Photo By Bob Sykes
Moore League softball has been top-heavy for a few years now, and this season doesn’t look like it will be any different. Lakewood is the class of the league while everyone else is hoping for a manageable first round CIF Playoff game with the second seed out of the league. Anything lower than that and it’s tough goings in CIF-SS Division II.
The Lancers lost seven players from last year’s team that went to the quarterfinals and fell to eventual champion, Etiwanda. That team, “could pitch with anyone, we just didn’t get the clutch hits,” said head coach Andy Miramontes. This season, Miramontes hopes that experience will bring with it more late inning hits, and ultimately, more runs. That means seniors Eliza Crawford, Sarah Carrasco and Amanda Robinson will have to carry the load.
“We’ve got our big hitters coming back and they know what it takes,” said Miramontes. The Lancer also have some underclassman that need to come up big, especially in the circle. Junior hurler Nicole Warren will be the number one, and got her first Moore League win of the year on Tuesday against Millikan. Last year in the second round of the CIF Playoffs, she showed what she can do with a complete-game shutout of Mayfair giving up just five hits and recording eight strikeouts. If Lakewood is going to take the Moore League and make a run in the playoffs, it’s going to take a combination of youth and experience.
For the Wilson Bruins, the youth might be their only experience, from the circle all the way to the coaching. The Bruins have a new head coach in Chris Leveque. The former baseball coach is trying to get the softball program right– a program that hasn’t won a league title in 17 years.
The youth continues to the circle where sophomores Loren Stavrou and Hannah Duarte will be the one-two punch, and in the outfield where freshman Kori Conchran and Alleah Loxamana will get quality playing time. But the fate of the Bruins might all fall on the left side of the infield. Third baseman Jessica O’Donnell and shortstop Brandi Enriquez will be the gas in the Wilson offensive engine, both hit over .370 last year, and both are returning First Team All-Moore League. Also keep an eye on senior Kasie Cochran at first base, who hit .330 last season.
While Wilson is trying to take a big step, the Millikan Rams are trying to take another small one. After a Moore League co-championship in 2007, the Rams have struggled against the top of the league. Last year, Millikan took a step in the right direction with a CIF Playoff wild card win over Cerritos. “Last year was a valuable learning experience for most of our team,” said head coach Don Harper. “We played against some of Southern California’s top teams, at times we competed and others times we didn’t belong on the field. We are learning how to compete and be consistent.”
The Rams will need big years from Brittany Adler and Jordan Collier. The two outfielders have a knack for getting on base and will set the table for this small-ball Millikan squad. In the circle the Rams have experience in junior Brooke Cullison and senior Elizabeth Gonzalez. Both are three-year varsity players and are pushing each other for the number one spot. Also keep an eye on five fantastic freshman who could all make an impact this year, and push the upperclassman to be better: Megan Liter, Megan Estacio, Taylor Florentino, Linnea Goodman.
The Poly Jackrabbits will be in the mix as well, but they will only go as far as pitcher Ashley Betance-Kearn and outfielder Courtney Priddie can take them. Betance-Kearn had six wins last year and kept the ‘Rabbits in games against very good Lakewood and Wilson teams, but her season was cut short when she was struck in the face by a comebacker up the middle. She will return to the circle this year and early scouting says her fastball is even better, which is a scary combination with her already fantastic breaking ball.
Priddie hit .306 last season with a team high 15 RBI. The ‘Rabbits will also need some big numbers from some young newcomers like catcher Priscilla Pino, utility fielder Gabby Gray and freshman Melissa Diaz.
The dark horse this season, just like last year, has to be the Cabrillo Jaguars. Head coach Armando Padilla is slowly building a program on the West Side, and everyone paying attention is waiting for the defining upset that could get the Jags going.
Senior pitcher Janessa Martinez leads the team in the circle and on the bench. “Her teammates feed off her effort and dedication,” said Padilla of the player that hadn’t pitched before high school, but took to the position and challenge. Martinez is also the team’s best hitter and showed her skill in the winter league. Her battery mate junior Siria Duran will also play a big role on defense, as will senior outfielder Elena Gutierrez.
“It’s hard to place a goal in number of victories we would like to reach as we try to build a program,” said Padilla. “It would be great to be in position to apply for a CIF birth this year. The girls know what is a stake and looking forward to watching us take that step forward for our program, school, and community.”
Bringing up the rear is Jordan and Compton. Keep an eye on Panthers shortstop Yvonne Lopez who hit almost .500 last year, and pitcher Dominique Williams.
Come out and support Moore League softball today as Wilson travels to Lakewood at 3pm.
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