this equilibrium with her own daughter, Isabella.
“Both of them level each other out,” Lopez said. “Mine’s also shy, but she’s a little bit more outspoken. Camila’s a really nice, sweet girl — mom did a great job raising her. I just love seeing them together and working together. They’re great teammates.”
For Gomez, he sees the balance Lopez outlined thrive between his own daughter, Olyvia, and Johnson. Gomez said for his daughter, Johnson is an anchor and actually keeps Olyvia in check.
“Camila humbles my daughter,” Gomez said. “Camila is more on the soft spoken, chill side, and my daughter’s more outgoing, she was the loudest on the team. Camila balances her out and will call out my daughter on her BS, too.”
Olyvia reiterated Johnson’s quiet yet sweet demeanor. But even deeper, she said her connection with Johnson is one she truly cherishes. The pair have been on four different teams together through the years, and Johnson has always been Olyvia’s catcher.
“We’re very connected — she just knows me,” Olyvia said. “She definitely knows how to help me if I’m in a jam. If she sees me struggling, she’ll call time, come up to me, see how I’m doing, make sure everything’s good to get me to reset so I could get back into the game. She’s really good with communication and just overall a very good teammate.”
While this relationship shines on the field, Olyvia said it carries off the field, as well. From knowing what pitches she likes to her little pet peeves, everything mixes together to form a strong connection between the young players.
Even when commenting on Johnson’s shy nature, Olyvia said her friend is “just good at everything she does.” Johnson is both physically and academically talented, but those aren’t the only qualities that make her a force to be reckoned with.
Gomez said Johnson’s quietness is a genuine testament to her humility. Even with the strength she brings to the diamond as a player, her unpretentiousness is what truly makes her shine.
“Even though she is physically talented, she doesn’t act like it,” Gomez said. “Sometimes you have superstars on the team that act like it, but she’s not like that. She would never get high on herself. She would never praise herself.”
Lopez described Johnson as “shy but sharp.” While Johnson is known as a quiet leader on any team she plays for, it isn’t uncommon for the freshman to use her voice on the diamond. In fact, these pockets of outspokenness are where Johnson’s edge peeks through.
“She’s captivating because you see her and she’s very shy, very soft spoken, but then when you get her out there on the field, she has some aggressiveness, she’s outspoken, and I think all that comes out,” Lopez said.
Particularly, Lopez said she has seen Johnson use her voice the most when playing her primary position of catcher. The freshman has no problem questioning the umpire and supporting her pitcher, a trait her teammates value in the quiet force.
Although Lopez knows Johnson through recreation softball at Heartwell, she said she has also seen the young athlete grow immensely throughout her first year at Cabrillo. From shining on the diamond to being a star in the classroom and making honor roll, Johnson is making herself stand out as a freshman Jaguar.
“I know that she went into high school hardly knowing anybody, but she’s thriving,” Lopez said. “Even in softball, I was really impressed by how she loves the game and how she really is putting in the work. She’s just blossoming.”
One area of growth for Johnson has been trying new positions. Gomez said when he coached Johnson in rec ball, she was set on being a catcher, but now at Cabrillo, she has also gained experience in the outfield and around the infield.
“She’s very shy, she’s very quiet, but she’s a great ball player,” Kalasa said. “At Cabrillo, she’s one of the ones that stands out. She steps up where I need her to. She’s natural to adapt to her environment and different positions. Since she’s a natural, she can do that.”
With her inherent ability on the diamond, Kalasa said she has no doubt Johnson can go far in the game of softball. As a freshman, there is plenty of time for Johnson to continue growing in all aspects.
“I believe in her, this girl’s going to be great in the future,” Kalasa said. “She’s still young. Next year, she’s going to get better and better and better because she’s going to get older and more mature — gain more confidence. She’s going to make a great impact to help turn this program around. She’s already balling, she’s gonna even ball even harder when she gets older.”
For the parents and coaches who have already seen Johnson become more outspoken, they said they feel like this is just the beginning. Over time, they have faith she will continue growing into a strong player and leader both on and off the field.
“She’s taking baby steps and coming out of her shell,” Lopez said. “I just can’t wait to continue to watch her grow in softball, and now I can’t wait to see her next season and what she does — I’m sure all great things.”
