2015 Softball Preview Capsules
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Maria Yoder, fourth season
2014 record: 16-12-1 (6-4 Northwest, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (six)
Top players: IF Kayla Stephens (Sr.), IF Kellie Anderson (Jr.), OF/P Sarah Bradford (Jr.), OF Brittany Henricksen (So.), C/IF Marissa Bachman (Sr.)
Outlook: The Aggies graduated a pair of second-team all-state selections, but return six starters.
Henricksen (.508 average, 10 stolen bases), Anderson (.468), Bradford (.375) and Stephens (.355, eight doubles) are among the team’s offensive weapons.
“We are excited about the amount of talent that we have entering the program and returning to the program,” Yoder said. “We are hoping for a fresh start to push farther into the postseason.”
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BASIC
Head coach: Lauren Taylor, first season
2014 record: 9-18 (4-6 Southeast, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Top players: P/OF Teuila Sheehan (Sr.), P/OF Rebecca Pullen (Sr.), IF Jessica Clifford (Sr.)
Outlook: Taylor, who guided Green Valley to a Sunrise Region title in 2013, takes over a team that brings back five letter winners.
“We’re looking forward to trying some new things for both the athletes and coaching staff in hopes to bring us back to regionals in a pretty tough league,” Taylor said.
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BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Kevin Smith
2014 record: 23-9 (8-2 Southwest, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (six)
Top players: Jasmine Gibson (Sr.), Megan Coyle (Jr.), Ashley Witucki (Jr.), Sierra Dias (Jr.)
Outlook: The Gaels return six starters, including Witucki (.462 average, 38 runs), Coyle (.415, 22 RBIs), Dias (.337, 27 runs) and Gibson (.333, 16 RBIs).
If the team can overcome the loss of workhorse pitcher Dayton Yingling to graduation, it should be in the hunt for a league title.
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BONANZA
Head coach: Libby Brooks, second season
2014 record: 2-22 (0-10 Southwest, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: 1B Ashlee McKenna (Jr.), OF Caitlyn Lloyd (Jr.), P Sarah Selbach-Fetting (So.), SS Brianna Hernandez-Silva (So.)
Outlook: The Bengals struggled last season, but are a year older and wiser.
“There is always room for improvement,” Brooks said. “We want to see every moment as an opportunity to succeed. Our expectations are for commitment, dedication and hard work.”
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CALVARY CHAPEL
Head coach: Martha O’Kelley, seventh season
2014 record: 3-21 (3-11 Division III Southern, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: P Meghan Phillips (Jr.), SS Monica Mejorada (Sr.), C Noelle Miller (Sr.)
Outlook: The Lions struggled to be competitive last year, but return eight letter winners.
“I feel that we will do well this year,” said O’Kelley. “We have a strong pitcher and strong hitting. We should make it to playoffs.”
CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Mike Livreri, 12th season
2014 record: 30-8 (10-0 Southwest, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (three)
Top players: P Cheyenne Cudahy (Sr.), P Maddie Jones (Sr.), P Jennifer Cerrone (Jr.), OF Angel Love (Jr.), IF Sonja Lawrence (Sr.)
Outlook: Centennial’s opponents were happy to see graduation day finally come for the Bulldogs’ left side of the infield. Shortstop Heather Bowen and third baseman Savannah Horvath combined to win the last three state player of the year awards before moving on to play in college.
The Bulldogs must find a way to replace their bats, gloves and arms.
One advantage Centennial has is in the circle where Cudahy (14-4, 1.93 ERA), Jones (7-3, 1.92) and Cerrone (9-1, 2.37 ERA) all return.
“A new team this year will have some growing pains for sure,” Livreri said. “Somebody will need to arise and be a leader. We have depth in our pitching staff and experience there, but in other positions, we lack experience.
“We hope to get better as the season progresses.”
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CHAPARRAL
Head coach: A.J. Coleman, fourth season
2014 record: 4-22 (2-10 Sunrise, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: SS Crystal Clark (Sr.), 1B Nayeli Rivas (Jr.)
Outlook: After advancing to the Division I-A state tournament two years ago, the Cowboys brought back just one starter last year and struggled.
Five starters from that team return and an influx of young talent should help Chaparral be competitive again. Coleman said freshman Losi Brown will take over in the circle.
“For the first time in our four years as a staff, we had multiple freshmen with softball experience join the program, which speaks well for the future,” Coleman said. “On paper, we believe we have improved at every position defensively, and we are a far deeper team than a year ago. Now it comes down to proving those beliefs on game day.
“If we continue our growth as a group, we should be able to look back on this season and regard it as a successful one.”
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CHEYENNE
Head coach: Teri Hernandez, eighth season
2014 record: 21-17-1 (7-3 Sunset, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (five)
Top players: IF Taylor Cole (Sr.), IF Destiny Gain (So.), C/IF Italy Mora (So.), IF Jonnette Paddy (So.), OF Sabrina Stafford (Sr.)
Outlook: The Desert Shields bring back nine letter winners from a team that finished second in the Sunset League.
“With the new additions to this year’s team, we continue to expect the best out of our girls,” Hernandez said. “Each year our goal is to win a conference championship and play in the state tournament at the end of the year.
“With the senior leadership of Taylor Cole and Sabrina Stafford, we are looking forward to a very exciting and successful season.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Steve Gorden, 11th season
2014 record: 15-16 (5-5 Southwest, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (four)
Top players: 3B Carmen Hasbrouck (Sr.), C Rheanna Esparza (Jr.)
Outlook: The Spartans return just four starters from a team that placed third in the Southwest League.
“We seem to be a perennial rebuilding program,” Gorden said. “Each year we lose exceptionaly young ladies. Each year we gain exceptional young ladies to become young Spartans. A high majority of these young ladies have a few years’ experience and some have never played the game as a competitive sport.
“We hope to surprise some teams, but we will compete hard.”
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CORONADO
Head coach: Missy Krueger, fifth season
2014 record: 23-16-1 (8-2 Southeast, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (four)
Top players: C/SS Basia Query (Jr.), P/IF Jillian James (So.), P/IF Sarah Pinkston (Jr.), IF Dylan Underwood (So.), OF Brooke Younie (Jr.)
Outlook: Despite bringing back nine letter winners and welcoming transfer Sarah Pinkston, who played at Shadow Ridge two years ago, the Cougars have no seniors on their roster.
Still, Coronado has been one of the top teams in recent years in the Sunrise Region. This year should be no different.
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Brandy Yamka, first season
2014 record: 0-20 (0-10 Southeast, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (five)
Outlook: After struggling last season, the Dragons are hoping to show improvement this year.
“We have a combination of some strong returners, new freshmen and players who moved up from junior varsity,” said Yamka, who served as Del Sol’s junior varsity coach last year.
“Being relegated to Division I-A should help our chances and make us more competitive than we have been in previous years.”
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Chuck Pope, first season
2014 record: 11-13 (3-7 Southwest, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: 1B/P Karley Severance (Sr.), C/3B/SS Mary Dungey (So.), SS/2B/C Meagan Anders (So.), P/C/IF Elsy Guzman (So.)
Outlook: Veteran coach Pope, who guided Silverado to several state tournament appearances, returns to the high school game and will guide a program that brings back five starters.
“The Diamondbacks had a wonderful turnout for intramurals and tryouts,” Pope said. “They are a hard-working group with great energy and attitude for the game of softball.
“The new coaching staff and players are raising their expectations and goals with the hope of becoming a more competitive softball program.”
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DURANGO
Head coach: Toni Del Toro, eighth season
2014 record: 16-15 (2-8 Northwest, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (four)
Outlook: The Trailblazers bring back eight letter winners and hope to show improvement this season.
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FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: John Chilman, sixth season
2014 record: 22-14 (10-0 Sunset, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): 10 (five)
Top players: LF Breanna Hemphill (Sr.), 3B Cheyenne Kidd (Sr.), CF Vanessa Valdez (Sr.), P/SS Mosie Foley (Jr.), 1B Samantha Jack (Jr.), C Claire Peck (Jr.)
Outlook: The Crusaders welcome back 10 letter winners, including Valdez (.483 average), Kidd (.356, 9 doubles), Hemphill (.476 on-base percentage), Foley (.371 average), Jack (.333 average) and Peck (.357 average).
Foley struck out 107 in 101.2 innings in the circle.
But Faith Lutheran must make up for the loss of eight seniors, who were responsible for nearly half of the team’s extra-base hits.
“The Crusaders will be young,” Chilman said. “Team chemistry will be an issue early on. While there is a great deal of young talent, the success of the team will depend on teamwork and sacrifice.
“The returning upperclassmen have the talent and ability to lead the newcomers in what it means to be a Crusader. With the additions of Spring Valley and Sierra Vista, the Crusaders will be hoping to make the playoffs in the now competitive Sunset League.”
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FOOTHILL
Head coach: Tom Mayes, 10th season
2014 record: 21-15 (9-1 Southeast, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (seven)
Top players: C Hannah Stevens (Sr.), 1B Sarah Maddox (Jr.), P Sarah Penksa (Jr.), 2B Alexia Campbell (Jr.)
Outlook: The defending Sunrise Region champions bring back seven starters and should be in the hunt for the region crown again this year.
“With seven fresh faces on varsity this year, we are hoping to compete in a very tough league,” Mayes said.
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Cyndi Castro, first season
2014 record: 15-16 (6-4 Northeast, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: SS Jinger Meuir (Sr.), P Samantha Loving (Jr.), C Italia Reinoehl (So.), CF Tara Hilton (Sr.), 3B Amber Calderon (Sr.)
Outlook: Castro took over midway through last season and brings back five starters for her first full season.
Loving was a first-team All-Northeast League selection last year.
“Green Valley is looking forward to the softball season, and we are excited about our competitive division,” Castro said.
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LAKE MEAD
Head coach: Erika Hetzer, first season
2014 record: 2-17 (2-12 Division III Southern, seventh)
Returning starters: Four
Top players: SS Savannah Schmidt (Sr.), C Josey White (Fr.)
Outlook: Hetzer inherits a team that brings back just four starters.
“We have a lot of girls coming out to play for the first time,” Hetzer said. “A lot of them play volleyball or basketball, so they are athletes and are picking up the game quickly.
“Returning senior Savannah Schmidt will be a great leader and lead with her hard-working attitude. Having Josey White, an experienced freshman, behind the plate will help guide and direct the inexperienced players.
“I came to this school to build a program, and that is what I intend to do. I know it won’t happen overnight, but we are taking the steps to get there.”
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LEGACY
Head coach: Dan Casel, ninth season
2014 record: 15-12 (4-6 Southwest, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (six)
Top players: C Gabby Rinker (Sr.), 3B Alyssa Sotelo (Jr.), SS Lindsey Fishman (Sr.)
Outlook: Sotelo (.513 average, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs), Rinker (.449, 4 HR, 36 RBIs) and Fishman (.341, 11 RBIs) give the Longhorns some capable offensive weapons.
“With our senior leadership, we hope to make the playoffs again this year,” Casel said.
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THE MEADOWS
Head coach: Craig Campbell, fourth season
2014 record: 10-15 (6-8 Division III Southern, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (fiive)
Top players: 1B/OF Dani Otter (Sr.), P/SS Missy Siegel (Sr.), 1B/SS Noelle Young (Sr.), C/OF Kathy Bond (Jr.), C/SS Amanda Hansen (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs return 10 letter winners and hope to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the Southern League.
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PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Head coach: Mike Sparrow, 13th season
2014 record: 25-4 (6-0 Division IV Southern, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (four)
Top players: C Jamie Hansen (Sr.), SS Brook Higbee (Jr.), 3B Madison Harris (So.)
Outlook: The two-time defending Division IV state champions got a lot younger this year.
“We will be building with a large influx of freshmen,” Sparrow said. “We go from a three-year starter at pitcher in Kennedy Huntsman to two freshmen pitchers.”
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Kelly Glass, ninth season
2014 record: 33-7 (9-1 Northwest, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (five)
Top players: P Kelsea Sweeney (Sr.), C/OF Kiley Harrison (Sr.), C/3B Lauren Oxford (Sr.), OF Mackenzie McBride (Sr.)
Outlook: The Panthers rode arguably the best senior class in the program’s history to a state title last season.
But those seniors, many of them of four-year starters, are gone, leaving some holes to fill.
“After a wonderful year last season, we are hoping for another one this season as well,” Glass said. “Losing the senior class we did will be tough, but this set of another seven seniors will be just as good.
“We look forward to a new type of leadership and new faces, but we will miss what we had.”
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RANCHO
Head coach: Amanda Zunno, third season
2014 record: 29-8-1 (10-0 Northeast, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (nine)
Top players: C/OF McKinzi Vega (Sr.), IF/OF Jahnae Davis-Houston (Jr.), IF/OF Kayla Coles (Jr.), SS/OF Tiare Lee (Jr.), P/1B Samantha Pochop (So.), IF/OF Kat Anthony (So.)
Outlook: The Rams are set up for a big season if they can replace first-team all-state pitcher Brandy Marlett, who graduated.
Pochop, also a first-team all-state pitcher, and Vega, a first-team All-Northeast League pick, lead a list of nine returning starters, who should help absorb at least some of that loss.
“We want to continue to improve as in the past two years,” Zunno said. “With 10 returners and our incoming talent, we feel as though we are the best defensive team we have been in three years.
“All three of our seniors have been in the Rancho softball program their entire high school career, so we are depending on their knowledge and leadership throughout the season.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Julia Meyn, first season
2014 record: 17-8 (6-4 Northwest, third)
Top players: C/3B Kaitlyn Dennis (Jr.), 2B Samantha Milanovich (So.), P/SS Alisha Schultz (Fr.), 3B/P Mia Voges (Fr.)
Outlook: Meyn takes over a program that has had frequent coaching changes in recent years yet managed to stay competitive.
“This year we added a lineup of starting freshmen who are strong athletes,” Meyn said. “This should be a solid combination with the few returners. Our goal is staying focused on a solid record.”
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SIERRA VISTA
Head coach: Keith Ulrich, first season
2014 record: 7-14 (4-6 Northwest, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (seven)
Top players: P Kalei Watkins (So.), IF Kira Felise (Sr.), IF Adrianna Somerville (Sr.), IF Taylor DeGuzman (So.), IF Madison Hiu (Jr.), C Brendee Ford (Jr.), OF Morgan Hughey (Jr.)
Outlook: Ulrich inherits a team that returns seven starters, including second-team all-state selection Watkins, who struck out 126 in 119 innings last season.
“With nine returning letter winners and seven returning starters, the Lions expect to compete for a league title,” Ulrich said. “Seniors Kira Felise and Adrianna Somerville, sophomore Taylor DeGuzman and junior Madison Hiu anchor a solid infield.”
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SILVERADO
Head coach: Kyle Crane, third season
2014 record: 18-8 (8-2 Northeast, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Fourteen (nine)
Top players: SS Madison Sisco (Sr.), P Hanna McCall (Sr.), P Gabby Santiago (Sr.), 3B Korina Pindel (Sr.), C Taryn Southerland (Sr.), C Jessica Chamberlain (Sr.), OF Brandi Splinter (Sr.)
Outlook: The Skyhawks certainly don’t lack experience with 14 letter winners back.
The team should compete for a league title.
“When you combing the experience, power, speed and pitching of Silverado’s nine amazing seniors with the dynamic support of the other returning players, the 2015 season promises to be one to remember,” Crane said.
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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Stacey Patterson, fourth season
2014 record: 9-14 (4-8 Sunrise, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (four)
Top players: 2B/SS Brittany Miller (Sr.), P Andrea Garner (Jr.)
Outlook: The Miners have some work to do after graduating seven seniors.
Miller (.532 average) and Garner (.475/3.02 ERA, 123 strikeouts) lead a list of only five returnees.
“This year, we have a lot of young talent,” Patterson said. “We have more speed than we have ever had a lot of hard-working sophomores that are ready to take the field. Andrea Garner has been working really hard in the offseason in the weight room and on the field to improve her speed and techniques.
“I am looking forward to this season and ready to see what these young athletes have to offer.”
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WESTERN
Head coach: Jordan Connell, second season
2014 record: 6-13 (2-8 Sunset, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: P/SS Brenda Sandoval (Sr.), C/3B Jennessa Dunton (So.), 2B/SS/C Alexis Maeoki (Jr.), 1B/P Lita Maeoki (Fr.), 3B/P Mireya Villela (Jr.)
Outlook: The Warriors are showing steady improvement and hope to continue that this season.
“We have worked very hard the past two years to create a respectable program that the players can be proud of,” Connell said. “We believe our performance this year will prove our hard work and that we belong among the other teams throughout Las Vegas.
“We plan on being a surprise to many people this season.”
