Softball Preview: Time is now for Glendale success

In recent seasons, the Glendale High softball squad was one brimming with potential and young talent.

But just that quickly, the Nitros’ core is marked by upperclassmen looking to leave a lasting impression in an arduous Pacific League led by odds-on-favorite Burroughs, with Arcadia, Burbank and Crescenta Valley offering up a daunting league gauntlet.

“They know what’s at stake and they know they’re familiar with their league opponents,” said Glendale Coach Greg Martin, whose Nitros are led by all-state star Sammy Fabian and All-Area mainstays Jordan Lousararian and Alex Howard. “I expect us to be competitive in every game.”

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While the Nitros are looking to fight back to the CIF Southern Section playoffs after missing out last season, Crescenta Valley, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Flintridge Prep and local newcomer St. Monica Academy are vying for return trips to the postseason.

For the Nitros, who finished 12-11 last season, in fifth place in the Pacific League and a game out of an automatic playoff spot, the star power is there, but the consistency must follow.

“We can’t overlook anybody,” Martin said.

Nobody is looking past Fabian, who brings a 45-game, high school-long hitting streak into the season as she’s chasing down the 71-game state standard set by Zoe Casas of Aquinas, who graduated in 2015.

With Fabian leading off and playing center field, Lousararian, a senior, returns to the circle with Howard, also a senior, at shortstop. Junior catcher Tiffany Bartamian, senior first baseman Claire Smith and senior third baseman Grace Sinisterra are also key returners.

Following a third-place showing in the Pacific League and a first-round exit in the Division III playoffs, Crescenta Valley is looking to replace the offensive output of graduated All-Area standouts Melanie Abzun and Hailey Cookson.

The Falcons will field a roster that features the dynamic of six seniors and four freshmen on the 13-player squad, but coach Amanda Peek is pleased with the chemistry and excited about the prospects of the team.

“We’re really young, but we have a lot of talent,” said Peek, whose team turned in a 16-11 campaign in her first season as head coach at her alma mater. “But it’s exciting. We have a lot of girls with heart.”

Senior catcher/shortstop Sydnee Wells will be a focal point, along with senior pitcher Kendall Ebert, sophomore Emily Mulcahey, a transfer from Glendale, and freshman shortstop Alyssa Hernandez.

Crescenta Valley High senior catcher/shortstop Sydnee Wells, left, will be counted on as one of the leaders of the Falcons softball team this season.

(Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer)

On paper, the Falcons are likely going to be fighting it out for a top-four automatic playoff spot in league, but Peek isn’t conceding anything.

“We like being the underdogs,” she said. “Just like we did last year, we’re going to put a team on the field and we’re gonna fight.

“I have no doubt that we can play with any team.”

Coach Kirk Nishiyama’s bunch at Flintridge Sacred Heart is on the heels of one of the program’s greatest seasons.

The Tologs marched to the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals following a second-place finish in the Sunshine League.

Much of that team is back, but there are notable losses of Kaitlin Powers and Hannah Zika.

While Nishiyama sees promise in just about every area, the most glaring question mark is within the pitcher’s circle after the graduation of All-Area selection Zika.

“We have a core of good players, but, of course we lost Hannah, which is gonna be huge,” said Nishiyama, whose team went 15-10. “We’re gonna go as far as our pitching.”

Senior Olivia Fitzpatrick, junior Vanessa Ocon and the Fradet senior trio of Kelly, Danielle and Lacie are part of that aforementioned returning core. Freshman shortstop Amanda Ramirez, who will lead off in the order, is also somebody Nishiyama expects big things from as the Tologs are likely to find Notre Dame Academy and Immaculate Heart battling it out with them for playoff position with Louisville as the favorite.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior Olivia Fitzpatrick, batting, is part of a strong returning core of players for the Tologs, who advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals last season.

(Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

“Offensively, I think we’ll be fine and defensively, I think we’ll be good,” said Nishiyama, who got .300-plus batting average seasons from all of the previously mentioned returners.

Two more returners are sophomores Alli Lombardo and Courtney Rasic, who each put up good offensive numbers last season, but will now add pitching to their resumes.

“The biggest question will be on the mound,” Nishiyama said. “We had a great year last year. We just got on a roll and believed in what we were doing and if we can do that again, I think we’ll be good.”

Flintridge Prep had one of its better seasons in years and looks to build on that after it returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

“I’m optimistic about the season,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Julie Mejia, whose team went 10-9 last season, which equaled the combined amount of wins for the Rebels in the previous three seasons. “We have a lot more softball knowledge.”

The Rebels took third in the Prep League ahead of losing to Vasquez, 9-6, in the first round of the Division VI playoffs.

The majority of the team returns, highlighted by sophomore speedster Natalie Dale, an All-Area first-team selection who hit .612.

“Her speed is what sets her apart,” Mejia said. “She hits ground balls that shouldn’t be hits and she turns them into hits.”

Flintridge Prep sophomore Natalie Dale, an All-Area first-team selection, hit .612 last season, but “her speed is what sets her apart,” said Rebels Coach Julie Mejia.

(Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Other key returners are multi-sport senior Maia Cohen, senior catcher Alex Tutwiler and junior pitcher Therese Oshiro. Mejia also believes freshman Melissa Grande could be an impact player from the start.

“I think leadership will be a key and just consistency,” said Mejia, who believes Chadwick is likely the Prep League favorite, though she thinks the league race could be wide open. “We’re still really young.”

In its first season since its campus was moved to Montrose, St. Monica is looking to the program’s third season with designs of its best yet.

That’s a tall task considering Crusaders Coach Barry Evans’ team went 21-2 last year with an Omega League title en route to a Division VII quarterfinal appearance, where it lost to eventual champion and juggernaut Rolling Hills Prep.

“A return to, at the minimum, the quarterfinals,” said Evans of his aspirations for his team.

Along with a change in campus comes a change in league, as the Crusaders are now members of the Heritage League along with the likes of defending champion Faith Baptist and Santa Clarita Christian.

“It’s definitely a more competitive league,” Evans said.

Leading the charge will be multi-sport standouts Therese Boles (senior first baseman) and Kayla Grimm (senior third baseman) along with returning sophomore pitcher Yamila Evans and senior outfielder-turned-shortstop Sophia Vega. Freshmen Malia Evans, at catcher, and Yesina Vega, in center field, are also impact players.

“I think our success will depend on how [Evans] pitches and how the defense plays behind her,” the coach said. “We’re looking forward to a good year.”

Over at Hoover, rebuilding is the key word in more ways than one.

With construction going on at Hoover High, the Tornadoes will play their home games at Pelanconi Park and the Glendale Sports Complex.

In addition, Rich Henning’s squad, which took seventh place in the Pacific League last season, graduated 12 of its 14 players from last season.

The two returners will be junior pitchers Leslie Franco and Evie Unger.

“I’m looking for them to have breakout seasons this year,” Henning said.

But, Henning’s corps thereafter will feature a group that has progressed from junior varsity play a season ago, including seniors Mirya Garcia (second base), Ivonne Torres (center field) and Nathalie Cerrano (third base), while freshman shortstop Samantha Cerrano is a newcomer to watch.

“I’m hoping to be competitive,” Henning said, “but we’re strictly rebuilding.”

Holy Family took third place in the Horizon League and advanced to the Division VI playoffs in the process last season.

But, competing for a playoff spot in what veteran Gaels Coach Greg Ziomek calls a “strong” league with Alverno, San Gabriel Mission and Ramona Convent at the forefront could be a difficult task.

“Realistically, we are rebuilding,” Ziomek said. “We lost both our pitchers and we are using a former third baseman as pitcher. I hope to be .500.”

Key players to look for are senior returners Tabitha Ruiz at shortstop and Mariah Rodriguez at first base and sophomore second baseman Aly Blanco. Juniors Miranda Perez (catcher) and Hannah Marin (outfielder) and sophomore third baseman Jocelyn Flores should also be contributors.

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Grant Gordon, grant.gordon@latimes.com

Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon