By Rick Assad
It’s that time of year again when the sun is bright and there is not much wind and balls are being struck and pitchers are trying to get batters out.
Softball is about to commence for three local teams and each has an air of confidence in their ability.
Burroughs High, Burbank and Providence are stacked with talent and are hopeful of playing well during the nonleague and league schedule.
The Bears went 21-7 in all games and 8-1 in the Pacific League for first place and lost to Tesoro 10-2 in the CIF Southern Section Division II opening-round game.
Doug Nicol has coached Burroughs softball for years and feels that the campaign is going to be something special.
“I am very excited for this season. We have a team that has worked really hard in our offseason strength and conditioning program,” he said. “Our players really improved physically, and the results have shown with a very successful fall season. We also have so many quality kids who have embraced our culture and are high character young ladies.”
Nicol went on: “We have pushed them really hard this offseason, and they never backed down from the challenge. I think the sky’s the limit with this team. We are very deep at every position,” he stated. “We have a great mix of older experienced players, along with some exciting younger players. We are going to be a fun team to watch.”
The goal is to place first in the league, and the Bears are deep and talented.
“As always, our goal is to win the Pacific League. I think we have a team that has the potential to do that. The Pacific League will be challenging,” Nicol said. “I expect Arcadia, Crescenta Valley and Burbank to all be in the mix because they all have talented teams.”
Nicol added: “We know that being Pacific League champions will put a target on our back, but we like that and the challenge that presents,” he said. “The girls are all super excited to lock in and get the season started and to make a run towards a championship.”
Because of graduation, the Bears will be without power-hitter Chloe Centeno and versatile Alyssa Morales, who played the outfield and shortstop.
Burroughs is still loaded and has six seniors and include outfielder Karlee Earl, second base/shortstop Karisma Mendez, outfielder Hailey Perez, outfielder Eva Acevedo, third baseman Neyla Cervantes and pitcher/outfielder Hailey Franco.
The six juniors are shortstop Sophie Rangsiyawong, pitcher/first baseman Valentina Reyes, catcher Sabrina Coto, first baseman/outfielder Chloe Zavala, catcher Ali Cortez and first baseman/third baseman Sady Gonzalez.
The five sophomores are outfielder Amy Reed, first baseman/pitcher Elliott Rendon, outfielder Haven Vickers, second baseman Claire Simon and outfielder/pitcher Kalani Miramontes.
The two first-year players include second baseman/shortstop Lily Orozco and third baseman Sydney Shugar.
A season ago, Burbank carved out a 9-15-1 record and 5-4 mark for fourth in league behind the pitching of Maddison Kellogg, who is playing for California Baptist University.
Javier Rojas is the Burbank head coach and realizes his team will be without the star hurler and several key contributors.
“We are a new team after losing eight seniors, but we have a good core of juniors that will lead us and a young core with three freshmen and one sophomore who will be our future and who bring a lot of excitement,” he said.
Rojas still believes in the players he has despite just one senior on the team.
“I think with that mixture we will compete with other teams, and the goal is always to make the playoffs,” he said. “Kassandra Kimmer-Davila, Chloe Updike and Kayla McPherson are the girls to look out for,” he said.
Rojas continued: “Last year Kimmer-Davila did a great job catching Maddie and was second-team, all-league and Updike was honorable mention and led in stolen bases,” he offered. “It’s great to have a center fielder like her. McPherson will lead us in pitching but I’m excited for the whole team.”
Burbank has a dozen players on the squad and there is one senior, first baseman/second baseman/pitcher McPherson.
There are seven juniors on the team and includes outfielder Updike, second baseman/outfielder Alyssa Perez, catcher/outfielder Kimmer-Davila, outfielder Melanie Cendejas, third baseman/outfielder Isabel Villagran, first baseman/third baseman/outfielder Holly Cashman and outfielder Priscilla Sanchez.
The sophomore is first baseman/third baseman/pitcher Sienna Hale.
The freshmen are first baseman/outfielder Heather Nielsen, shortstop/third baseman/pitcher Addison Lombardo and second baseman/shortstop/center fielder Cassie Sanchez.
Providence claimed three consecutive Prep League titles but the Pioneers, who went 12-5 and 9-3 in league for first place, will now be competing in the Liberty League.
Gone to graduation are some key players most notably Delailah Lopez, who plays for New York University, Gloria Galindo and Mia Allinson, who are also playing at the college level.
The Pioneers lost to Bishop Montgomery 5-0 in a Division V first-round game.
Manny Travieso is Providence’s head coach and hopes to still make the playoffs.
“After an impressive three-year streak of winning the Prep League, Providence is transitioning into the Liberty League. However, it’s important to note that the league does not currently have a softball league, which means that this season we will be competing independently. Despite this change, our determination to qualify for the CIF remains unwavering,” he said. “We understand that the pathway to CIF may be different and more difficult this year, but we are committed to working diligently towards that goal.”
Travieso, who is also an assistant coach at Vermont State University, believes it will take time, but the Pioneers will be good.
“This season will serve as our retooling year after losing three players to the college softball world last year. We will continue to compete with the same tenacity as in previous years,” he stated. “Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the next four years for Providence softball as we expect to emerge even stronger.”
Travieso also addressed the first-year players.
“We are particularly excited to watch our freshmen develop, shining a spotlight on Kayla Salazar and Brooklyn Freed as they embark on their high school journey knowing they will be wearing a college uniform in just three and a half years,” he said.
There are two seniors and they are Gigi Aleman and Ariana Benito and two juniors that include Siany Cruz and Siena Hartman.
“Our junior players continue to grow and improve, and we expect our senior captains, Ariana and Gigi, to have the best years of their softball high school life this season,” Travieso said. “Their leadership and contributions are irreplaceable, and we will miss their guidance next season.”
There are three sophomores and includes Sofia Carrillo, Madelynn Watts and Stellina Truglio.
“Our sophomore class has no pressure to prove themselves, but we know our workhorse, Madeline Watts, will aim to surpass her already impressive performance, having been recognized as a member of the All-CIF team last year,” Travieso said.
The freshmen include Brooklyn Freed, Kayla Salazar, Talia Simpson, Melissa Buckwoski and Rebecca Connery.
Travieso thinks highly of the whole team.
“Every member of our team possesses the heart and grit needed to make this unconventional year one to remember,” he said. “We are ready to embrace the challenges ahead and look forward to a memorable season as we keep our tradition in sending our softball players to play college softball at top universities.”
