Teams ready to deliver their best pitch

Oak Park, Agoura hunt for glory




BIRD IS THE WORD—Oak Park High softball pitcher Amanda Smith, a freshman, throws against Buena on Feb. 29 at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley. The Eagles lost the game, 12-4. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/Acorn Newspapers

BIRD IS THE WORD—Oak Park High softball pitcher Amanda Smith, a freshman, throws against Buena on Feb. 29 at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley. The Eagles lost the game, 12-4. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/Acorn Newspapers

Softball squads at Simi Valley and Royal high schools shared the Coastal Canyon League title last season, but Camarillo’s been tabbed as the favorite to claim the crown this spring.

“Camarillo is the team with the target on their backs,” Agoura head coach Chance Redmond said.

The Scorpions claimed league titles in 2017 and 2018 before finishing third in the standings last spring.

Agoura, Moorpark, Oak Park, Simi Valley and Royal all plan to challenge Camarillo.

AGOURA CHARGERS

The Chargers surged to a 5-0 record this spring, notching impressive wins against Newbury Park and Valencia.

“It’s been going perfect so far,” Redmond said. “We have realistic goals of making the playoffs.”

Adriana Gonzalez, a junior, is Agoura’s top pitcher, but foes can also expect to see sophomore Dylan Briggs dealing this spring.

Alyssa Anderson, a senior captain who pitched in 2019, is happy to be back at shortstop.

Fellow senior captains Hannah August and Hadara Gordon start at catcher and second base, respectively.

Sophomores Payton Houston (third base) and Abby Lockmann (first base) solidify the infield.

Lilyann Locke, Sam Tagawa and Rachel Fox earn starts in the outfield. Natalie Mallas, a junior, is expected to start in the outfield upon her return after an injury.

“I feel good about our chances of making the playoffs, but we’re going to have to play disciplined, error-free softball in order for that to happen,” the skipper said.

Agoura opens league March 12 at home against Moorpark.

OAK PARK EAGLES

Harold Hale, a longtime Oak Park assistant who stepped in as skipper midway through last spring, leads the Birds.

Oak Park (5-3 overall) hopes to keep momentum going when league opens March 12 at Simi Valley.

Aubrey Billig at first base and Haviva Rubenfeld at catcher are senior captains and four-year starters.

Amanda Smith, a freshman pitcher, is making an immediate impact at the dish and in the circle.

“She’s the real deal,” Hale said of Smith.

Twin sisters Danielle and Grace Heidmann, both juniors, are swinging the bat well. Danielle starts in center field while Grace roams the hot corner.

Grace Zeolla, a sophomore, starts at shortstop while Delaney Pryor, a sophomore, plays second base. Zeolla also plays soccer.

A trio of juniors, Taylor Spradling,

Faith Hughes and Sugey Beltran, patrol the outfield.

Oak Park managed one league win in 2019, but Hale said he’s hopeful to tack on more victories.

“ This is a tough, tough league,” the coach said. “It’s difficult, but we’ve hit our stride and we believe we can compete.”

CAMARILLO SCORPIONS

The Scorpions got a transfer. Now they must wait.

Jessie Fontes, an All-CIFSouthern Section pitcher committed to Arizona, transferred from Grace Brethren to Camarillo. Fontes isn’t eligible to play until March 23, however.

Eryka Gonzales, a Cal State Northridge commit, is back in the circle after missing all of last season with an injury. Camarillo will need both players to make a deep CIF-Southern Section Division 2 postseason run.

“Eryka and Jessie are going to have to pitch well,” head coach Nichole Pinedo said.

Lindsey Cowans, a senior who starts at third base, provides power. She hit a team-high three home runs for the 5-1 Scorpions.

Hannah Glad (first base), Rylee Pinedo (second base) and Kyara Escobar (shortstop) are returning starting infielders.

Savanna Silveyra, a senior and third-year starter, is back at catcher.

Senior Lindsey Shaver, junior Kirsta Lucas and sophomore Natalie Yamane track down balls in the outfield. Lucas is the younger sister of former Camarillo baseball star Andrew Lucas, who is now at Cal State Northridge.

Camarillo opens league March 12 at home against Royal.

MOORPARK MUSKETEERS

The Musketeers (2-4 overall) returned every starter from a squad that struggled last spring in a rugged Coastal Canyon.

Head coach Meaghan Stotts has tested her players with a challenging preseason schedule to prepare them for their March 12 league opener at Agoura.

“It’s about growth, development and experience,” Stotts said. “I think they’re heading in the right direction.”

Alahna Long, a senior, is a bright spot at shortstop.

Ameyalli “Ruby” Ibarra, a junior catcher and cleanup hitter, has been solid on defense and with the bat.

Leana Venegas (second base) and Brooke Lockwood (first base) solidify the infield.

Madison Zulager, Paige Austin and Maloree Neely, a transfer from Washington state, patrol the outfield.

Madison Reed and Molly Stuhr, both senior pitchers, are splitting innings early this spring.

ROYAL HIGHLANDERS

Royal, which won four of its first five games, is rolling again.

The team’s lone loss this spring was a 3-2 extra-innings setback Feb. 27 against Newbury Park, which Royal promptly blanked 5-0 later that day.

“We’re feeling pretty good about the team,” Highlanders head coach Bill Dishon said.

Hannah Sattler, a senior, and Rylee Dugar, a sophomore, split time racking up strikeouts.

Alexa Landeros, a junior center fielder, and Allison Ha, a junior who starts at second base, have been their usual dominant selves at the plate. Ha is also a basketball star.

Kaylee Escutia, a junior starting at first base, and Vinessa Nunez, a junior shortstop, are back.

Dishon said he’s been impressed by sophomore catcher Isabella Manory and freshman right fielder Liesl Osteen. Manory’s twin sister, Adriana, plays second base and outfield. Osteen’s older sister, Katja, a Royal junior, was runner-up at the state wrestling meet last week.

Julianne Ogle, a freshman, shares time at third base with junior Jane Hoover.

Royal opens league play at 6 p.m. Friday on the road against rival Simi Valley.

SIMI VALLEY PIONEERS

The Pioneers (4-4 overall) graduated some key pieces from last year’s league championship squad, but “we kept a young core of kids,” Simi Valley skipper Raaine Datan said.

Four Pioneers are set to play in college: Madison Hand (first base) will play at New York University; Faith Wayman (catcher) is bound for Northwest Christian University in Oregon; Madison Morton (third base) will attend Central Christian College in Kansas; and Emma Einarson (utility) will play at Penn State-Harrisburg.

Desiree Smith, a junior ace pitcher, dominates in the circle and with the bat. She hit a pair of homers in a 6-4 extra-inning loss at Newbury Park on March 3.

Junior shortstop Emily Ilano and junior left fielder Megan McAnany, who also plays basketball and volleyball, have improved power at the plate.

Gabriela Ramirez, a junior, starts at third base while Zoee Garcia, a senior, starts at second base.

Ashley Sawyer and Skylar Cooper are senior captains.

Kaicee Klus, a freshman right fielder, and Hannah Tipton, a sophomore playing first base, are Pioneers to watch.

“We like our chances (at a league title), but it’s going to be a battle,” Datan said.

Players to Watch

Agoura

Adriana Gonzalez, junior, P

Alyssa Anderson, senior, SS

Oak Park

Amanda Smith, freshman, P/3B

Haviva Rubenfeld, senior, C

Follow Jonathan Andrade on Twitter @J_ Andrade_.