Torres, Pires are first-teamers
GLENDALE — After helping the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer team capture the program’s first CIF Southern Section Division III Regional Championships title, Lauren Torres had little time to prepare for the upcoming softball season.
Torres, a sophomore second baseman, figured the transition to softball might not be as smooth as she had hoped. However, Torres persevered and put up some quality numbers on the diamond en route to being one of four Tologs named to the All-Mission League team.
“I didn’t have any tryouts for softball because the soccer season ended late,” said Torres, a midfielder on the Tologs’ soccer team. “The coaches and my teammates welcomed me.
“I wasn’t even thinking about [being named to the All-Mission League team] during the season. It’s an honor and a big deal for me.”
Torres and junior shortstop/third baseman Alanna Pires were named to the first team, while junior pitcher MacKenzie Lyng and freshman outfielder Kelly Jacobs received second-team honors.
Torres batted a tidy .340 (18 for 53) with a team-high two home runs and 11 runs batted. She also tied with Pires for the team lead in doubles with six and led the team in runs scored with 13.
“Lauren was our best offensive player this year and she was our most consistent hitter,” said Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Kirk Nishiyama, whose team finished 9-12 and 4-6 in league for fourth place. “We moved her to the fourth spot in the middle of league play and she then had eight runs batted in.
“She brought over that soccer mentality with a lot of swagger and confidence and we did better during the second half of league.”
Pires received all-league first-team accolades for the third consecutive season. She hit .333 (21 for 63) with six doubles, one home run and 14 runs batted in. Pires also scored 12 runs.
“With Alanna, she was our best all-around player,” Nishiyama said. “You could put her out there anywhere.
“The thing is she can certainly be an impact player for us next year. This was a growth year for us and we can build with the bulk of our team coming back next year. We have a nice foundation to build on.”
Lyng batted .293 (12 for 41) and drove in eight runs en route to nabbing all-league honors for the first time. Lyng also scored seven runs and led the team with a .408 on-base percentage.
“As a pitcher, she wasn’t overwhelming, but she gave us a chance.”
Jacobs batted .296 (16 for 56) with 13 runs batted in. Jacobs, who mostly played left field, scored eight runs.
“She got some big hits for us with runners in scoring position,” Nishiyama said. “We kept her down toward the bottom of the order and her play in the outfield was spectacular.”
