Softball Preview: Return of talent could bode well for return to postseason
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior Olivia Fitzpatrick is among a handful of returning starters who are expected to guide the Tologs this season.
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Playoff tickets were punched for all three local softball teams a season ago.
La Cañada High won the Rio Hondo League title, but was upset in the CIF Southern Section Division IV first round and is now under a new coaching regime.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy advanced all the way to the Division V quarterfinals, but lost arguably its best player.
And Flintridge Prep had one of the biggest turnarounds in the area and is looking to continue that forward momentum.
Thus, as with any season, there’s plenty of change on the diamond, but plenty of talent back on it.
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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.
La Cañada High senior Sammy Jedrey, along with fellow senior Megan Reilly, will be counted upon to lead the Spartans softball team this season.
Much of that team is back, but there are the 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.
“Offensively, I think we’ll be fine and defensively, I think we’ll be good,” said Nishiyama, who got .300 batting average-plus seasons from all of his returning players.
Two more coming back 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.”
KC Mathews guided the La Cañada softball team to plenty of success in his tenure, highlighted by back-to-back Division V titles in 2011-12. But Mathews is gone as the Spartans’ coach and Chuck Gunter has taken over as the interim coach.
Also gone is All-Area selection Olivia Lam, who graduated after some decorated days as a Spartan.
However, much of the rest of the Spartans’ lineup was due back, led by seniors Sammy Jedrey and Megan Reilly, along with sophomore Alexis Abboud.
Flintridge Prep sophomore Natalie Dale hit .612 and was an All-Area first-team selection last year. Her speed on the basepaths is a valuable asset to the Rebels softball team, Coach Julie Mejia said.
La Cañada went 13-10 a season ago with a 9-2 mark in league that included six consecutive wins to close out the regular season and claim the title. A home game in the first round of the Division IV playoffs ended with a 4-3 loss to Ocean View, however.
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 this and she turns them into hits.”
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 impactful 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.”
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Grant Gordon, grant.gordon@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
