SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: SOFTBALL Previews: Arcadia, Mountain View, Rosemead
Arcadia looks primed for another big year; Mountain View and Rosemead looking to improve from 2023.
Arcadia HS pitcher Sophia Herrera. (Escarcega)
Arcadia High School
Coach: David Aspeitia
Previous Season Record: 20-7
Number of Returning Players: 10
Number of All-League Players Returning: 1
Number of Returning Infielders: 2
Number of Returning Outfielders: 1
Number of Starting Pitchers: 2
Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 1
Key Infielders Returning
Peyton Fox 10, 2B; 2nd team league 2nd team league
Virginia Garcia Torres 12. 3B
Key Outfielders Returning
Isabella Aspeitia 12, OF; 2nd Team league (working back from injury after surgery)
Key Starting Pitchers Returning
Sophia Herrera 12, Pitcher; Team MVP, Pacific League pitcher of the year
Top Newcoming Players/Transfers
Cecile Crowder 9, SS
Addie Ruiz 9 OF
Zabrina Perez 10 1B/DP
Lalaina Moore 12 C/OF
Coach Aspeitia Comments: “We should be competitive in the league for the 3rd straight year. We lost some very big bats and we will see how that plays out this year as we will have to play a different style of softball. Should still have a good defense, we have a catcher who was converted from OF who will make some mistakes but has a very high upside. Sophia Herrera our returning pitcher should pick up right where she left off last season.
CRYSTAL BALL: It’s a year of tradition for the Apaches as David Aspeitia has taken over Al Gillis as the coach of the Apaches. And it’s not as if the cupboard has been left empty. Yes, we know that Tiara Westbrook is gone (the Pasadena area’s version of Babe Ruth), but there are more than enough pieces for the Apaches to turn in a solid season in 2024. It starts in the circle with Sophia Herrera as she carried the team on her shoulders in 2023 and we are looking for more in 2024. The biggest issue for Aspeitia and his coaching staff is how they are going to fill out the top five spots in their batting order with one player (Peyton Fox) returning. Herrera was a valuable commodity at the bottom of the lineup, just for the big reason that she would be the leadoff hitter in later innings. But the top of the lineup will be interesting as will the production that the Apaches will get from Isabella Aspeitia, who had back surgery in the offseason. We know that Arcadia has 20 wins in them, but will they have enough bullets to overcome league powerhouse Crescenta Valley? Time will tell.
Mountain View High School
Coach: Larry De La Rosa
Previous Season Record: 8-14
Number of Returning Players: 10
Number of All-League Players Returning: 2
Number of Returning Infielders: 5
Number of Returning Outfielders: 1
Number of Starting Pitchers: 1
Key Infielders Returning
Mia Perez 12, SS; 1st team MV league, All CIF
Leanna Ramirez 11, UTL; 2nd team MVL
DJ Herrera 11 2B; 25 rbis in 2023
Samantha Alvarez 10, 3B; 1st team all MV league
Key Outfielders Returning
Andrea Coria 11, CF
Key Starting Pitchers Returning
Leanna Ramirez11 P2nd team all MV league
Key Catchers/Designated Hitters Returning
Ashley Saldivar 10, C; 18 rbis in 2023
Top Newcoming Players/Transfers
Rose Diaz (Aroyo HS) 12, OF
Marley Salazar 9, UTL
Coach De La Rosa’s Comments: “Huge expectations for the 2024 Lady Vikes. Mountain View returns 7 starters featuring All-CIF shortstop Mia Perez(12) who hit .560 in league play and over .600 in the playoffs. Also returning are all-Mission Valley League pitcher Leanna Ramirez(11) and 1st team all-Mission Valley League infielder Samantha Alvarez (10). The Lady Vikes began 2023 0-9 before winning 5 straight in league play. They finished - 7-5 in league play and defeated Loma Linda Academy in the first round of CIF playoffs.18-2. The Lady Vikes were eliminated in the second round by Maranatha HS. “
CRYSTAL BALL: The best thing about a team that is up-and-coming like Mountain View is that they competed well last season. They were one game away from earning an automatic berth into the playoffs. This is the type of team that we like to track the next year to see if they can get over the hurdle and give South El Monte a run for their money for a league title. When you have an All-CIF returner in Mia Perez, that helps a lot. Throw in Ramirez and Alvarez, you begin to think that this team is more than ready to turn in a huge season. The nonleague season doesn’t look so daunting - which makes this team very dangerous in 2024.
Rosemead High School
Coach: Larry Hatley
Previous Season Record: 6-15
Number of Returning Players: 14
Number of All-League Players Returning: 2
Number of Returning Infielders: 4
Number of Returning Outfielders: 3
Number of Starting Pitchers: 1
Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 1
Key Infielders Returning
Alainah Mendoza 11, 1B, 2nd Team All-League
Valeria Medina 10, 3B
Amanda Ibanez 12 2B
Key Outfielders Returning
Jaylene Flores 12, LF
Stephanie May 11 CF
Julianna Barajas 11 RF
Key Starting Pitchers Returning
Denise Sanchez 12 RHP
Key Relief Pitching Returning
Natalie Espinoza 12 RHP
Key Catchers/Designated Hitters Returning
Sharon Tiet 12 C; 2nd Team All-League
Top Newcoming Players/Transfers
Destiny Sanchez 9 P
Jazmin Slayton 9 SS
Coach Larry Hatley’s Comments: “We have depth this year in the field but lack the power we had the past few seasons with the loss due to graduation. We will need to play small ball to be successful and have the speed to do that. Expecting to still be in Div 5 this year, it will be a challenge (but that is a whole other argument for another day). League will be tough, as usual, as SEMHS should be the favorite with EMHS and Arroyo battling them for the league title. If we can win the games we are supposed to, we should be able to get into the playoffs this year after missing out last year (after our 1/4-final appearance 2 years ago).”
CRYSTAL BALL: Here is another team from the Mission Valley League that will be a team that will have to be at their best once the league portion of the season starts. MVL insiders have told us that Sharon Tiet is a stud and will be the player to watch for the Panthers this season. Mendoza will also be counted on for major contributions. Will that be enough to compete with the upper half of the league? We’ll find out soon enough.
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