Softball Preview: Behind Miraglia, Burroughs softball looking for continued success
Just a season ago, the Burroughs High softball team turned in the most successful campaign in program history, as it followed another Pacific League title run with an unprecedented march to the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals.
But some key players graduated from that 2016 squad and coach Doug Nicol stepped down.
However, the Indians have arguably their most important asset back in All-CIF junior pitcher Presley Miraglia, who was the All-Area Softball Player of the Year and Pacific League Player of the Year.
“Presley is just a workhorse and she’s been really working hard,” Burroughs first-tear Coach Wes Tanigawa said. “She is someone who we are always going to be able to rely on. It’s nice to have a player like that back.”
Like Burroughs, Burbank and Providence lost their share of key players from a year ago. Over at Bellarmine-Jefferson, the team is still without the services of its couch, Claudia Villa, who also coaches the school’s girls’ basketball team that is playing in a CIF championship game Saturday and will be taking part in the state playoffs, beginning Tuesday.
Here is a closer look at the teams.
BURROUGHS
With Miraglia leading the way, the Indians (24-5) went undefeated in league play with a 14-0 record, finishing three games ahead of second-place Crescenta Valley and Glendale. In the playoffs, Burroughs notched wins against Tesoro (8-0), Irvine (4-2) and Norwalk (4-0) in extra innings before falling to eventual champion Grand Terrace (7-0) in the semifinals.
The biggest loss to graduation was senior infielder Kaitlin Okimoto, an All-CIF and first-team all-league contributor who hit. 429 with 36 runs and 30 runs batted in.
In her sophomore season, Miraglia had a 20-4 record and a 1.50 earned-run average over 158 1/3 innings. In addition, she struck out 183 and walked 20. At the plate, she batted .310 with 16 .
“Presley is a little rusty not being able to practice a lot because of the rain, but she’s coming along,” Tanigawa said.
Also returning to bolster Burroughs are senior third baseman Brianna Johnson (.390 average, 25 runs, 13 RBI, 13 stolen bases), senior shortstop Lauren Lopez (.381 average, 23 runs, 17 RBI), junior outfielder Hannah Talavera (.411 average, 26 runs) and senior first baseman Amanda Flores (.342 average, 21 RBI, 17 runs), who were all-league players.
Other returners are junior second baseman Nikki Ricciardella, junior outfielders Jessie Amaya and Tatiana Caceres and sophomore outfielder/pitcher Mia Storer. Two freshmen who come from successful teams out of the Burbank Little League are third baseman Memorie Munoz and utility Chloe Bookmyer.
Winners of two straight league titles, Tanigawa feels the Indians should be among the league’s top teams once again.
“[Crescenta Valley] is always good and they always have a great team,” he said. “We just have to get out there and make sure we’re ready every single game, no matter who we play.”
For the playoffs, Burroughs has made a giant leap to Division I.
BURBANK
The Bulldogs (11-17, 8-6 in league) are coming off a season in which they placed fourth in the Pacific League and lost to Paramount, 6-0, in the wild-card round of the Division III playoffs.
“Not only only did we lose three players to graduation, but we also had two kids who decided not to play for us this year,” Burbank Coach Mike Delaney said. “So we have had to move some people around in a couple of spots.
“But I’ll tell you, it’s a really good team. I have been just having so much fun coaching this group this season. They are really responsible and they are very accountable, which is nice. I think we have a real good team chemistry going on.”
Burbank’s best hitter from a year ago, infielder Julia Duarte (.412 average, 20 runs, 15 RBI) graduated.
The lone all-league returner for the Bulldogs was sophomore Emily Monterrey (.474 average, 26 RBI, 12 runs). But Delaney said Monterrey left the team Wednesday.
Returning are junior pitcher Allie Benson, sophomore pitcher/outfielder Alex Davis, junior outfielder Anysia Gonzalez, junior catcher Amaya Broyls, junior second baseman Macie Jensen and junior outfielder/infielder Erin Lashkari. Rejoining the team after not playing last season is junior first baseman Melissa Daniel and new to the squad is freshman shortstop Katie Treadway.
“I’m pretty excited about this team,” Delaney said. “I think one of the keys for us this year is that we have a lot of depth. I expect us to be better than we were last year and we are going to be much better defensively and really better on offense, as well.
“I expect us to compete in league. Burroughs is going to be the No. 1, especially with Presley. But Glendale should be strong and Crescenta Valley should be strong. The real wild card is Arcadia, because you never know what they are going to have.”
PROVIDENCE
Providence (8-5, 6-2) placed second last season in the Liberty League behind Archer. In the Division VII playoffs, the Pioneers defeated Big Pine (15-0) in the first round before falling to Rolling Hills Prep (20-1).
“The rain has set us back a bit and we’ve also had some problems with our turnout,” Providence Coach Joel Curtis said. “With the graduation of some players, the the transfer of two others [to Burbank], we have had some holes that we are trying to fill.
“We will have four returning seniors and three other seniors who have never played the game. We will also have some freshmen who have not only never played before, but I don’t think they have even ever watched a baseball game, let alone a softball game. We we are going to have to see where everybody fits in.”
Returning for the Pioneers are senior shortstop/catcher Christy Hoffman, senior outfielder Carla Galvez, senior second baseman Josephine Flores, senior shortstop Isabella Angobung, junior third baseman Francesca Marvilla, junior pitcher Celeste Lee and junior catcher Sarah Cox, who is currently injured. In addition, senior Alyssa Camacho and junior Giselle Camonayan will play in the outfield and freshman Rebecca Cox will be at first.
“This is a good group and they are willing to learn,” Curtis said. “I’m just hoping that we will be able to improve as the season goes on.
“In league, I don’t think anyone is going to touch Archer. I’m just hoping we can beat Oakwood for that second spot in league.”
BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON
As was the case last year, the Guards will start their season late and might have to push back some games because of a deep playoff run by the school’s basketball squad.
Bell-Jeff is coming off a season in which it went 0-13 and 0-12 in the Camino Real League.
“I haven’t had a chance to practice with them or see them yet,” said Villa, whose basketball team will take on Chadwick on Saturday in the Division V-A title game. “I have been told a little preview of what we might have, but as far as knowing where everyone is going to fit in I haven’t been able to do that yet.
“I’m hoping that we will be able to come together and I can help them get to where they need to be. I’m hoping to maybe get out there with them next week.”
In this season’s CIF postseason division realignment, Bell-Jeff has been moved from Division VI to Division VII. In 2013, the Guards won the Division VI championship and advanced to title games in 2011 and 2012.
“Going down a division is great,” Villa said. “I think we really belong in the lower division.”
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports
