When the Port Of Los Angeles High softball team made its run to a second straight CIF-Los Angeles City Section Small Schools championship, all the talk was centered around phenom pitcher Nicolle Miranda, and the veteran duo of Kelsea Short and Brianna Grayson. Many also pointed to another talented player in Briana Valencia.

Yet, the Polar Bears were an even bigger threat to those who played them when they had to deal with the ultimate team player in junior first baseman Allison Bayer, who added another dimension to their talented offense.

Bayer cracked four home runs in her sophomore season a year ago after struggling to find her niche with the bat during her freshman year. She made vital contributions for coach Melissa Bugarin-Espinoza's team as a strong defensive first baseman, and the backup pitcher behind Miranda. Bayer also hit an RBI-double to seal up the Polar Bears' 6-0 victory over Harbor Teacher Prep at UCLA in the CIF-LACS Small Schools finals.

Spanking the softball is not the only forte Bayer has at Port Of Los Angeles High.

Already she has made an impact at the start of her junior year by helping the girls volleyball team reach the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Small Schools finals for the first time in school history. Against Elizabeth Learning Center in the finals, Bayer had seven kills and four blocks, which frustrated the eventual champion Bulldogs and sparked the Polar Bears to a 2-1 lead in the match.

Oh yeah, Bayer, who is a travel softball player for the Mizuno Diamond Girls, also has a solid 3.5 GPA so she's fundamentally sound academically too.

Look for more relief and key play from Bayer once the 2013 softball season hits.