2018 Softball Capsules
(as submitted by coaches)
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Maria Switzer, seventh season
2017 record: 16-15-1 (8-10 Northwest/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: 3B Adriana Thomason (Sr.), OF Lileya Kebos (Sr.), C Hannah Hickstein (Jr.), UTL Kaylea Patridge (Jr.)
Outlook: The Aggies qualified for the Sunset Region playoffs last year and return five starters from that team.
Kebos (.427, 42 RBIs in 2016) hopes to return to the form of her sophomore season and has some other potent bats around her in Thomason (.402, 15 RBIs), Hickstein (.500, 22 RBIs) and Patridge (.340, 15 RBIs).
“We are in a rebuilding year this season,” Switzer said. “We have high expectations of the new and young athletes to the varsity program. Our goal is to reach the playoffs in this tough division.”
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BASIC
Head coach: Lauren Taylor, fourth season
2017 record: 19-17 (12-8 4A Sunrise/sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Fifteen (eight)
Outlook: The Wolves have continued to show improvement under Taylor’s guidance. They’re hoping for more of the same this year.
“We’re looking forward to a fun year with a great group of kids,” Taylor said.
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BEAVER DAM
Head coach: Steven Feick, first season
2017 record: 3-15 (2-8 1A Southern/fifth)
Returning starters: Six
Outlook: Feick takes over a team that is hoping to contend for a playoff spot in the Class 1A Southern League.
The team has just two seniors and seven juniors, two of whom are on track to graduate early.
“We are a young team, with only two true seniors,” Feick said. “The juniors have been together for several years. I am looking forward to building the program.”
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BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Kevin Smith, 12th season
2017 record: 12-22 (9-9 Southwest/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (five)
Top players: SS Reyna Martin (Sr.), P Darian Pancirov (Sr.), CF Monique Passalacqua (Sr.)
Outlook: The Gaels were expected to be in a bit of a rebuilding mode last year, but still managed to qualify for the postseason.
With five starters returning, they’re hoping for even better results this year.
“We are deeper this year compared to last year,” Smith said.
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BONANZA
Head coach: Libby Brooks, third season
2017 record: 7-17 (4-14 Southwest/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (seven)
Top players: C Sara Riley (So.), 3B/C Evalynn Sandoval (Jr.), CF Ashley Kersey (Jr.), P Brooke Detomaso (So.)
Outlook: Brooks returns for her second stint as coach and takes over a team that brings back 10 letter winners.
“Although the team has very few additions, they have been playing all year long to prepare for the high school season,” Brooks said. “Our players have become stronger, smarter, and more driven than ever to make playoffs this season.
“Also, we have two freshmen, a shortstop and a pitcher, that are great additions to the team. The school, coaches, players, parents, and the community have also supported our mission into improving the conditions of the softball field. We look forward to our opponents visiting us this year at home to see how much hard work and dedication everyone has put in to the Bonanza High School softball program.”
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BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Angelica Moorhead, fifth season
2017 record: 23-9 (9-1 3A Sunrise/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (eight)
Top players: P Bailey Bennett-Jordan (Sr.), C/3B Marleena Mills (Jr.), 1B/P Jordan Moorhead (Sr.), SS/C Ashley Wishard (So.)
Outlook: The Eagles nearly qualified for the Class 3A state tournament last year, and bring back eight starters from that squad.
Bennett-Jordan (.424, 7 home runs; 1.33 ERA, 240 strikeouts), Mills (.434, 3 HR, 54 RBIs), Jordan Moorhead (.457, 14 RBIs) and Wishard (.381, 2 HR, 29 RBIs) should be among the team’s leaders.
“We’re looking forward to a great season,” Angelica Moorhead said. “We have many returners who have played many years together. Our goal is to be in Reno in May for the state tournament.”
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CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Erica Scarano, first season
2017 record: 0-21 (0-20 4A Sunrise/11th)
Returning letter winners (starters): One (one)
Outlook: Scarano takes over a team that will have many new faces this season.
“Our goal this year is to make the girls comfortable on the field,” Scarano said. “I want them to have a full understanding of the sport by the end of the season and hopefully win a game.”
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CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Mike Livreri, 15th season
2017 record: 24-14 (13-5 Northwest/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: SS Kiana Tate (Sr.), P Amanda Sink (Jr.), P Deanna Barrera (Jr.), 2B Rhea Paiva (Sr.), 3B Seanna Simpson (Sr.), C Jillian Bartley (Jr.)
Outlook: Simpson (.432, 12 doubles, 21 RBIs), Paiva (.406, 15 RBIs), Tate (.360, 7 home runs, 26 RBIs) and Bartley (.254, 6 HR, 19 RBIs) return to lead the offense.
Sink (10-6, 2.93 ERA, 162 strikeouts in 88 innings) and Barrera (7-5, 3.11 ERA) return in the circle.
“We look to challenge for the league title and hopefully advance in the region playoffs,” Livreri said.
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CHAPARRAL
Head coach: A.J. Coleman, seventh season
2017 record: 14-10 (5-5 3A Sunrise/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (four)
Top players: P/SS Losi Brown (Sr.), 3B Fiona Togagae (So.), 1B Fernanda Rivas (Jr.)
Outlook: The Cowboys have plenty of spots to fill as they bring back only five letter winners.
Brown (.594, 5 home runs), Togagae (.404, 2 HR) and Rivas (.358) should be among the leaders on offense.
“We are starting with a pretty young group due to losing nine players from a year ago,” Coleman said. “With only two seniors on the roster, we may find ourselves struggling early with finding leadership and understanding our roles. Having a veteran pitcher will go a long way early on in keeping us in games and allowing us to get a better grasp on situational softball.
“Once we figure out how to play for each other and manage our nerves, we should be a pretty good team down the stretch.”
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CHEYENNE
Head coach: Darrien Tennant, second season
2017 record: 10-8 (7-3 3A Sunset/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (six)
Top players: P/1B Madelyn Kennedy (Jr.), SS/3B Victoria Rosales (Sr.), C/3B Giovanna Bojorquez (So.)
Outlook: Kennedy (.559, 27 RBIs; 9 wins, 3.81 ERA, 99 strikeouts in 79 innings), Rosales (.525, 28 RBIs) and Bojorquez (.490, 18 RBIs) lead a group of six returning starters for the Desert Shields.
“We have a very positive outlook for the 2018 season, filled with high expectations of a renewed winning attitude for Cheyenne High School,” Tennant said. “We expect to be able to continue to grow as a program on the rise and compete with the powerhouses in our division with the overall goal of winning our division and going on to fight for a state championship come year’s end.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Jeremy Walters, second season
2017 record: 3-17 (2-16 Northwest/sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: OF/P Tiarra Del Rosario (Jr.), 3B Diona Whitley (Sr.), UTL Mya’Liah Bethea (So.), 2B Angie Chin (So.)
Outlook: The Spartans return five starters from last year’s squad and hope to be in better position to compete with the top teams.
“My expectation for my team is to go out and compete every game, and to improve in areas we can improve,” Walters said.
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CLARK
Head coach: Matt Malcolm, third season
2017 record: 2-19 (2-16 Southwest/seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: P/IF Sharon Vernaz (So.), IF/OF Sofia Argumaniz (So.), IF Alyssa Clara (Jr.)
Outlook: The Chargers return eight letter winners and could have the right ingredients to turn the corner and make a push toward a playoff berth.
Vernaz (.667 average) hopes to continue her hot hitting from last year. Argumaniz (.227 average) and Clara (.444 on-base percentage) should provide some run-scoring opportunities for Clark.
“This is the best, most disciplined varsity squad out of Clark in many years,” Malcolm said. “These girls are talented, excited and eager to start putting Clark back into position as a winning and relevant softball program.”
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CORONADO
Head coach: Missy Krueger, eighth season
2017 record: 32-7 (20-0 4A Sunrise/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (two)
Top players: P/CF/1B Tatum Spangler (Sr.), P/CF/1B Ashley Ward (Jr.)
Outlook: After having a senior-dominated roster last year, the Cougars return only two starters, but both are coming off ultra-successful seasons.
Spangler (.513, 6 home runs, 56 RBIs; 14-3, 1.29 ERA) was a first-team all-state selection, and Ward (.427, 16 doubles, 44 RBIs; 11-3, 2.23) earned second-team all-state honors.
“We are looking to build upon last year’s successful season with strong senior leadership and a group of talented and hardworking newcomers,” Krueger said.
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Ryan Fischer, second season
2017 record: 6-13 (2-8 3A Sunrise/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Outlook: In his second season, Fischer hopes to continue the building process. The Dragons bring back five starters.
“We have a great group of girls who look to have fun and improve every day,” Fischer said.
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Jordan Connell, second season
2017 record: 29-7 (16-2 Southwest/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (seven)
Top players: 3B/2B/OF Izriah Hodson (Sr.), P/3B/SS Holly Severance (Jr.), C/OF Hailey Jaramillo (Jr.), P/2B/PF Paisley Garcia (Jr.), 2B/OF/C Jada Moreno (Jr.), 1B/OF Meaghan McInerney (Jr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks are primed for a big year as they return seven starters from their most successful team in program history.
“2017 was a record-breaking year for us, and we are looking to build on that this season,” Connell said. “We expect our new group of seniors to lead the way, and our 12 returning letter winners are eager to bring home a banner for the first time in our school’s softball history.
“We have also added two freshmen who are sure to play a key role for us this season.”
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DESERT PINES
Head coach: Stacey Panning, second season
2017 record: 1-18 (1-9 3A Sunset/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (seven)
Top players: P Mireyah Ortiz (Sr.), C/SS Carolina Rodriguez (Sr.), 2B Ayanna Johnson (Jr.)
Outlook: The Jaguars are continuing to build their program, and with seven returning starters, could be set up for a more successful season.
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DURANGO
Head coach: Roy Goodell, third season
2017 record: 23-11 (12-6 Southwest/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (nine)
Top players: P/1B Trinity Valentine (Sr.), CF Keely Thompson (Sr.), 2B Katy Fazendin (Jr.), SS Destiny Cisneros (So.), C Lexi Geraldo (Sr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers had a breakout season last year.
With nine starters returning, Durango should be in the hunt for the Southwest League title.
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FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Hilary Nell, second season
2017 record: 14-12 (7-11 Northwest/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (two)
Top players: OF Clara Heislen (Jr.), P/IF Sophie Foster (Jr.), IF/OF Ellie Fried (Jr.), C/IF Audrey Kirsch (Sr.)
Outlook: Heislen led the team in average (.533), doubles (11) and RBIs (31) last season.
Fried (.407, 12 RBIs), Kirsch (.316, 13 RBIs) and Foster (.315, 19 RBIs; 9-6, 4.93 ERA) also should be among the leaders on a team that hopes to contend for a playoff spot.
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FOOTHILL
Head coach: Tom Mayes, 15th season
2017 record: 16-19 (12-8 4A Sunrise/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (four)
Top players: SS Kylie Becker (Sr.), 3B Skylar Glaude (Sr.)
Outlook: Becker, who has committed to Montana, and Glaude, who has committed to Bridgeport, lead a quartet of returning starters for the Falcons, which is aiming for its first Sunrise Region final appearance since 2015.
“It has been a while and the seniors are hungry, but can the underclassmen step it up?” Mayes said. “The squad is young and inexperienced, even with seven returning letter winners. Patience and determination are this year’s keys.
“Learn from mistakes early and finish strong, a trait found at Foothill.”
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Cyndi Castro, fifth season
2017 record: 14-20 (8-12 4A Sunrise/seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Top players: 3B Savannah Fabro (Sr.), P/OF Cinthia Garcia (Jr.), OF Brynne Hilton (Jr.), C/SS Olivia McClain (So.), P/2B/OF Katrina Ramos (Jr.)
Outlook: The Gators bring back five starters as the hope to finish in the top half of the Sunrise League.
“We are very excited about Green Valley softball this year,” Castro said. “We have a core group of returners that will mix with a very talented freshman class to make for a very exciting year.”
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INDIAN SPRINGS
Head coach: Lynn Dale, 17th season
2017 record: 14-13 (7-3 1A Southern/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (eight)
Top players: P Aspen Avery (Sr.), C/SS Kayla Noyes (Sr.), OF Hailey Linfoot (Sr.), OF Hailey Butler (Sr.), 2B/3B Halle Jackson (Sr.), OF Cristina Rodriguez (Sr.), SS/1B Faith Prine (Jr.), OF Aubree Young (So.)
Outlook: The Thunderbirds have made the Class 1A state tournament a yearly stop and are hoping to continue the tradition this season.
“Aspen Avery returns as our pitcher, and with a veteran solid defense behind her, which includes seven other starters from last season, Indian Springs should have a good shot at making its eighth straight state tournament appearance,” Dale said.
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LAKE MEAD
Head coach: Cary Baker, third season
2017 record: 12-9 (10-4 2A Southern/third)
Returning letter winners: Four
Top players: C Josey White (Sr.), P Lauryn Freund (Jr.), IF Jilian Morejon (Sr.)
Outlook: White has been one of the Class 2A Southern League’s top hitters since joining the team as a freshman. She’s one of four returning letter winners for the Eagles, who have a young team.
“There are 13 girls on our team, and eight of them are freshmen who have not played before,” Baker said. “I still believe we can make the playoffs this season with a lot of hard work and positive attitudes.”
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Darleen Fernandez, third season
2017 record: 16-9 (13-7 4A Sunrise/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: P Skylar Gorrell (Sr.), OF/P Angelina Visitacion (So.), SS/2B Sarina Ramirez (Sr.)
Outlook: Gorrell (.500 average, 3 home runs, 27 RBIs), Visitacion (.479, 4 HR, 30 RBIs) and Ramirez (.420) are among five returning starters for the Wildcats, who are again aiming for a top-four finish in a crowded Sunrise League.
“We are looking to build of last year’s success,” Fernandez said. “We have many returners that have experience in the postseason and are ready to compete in every game.”
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LEGACY
Head coach: Michael Pedersen, second season
2017 record: 4-22 (1-17 Northwest/seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Top players: SS Clarissa Lona (Sr.), UTL Kiani Tung (So.), UTL Angel Ortiz (Sr.), CF Jalyn Joule (Jr.)
Outlook: The Longhorns struggled to be competitive in the always-tough Northwest League last season. They’re hoping for better results this year.
“The team is continuing to rebuild for the future,” Pedersen said. “We have a couple of freshmen expected to step in and produce right away.”
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LIBERTY
Head coach: James Portese, seventh season
2017 record: 24-8 (16-4 4A Sunrise/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Fourteen (eight)
Top players: SS Cali Christopher (Sr.), P Soraya Seumalo (Sr.), 3B Morgan LaNeve (Sr.), OF Jasmine Gonzalez (Sr.)
Outlook: Christopher (.421, 29 runs), LaNeve (.374, 32 RBIs), Gonzalez (.300, 37 runs) and Seumalo (3.41 ERA) lead a list of 14 returning letter winners for the Patriots.
“This year’s team has worked very hard during intramurals and is ready to leave their efforts all on the field,” Portese said. “They are a great group of girls who believe in one another and will hold each other accountable.”
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LINCOLN COUNTY
Head coach: Phil Boucher, first season
2017 record: 25-11 (13-1 2A Southern/second)
Returning starters: Five
Top players: 2B Brynlee Wadsworth (Sr.), SS Kailey Kelley (Sr.), CF Sadie Teel (Sr.), P/1B Sadie Soderborg (So.), C/OF Macie Howard (So.)
Outlook: Boucher takes over a team that advanced to the Class 2A state championship game last year.
The Lynx should again be one of the top teams in the Southern League.
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THE MEADOWS
Head coach: Kim Jacobs, third season
2017 record: 5-12 (3-9 2A Southern/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (six)
Top players: SS Hailey Monkrash (So.), 1B/OF Anna Agarwal (Jr.), 3B Sheen Kim (Jr.), C Korie Oder (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs already were dealt a blow when starting pitcher Rachel Siegel was lost to an injury.
Still, the team returns six starters.
“This will be another rebuilding year,” Jacobs said. “We have seven new players. We will also be young at pitching.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Matt Messer, sixth season
2017 record: 22-13 (8-2 3A Sunrise/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (seven)
Top players: C Kessa Evans (Sr.), 3B Lainey Cornwall (Jr.), CF Aria Messer (Sr.), OF/IF Sierra Harding (Sr.), P/OF Emilie Barraza (Jr.)
Outlook: The Pirates return seven starters from a team that won the Class 3A Southern Region title and advanced to the state tournament.
Cornwall (.426 average), Evans (.409), Barraza (.396; 8-4, 3.23 ERA), Aria Messer (.379) and Harding (.356) all return to lead the offense.
“Our team should be athletic at all positions, competitive and have lots of grit,” Matt Messer said. “They love to compete with each other in practice and have a great team first attitude. Our senior leadership should be strong and we have a very solid junior class.
“After last year’s success, we have more we want to achieve. We expect to compete for another run at the state tournament.”
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MOUNTAIN VIEW
Head coach: Kaitlin Glover, second season
2017 record: 3-20 (1-12 2A Southern/eighth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (five)
Top players: C Jordan Spriggs (Sr.), CF/P Miah Fields-Gibbens (Sr.)
Outlook: The Saints return five starters and hope to be more competitive in the Class 2A Southern League this season.
“Our biggest struggle will be pitching,” Glover said. “We have a lot of young and new talent. I am excited for the upcoming season.”
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NEEDLES
Head coach: Alex Chandler, first season
2017 record: 26-4 (13-1 2A Southern/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (seven)
Top players: Jaycee Fragoso (Sr.), Paige Murch (Jr.), Preslee Murch (Sr.)
Outlook: Chandler takes over a team that has plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The Mustangs return seven starters from the team that won the Class 2A state championship.
“With a lot of hard work and the experience from our returners, the Lady ‘Stangs are determined to defend their title,” Chandler said.
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PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Head coach: Mike Sparrow, 17th season
2017 record: 31-5 (10-0 1A Southern/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (six)
Top players: C Madalyn Taylor (Sr.), P/2B Ashlyn Wadsworth (Sr.), P/1B Katilyn Davis (Sr.), SS/C Morgan Harris (Jr.)
Outlook: The five-time defending Class 1A state champions bring back six starters and should get another boost with the return of Taylor, who sat out last year to heal a knee injury. Taylor hit .398 as a sophomore.
Sparrow expects Harris, who hit .476 last season, to shift from catcher to shortstop and help anchor the infield. Davis (16-2, 1.48 ERA) and Wadsworth (13-3, 2.76) both return in the circle.
“Ashlyn Wadsworth and Kaitlyn Davis will provide leadership in the circle along with returning infielder Rachel Bunker and center fielder Karley Whipple,” Sparrow said. “We expect to fill the remaining starting positions with girls in the program.
“This group should help us contend for another state title this year.”
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PAHRUMP VALLEY
Head coach: Eli Armendariz, seventh season
2017 record: 26-11 (10-0 3A Sunset/first)
Returning starters: Seven
Top players: P Amaya Mendoza (Sr.), SS Skyler Lauver (So.), LF Evandy Murphy (Sr.), CF Kathy Niles (Sr.), 2B Jackie Stobbe (Jr.)
Outlook: The Trojans bring back seven starters from a team that ran the table in the Class 3A Sunset League and advanced to the state tournament.
“We’re expecting another successful season,” Armendariz said.
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Kelly Glass, 12th season
2017 record: 37-6 (17-1 Northwest/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Outlook: The defending Class 4A state champions have a few holes to fill after graduation took away half of the team’s starting lineup.
Still, Palo Verde has had one of the state’s deepest programs for several years.
Expect the Panthers to not miss a beat this season.
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RANCHO
Head coach: Amanda Zunno, sixth season
2017 record: 24-14 (15-5 4A Sunrise/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (seven)
Top players: SS Gianna Carosone (Sr.), C Yvette Sanchez (Sr.), CF Liliana Gutierrez (So.), P MacKenzie Perry (So.)
Outlook: Life without standout pitcher Sam Pochop begins for the Rams, who still have plenty of talent returning after qualifying for the Class 4A state tournament for the third straight year.
Pochop was the Review-Journal’s female athlete of the year after going 15-9 with a 1.24 ERA and 254 strikeouts in 175 ⅔ innings but has moved on to pitch at Tulsa.
Perry will pick up at least some of the slack in the circle and has some big-time weapons around her.
Carosone, a second-team all-state selection last year, hit .356 with four home runs and 24 RBIs. Sanchez was a first-team All-Sunrise League pick, and Gutierrez earned second-team all-league honors.
“The Rams look to build upon previous years’ success,” Zunno said. “Senior captains Gianna Carosone and Yvette Sanchez provide veteran leadership for our team as we embrace younger talent this season.
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SANDY VALLEY
Head coach: Jamie Pascua, first season
2017 record: 0-15 (0-10 1A Southern/sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (three)
Outlook: Pascua takes over a team that is hungry for success.
The Sidewinders return three starters and are hoping to show improvement this season.
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Julia Meyn, fourth season
2017 record: 26-9 (15-3 Northwest/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)
Top players: SS/P Alisha Schultz (Sr.), P Shelbi Denman (Sr.), 3B/SS Caitlin Covington (Jr.), C/OF Shea Clements (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs bring back 12 letter winners from a team that came up one game short of a spot in the Sunset Region championship game.
After making a state tournament appearance two years ago, Shadow Ridge will aim to return this year.
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SIERRA VISTA
Head coach: Raul Almaguer, second season
2017 record: 26-7 (17-1 Southwest/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (eight)
Top players: UTL Hola Rose Nakayama (So.), 3B Ryan Watkins (So.), P/2B Jessica Schneider (So.), Taylore Edwards (So.), Daelynn Hilton (Jr.), Mia Buranamontri (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mountain Lions bring back eight starters from a team that advanced to the Sunset Region championship game, but must replace Southwest League MVP and first-team all-state honoree Kalei Watkins, who graduated after hitting .605 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs and going 18-3 with a 1.42 ERA.
Ryan Watkins (.357, 4 HR) was a first-team All-Southwest pick, and Nakayama (5-1 record) and Edwards were second-team all-league honorees.
Almaguer said he expects junior Sarena Lopez to see time in the circle.
“We hope to continue to compete with the best in the Southwest League,” Almaguer said.
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SILVERADO
Head coach: Teresa Ostolaza, second season
2017 record: 12-17 (8-12 4A Sunrise/eighth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (five)
Top players: C Megan Johnson (Jr.), CF Dalyse Whiteside (Sr.)
Outlook: The Skyhawks bring back five starters from a team that qualified for the Sunrise Region playoffs.
The team is hoping to compete for a spot in the top half of the Sunrise League.
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SLAM ACADEMY
Head coach: Rosalie Durazo-Ramirez, first season
2017 record: First-year program
Outlook: The Bulls make their debut this season with a roster comprised of freshmen and sophomores.
As many as 17 freshmen could make the team as the Bulls look to lay down the foundation for future success.
“We are excited to start our softball program,” Durazo-Ramirez said. “We look forward to making our program advance.”
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Caroline Saenz, sixth season
2017 record: 3-16 (3-15 Southwest/sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: CF Teegan Teal (Jr.), P Madison Hood (Sr.), C/3B Chryshelle Abril-Ryan (So.)
Outlook: Teal hit .510 last season, and joins Hood (.488) and Abril-Ryan (.326) among six returning starters for the Grizzlies, who are hoping to show improvement this season.
“We have some fresh new talent that will help us with the process of building our program to compete at a higher level,” Saenz said. “We are excited to see what this season brings.”
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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Angela Cain, first season
2017 record: 1-18 (1-9 3A Sunset/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (eight)
Top players: IF Solangel Gamez (Jr.), P/IF Christabell Garner (Jr.), IF Alyssa Guevara (Jr.), IF Julia Miles (Jr.)
Outlook: Cain takes over a team that returns eight starters and is hungry for success.
“We have a great group of young ladies, with a lot of potential,” Cain said. “I believe we will have a great season.”
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VALLEY
Head coach: Scott Pallay, first season
2017 record: 2-23 (2-18 4A Sunrise/10th)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Top players: SS/C Gabriella Morales (Sr.), CF/1B Heather Robinson (So.), C/1B Abigail Medina (Sr.), P/OF/2B Amanda Borce (Sr.)
Outlook: Pallay coached for 15 seasons in Illinois and takes over a Vikings program that hopes to show big improvement.
Robinson (.481 average), Morales (.462), Borce (.333) and Medina (.321) all return to help the offense.
“I am looking to rebuild the program to hopefully be more competitive in more games this season,” Pallay said. “I am counting on my senior co-captains Gabby Morales and Abby Medina to provide the leadership to propel us to a fun season.”
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WESTERN
Head coach: Colyn List, second season
2017 record: 6-13 (4-6 3A Sunset/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: 1B Edna Madrid (Sr.), SS Arianna Lawson (Sr.), P/3B Alexis Cho (Jr.)
Outlook: The Warriors gained confidence last year, earning a spot in the Class 3A Southern Region playoffs.
“Western made regional playoffs last year for the first time in 25 years,” List said. “We hope to build off this and return to the playoffs.”
