Softball Preview: La Cañada aiming for CIF surge
An abundance of high-profile talent will be back on the diamond for the La Cañada High softball team.
After dominating the Rio Hondo League and winning a third consecutive title, though, the Spartans sputtered in the CIF Southern Section Division IV first round, falling to Arroyo, 8-5.
So as a new season tees off, the Spartans’ goals, fueled by a playoff stumble a season ago, are sky high.
“We want to get to that championship game,” Spartans coach Chuck Guntner said.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, looking to return to the playoffs, might have a very realistic road to Division VI glory, but first must make the playoffs by navigating the rigors of the Mission League, while Flintridge Prep is hoping for a postseason return while bringing along a young squad.
Led by a cast of All-Area returners in senior pitcher Holly Stoner, junior shortstop Emily Tinkham and senior catcher Taryn Harris, La Cañada is coming off a 17-5 season. Senior center fielder Maddy Reilly and senior utility Alexis Abboud are also back on board.
“They have the talent, it’s been there for this whole group,” said Guntner, whose team will be competing for a Division V playoff berth. “It’s just the mental part of the game now. You take anybody lightly and they can beat you.”
Guntner believes Monrovia, Temple City and San Marino will be viable contenders in the Rio Hondo League capable of giving the Spartans a run for the top spot.
“I expect good games this year, no blowouts,” said Guntner, whose team went 12-0 in league last season. “[We are] gonna have to work hard.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart showcased some talent with some big numbers and produced a winning season in 2017, but the arduous nature of the Mission League prevented the Tologs from a postseason berth.
Overcoming that obstacle and getting consistent pitching will be the keys for Flintridge Sacred Heart once more.
“We have a solid nucleus,” said Tologs coach Kirk Nishiyama, whose team finished 16-8 overall but just 2-6 in league for fifth place. “For us, it’s always going to come down to our pitching.
“If we can get to the playoffs, I think there’s the talent to do well. … I think we have a good team, it’s just about getting through the Mission League is the thing.”
Alemany won the league title last season, finishing a game ahead of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Nishiyama believes those two are likely to be the top contenders again.
Nishiyama will answer with a talented lineup that includes reigning All-Area selections in Amanda Ramirez (.393, 35 runs, 19 walks, 17 RBI), a junior shortstop, Payton Tompkins (.429, 23 runs, 23 RBI), a senior outfielder, Cate Ziegler (.467, 27 runs, 31 RBI), a sophomore third baseman, Alli Lombardo (.380, 23 RBI, 30 runs), a senior second baseman/pitcher, and Amesie Noll (.400, 24 RBI, 34 runs), a junior outfielder.
“From an offensive standpoint, from No. 1 through No. 9 in the lineup, we could have one of the best lineups we’ve had in a long time,” Nishiyama said.
For FSHA, though, it comes down to pitching, with senior Courtney Rasic and Lombardo being called on to take their spots in the circle though neither is a true pitcher, according to Nishiyama.
Flintridge Prep lost six seniors from a team that went 9-9 with a 4-8 mark within the Prep League, falling on hard times to end the season as the Rebels lost their last five games.
“We come in pretty young,” Rebels coach Julie Mejia said.
The whole season was played without former All-Area player Natalie Dale, who is likely to sit out her senior campaign, also. Still, Libby Penn and Melissa Grande emerged and are All-Area returners.
Penn (.480, 13 runs, 18 RBI), a junior, will likely hold down first base, while Grande (.411, 32 RBI, 24 runs), also a junior, will be back at shortstop. Another returner is sophomore Olivia Stevens, who played catcher, but could move to pitcher as longtime starter Therese Oshiro graduated and the Rebels have nobody with experience to step into the circle.
Pasadena Poly won league last season, finishing a game ahead of Chadwick and three ahead of Mayfield. Rio Hondo Prep, Flintridge Prep and Westridge were all battling it out for the fourth spot. Mejia predicts a tight race this season.
“Every game you went into league was competitive for the most part,” said Mejia, whose team is in Division VII. “I think it will be a lot of the same.”
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
