2009 Area Softball Preview: Tologs team to beat


Above: Mary Knauf, Jessica Ferri and Taylor Crotty at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. (Keith Birmingham / Staff Photographer)

By Keith Lair
Staff Writer

There may be no single high school team made up of all-stars this season, but the quality of senior softball players may make it one of the best seasons for the West San Gabriel Valley.

Five players have already signed national letters of intent to continue their softball pursuits. Temple City High School shortstop Veronica Grant will be at Syracuse, Arcadia center fielder Morgan Barchan will be at Southern Illinois, Flintridge Sacred Heart pitcher Jessica Ferri will attend Harvard, South Pasadena shortstop Shelby Gogreve will play for Indiana and La Salle catcher Katie Tripoli signed with Sonoma State. And nearly every one of their coaches said the same thing about their top player.

Such as: “She knows she’s the one,” Temple City coach Bob Ellingsworth said of Grant. “A lot is riding on her, but she’s more relaxed now. She just wants to have fun.”

Nearly all the area’s top teams open the season on Saturday in the Duarte Tournament.

Here’s the preseason Top 10:

1. Flintridge Sacred Heart

It’s time for the Tologs to make their move in the Mission League.

The tough league has been rather unkind to the Tologs. Even with a very good team last season, which went 10-10 and finished fourth in league play, The Tologs finished one win out of third place and missed the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

The Tologs return arguably the best pitcher in the West San Gabriel Valley in Ferri. She was a Star-News first-team player last season.

The Tologs are solid up the middle. There’s junior catcher Meghan Luera, shortstop Taylor Crotty and sophomore center fielder Alanna Pires. Mary Knauf is also back at first base.

“We’re going to rely on the experience of those three seniors,” Tologs co-coach Mary Schneiders said of Ferri, Crotty and Knauf.

2. La Canada

The Spartans have quickly righted the program with an infusion of young, talented players, and they’re ready to knock on the Rio Hondo League door.

Eight players who had a big impact on last season’s surprising title run return. The outfield, with Kylie Mulligan, a first-team Star-News choice last season, and Amanda and Abby Ulf is back. As are sophomore pitchers Lauren O’Leary and Lizzie Miller, along with sophomore shortstop Anna Edwards and fellow infielders Anne Applebaum and Lucy Filippone.

The Spartans add another pitcher, freshman Lauren Cox, and freshman utility player Catherine Horner, who could become the catcher.

3. La Salle

The Lancers return all that any coach could want: pitching and hitting.

Senior Maddie Herlache and junior Allie Forillo will again share pitching duties. Forillo led the Del Rey League in strikeouts last season with 158.

Sonoma-bound Tripoli is the top returning hitter. She holds the school career record for home runs, with eight, and will play catcher.

The Lancers also move into a new league and new division. They will join the Camino Real League, which competes in Division VI.

Tripoli will share catching duties with freshman Meagan Allen.

4. Temple City

The Rams lost three of the top players in the Rio Hondo League to graduation, but the champions have Grant and a lot of other talent returning.

Jessica Loiacano, who had a fabulous freshman season, Ashley Perez, Brittany Vasquez, Jessica Kosharek and Kelsey Hardwick will all make an impact. Hardwick has the most pitching experience.

5. Arcadia

Barchan is back with her speed and outstanding center- field play.

Patricia Stark hopes to make her mark in the pitcher’s circle after a year facing varsity competition. Lisa Kalemkiarian, Kristin Phillipi, Andrea Vallejo and Emily McQuaid all return. All but McQuaid are seniors.

Samantha Miller, who missed most of her sophomore season due to injuries, is healthy and ready to go. Miller can play catcher or shortstop. McQuaid will be at second base.

“Patricia will only be stronger,” coach Megan Leahy said. “She’s only a junior, but she’s grown. We’re going to have to rely on our seniors, too.”

The Apaches have key holes to fill, though, losing catcher Caitlin Grimes and shortstop Dusty Gibbs.

6. South Pasadena

The Tigers are facing all sorts of changes. Pitcher Nichole Parada and first baseman Michelle Mun graduated. Kelsey Hertel decided she did not want to play this season.

But the well is definitely not dry. There’s Indiana-bound Gogreve, catcher Katrina Skogsberg and second baseman Amanda Castro.

The big surprise, though, is that the Tigers will use three pitchers. Senior Destinee Quinn and freshmen Marisa Baca and Marika Stanford-Moore will take over for Parada.

7. Rosemead

The Aztecs will feature a mix of freshmen and seniors. One of those seniors, Tiffany Rubin, was one of the leading hitters in the West San Gabriel Valley last season. She was a Star- News first-team choice.

Rubin will move from second base to shortstop. Starting senior pitcher Justine Morin will be heavily counted on, but freshman Ashani Medina will be making some noise.

“She can go to any other school and be a starter,” coach Bobby Madrid said.

Freshman Brianna Becerra will replace Rubin at second base, and Angie Yeh returns at catcher. The Aztecs have to wait for another big hitter, sophomore Amanda Raucho, to come off academic probation.

8. Alverno

The Jaguars lost more than 2008 Star-News Player of the Year Michelle Escamilla, who is now pitching at Mt. SAC.

Longtime coach Frank Russo, who had coached at the Sierra Madre school for 18 seasons, winning every Horizon League title this decade, died at Verdugo Hills Hospital this past weekend. He was 48.

First baseman Barbara Parker is back. Alverno reached the CIF-SS quarterfinals before falling last season.

9. Pasadena Poly

Some athletes with experience last season opted to try the track and field team. Others wanted to play badminton.Still, the Panthers, down to 12 players, have some talent.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Tercero, the Latta sisters and junior Michelle Tanner will provide quality at-bats and innings. Ally Latta will play her fourth year at second base, and junior Megan Latta will play her third year at shortstop. Junior Tanner is in her third season in the outfield.

10. Flintridge Prep

The Rebels lost only two seniors, starting catcher Kari Van Horn and outfielder Ashley Wood.

Left-handed pitcher Lydia Kay and shortstop Alina Khodadian are back on a team that went 12-8 and contended for the Prep League title to the last at-bat last season. The Rebels did advance to the CIF-SS playoffs. Khodadian was one of the Rebels’ top hitters.

keith.lair@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 4456

Facebook Twitter Plusone Reddit Tumblr Email