If the pitching and hitting come together this spring, several local scholastic girls softball teams have CIF gold on their minds.
At The Bishop’s School, head coach Thomas Abeyta and the Lady Knights finished 12-8 a season ago, 3-3 in league play. Bishop’s made it to the CIF quarterfinals, where the Lady Knights lost to Christian, 4-2.
“We will be really young this season with just a few returners, after losing five starting seniors last year,” Abeyta said. “We will have our starting pitcher, who was all-league last season, returning in sophomore Natalie Camarda.”
Abeyta, who expects Francis Parker to be the Coastal League favorite to win it, also looks to contributions from juniors Michelle Brunker and Britany Allen, along with sophomore Linnea Abeyta. Freshman Gabby Slaerno could also make an impact, he said.
At La Jolla Country Day School, the Lady Torreys and head coach Jay Berenter made it to the CIF quarters a year ago, falling to Mt. Empire. LJCD finished the season at 14-11.
“This year will be a rebuilding year and hopefully we can surprise some teams in CIFs,” Berenter noted.
Key players will include junior shortstop Samantha Berenter, who was first-team Coastal South and second-team All-CIF Division IV the last two seasons.
Berenter led the team last year in batting average, on-base percentage, hits and doubles. Also look to junior second baseman Ariel Abott, who was second-team Coastal South last year and will be a co-captain this year.
Sophomore left fielder Patricia Flathers will contribute offensively, while a key newcomer is sophomore transfer Brittany Dawson, who will pitch and should contribute offensively. The team will also count on Chelsea Burns and Dominique Connors, who will join the team once basketball finishes.
At La Jolla High School, new head coach Ken Davis and the Lady Vikings look to combine strong hitting and pitching to make a run this season. La Jolla finished 10-13 a year ago.
According to Davis, key players this season include senior captain catcher/shortstop Becky Foster (.479 average, 28 RBIs last season), sophomore third baseman Alyssa Taylor, sophomore pitcher Jenny Russell, sophomore second baseman Lisa Fronek, sophomore outfielders Lauren Stienmetz and Kristina Mendez, and freshman Kim Kirch. Junior shortstop/pitcher Katelyn Reilly should also be a factor.