2017 Softball Team Capsules
BASIC
Head coach: Lauren Taylor, third season
2016 record: 15-19 (7-13 Division I Sunrise, eighth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (nine)
Outlook: After winning just six games two seasons ago, the Wolves showed great improvement last season. The team returns nine starters and is optimistic about its prospects for this season.
“The 2017 team is looking to capitalize on their season from last year and continue to make big things happen on the field,” Taylor said.
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BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Kevin Smith, 11th season
2016 record: 19-17-1 (10-8 Division I Sunset, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (three)
Top players: Hannah Gondini (Sr.), Monique Passalacqua (Jr.), Darian Pancirov (Jr.)
Outlook: The Gaels return only three starters from last year’s team that was among the last four alive in the Sunset Region tournament.
“We have a young group of starters after losing five starting seniors and two other starters for different reasons from last year’s team,” Smith said. “A lot of girls will be playing positions that they are not used to, so we will just have to see how it goes.”
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BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Angelica Moorhead, fourth season
2016 record: 31-11 (14-0 Division I-A Sunrise, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (five)
Top players: P/IF Bailey Bennett-Jordan (Jr.), OF Jerra Hinson (Jr.), IF/P Jordan Moorhead (Jr.), C/IF Marleena Mills (So.), IF Micayla Gegen (Jr.)
Outlook: After advancing to the Division I-A state final last year, the Eagles are young this season with only three seniors on the roster.
Bennett-Jordan (.475, 42 RBIs), Hinson (.465, 36 RBIs), Jordan Moorhead (.326, 14 RBIs), Mills (.318, 35 RBIs) and Gegen (.286, 14 RBIs) will be among the leaders on offense.
The team must make up for the loss to graduation of pitcher Charlene Masterson, who is playing for UNLV this season.
“Boulder City is looking forward to a great season,” Angelica Moorhead said. “We’re working hard to get to the state tournament in May.”
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CALVARY CHAPEL
Head coach: Martha O’Kelley, ninth season
2016 record: 2-20 (1-13 Division III Southern, seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Top players: P/C Emily Mejorada (Jr.), IF/P Alyssa Garcia (Sr.), IF Jillian Criscuolo (Jr.)
Outlook: The Lions struggled to be competitive last season while fielding a young team.
Five starters return and should help the team improve.
“I am looking forward to this season,” O’Kelley said. “The returning players that I have were my experienced players from last year. We have a few new players, and I am excited to see how they will contribute.”
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CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Fernando Carmona, second season
2016 record: 0-21 (0-20 Division I Sunrise, 11th)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: CF Amaya Youngblood (Sr.), C Naudica Henderson (Jr.), P Evenie Chavez (So.), LF Jordan Baca (Sr.), RF Cerrah Vann (Sr.)
Outlook: The Pioneers struggled last season, but appear to be in better shape to contend this season.
“The team is excited for the season with more depth at all positions and a left-handed pitcher with experience,” Carmona said. “The team will be really fast in the outfield with our three top players (Youngblood, Vann and Baca) flying around.
“The pitching staff is glad to have the addition of sophomore Evenie Chavez. She will be the ace with relievers Crystal Goodwin and four-year player Miangel Coleman. The girls have been working really hard and we have some amazing grade-point averages.”
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CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Mike Livreri, 14th season
2016 record: 26-13 (12-6 Division I Sunset, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (four)
Top players: C Makenzie Ball (Sr.), 2B Skyler Ball (Sr.), 1B Brianna Benoit (Sr.), CF/3B Jaden Tate (Sr.), P/OF Deanna Barrera (So.), SS Kianna Tate (Jr.)
Outlook: Makenzie Ball (.406, 30 RBIs), Skyler Ball (.365, 40 runs, 19 RBIs) and Benoit (.377, 11 doubles, 34 RBIs) all return to lead an offense that usually is potent.
Barrera (13-6, 2.70 ERA) returns in the circle for the Bulldogs, who should get a boost from three other players who weren’t with the team last year.
Sophomore pitcher Amanda Sink transferred from Legacy after going 10-7 with a 3.43 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 106 innings.
Sisters Jaden Tate and Kiana Tate return to the squad after competing in track last year.
“The team will look to compete for the league title and make a deep playoff run,” Livreri said. “The team will have some great leadership returning while adding some key components to the circle and defense.”
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CHAPARRAL
Head coach: A.J. Coleman, sixth season
2016 record: 7-21 (4-10 Division I-A Sunrise, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (three)
Top players: IF Brandi Vara (Sr.), IF Sierra Shaw (Sr.), C Tabitha Mabry (Sr.)
Outlook: Vara (.415), Mabry (.333) and Shaw (.314) are among the four returning letter winners for the Cowboys.
“We’ve lost a couple of returning starters for various reasons, but we are very high on the girls that have moved through the ranks to fill their void,” Coleman said. “Our youth may show early, but I anticipate we will be a competitive bunch by the end of the season.”
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CHEYENNE
Head coach: Darrien Tennant, first season
2016 record: 3-12 (2-12 Division I-A Sunset, seventh)
Returning starters: Seven
Top players: P Madelynn Kennedy (Sr.), SS Victoria Rosales (Jr.), C Giovanna Bojorquez (Fr.), 3B Denise Manrilla (Jr.), 1B Jonnette Paddy (Sr.)
Outlook: Tennant inherits a team that has had its share of struggles lately but is hoping to turn things around this season.
“Our main outlook is to improve upon a down year in 2016 and to rebuild the program and get back to a winning atmosphere,” Tennant said. “Expectations are to compete at a very high level and win a lot of games.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Jeremy Walters, first season
2016 record: 7-16 (5-13 Division I Sunset, eighth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (five)
Top players: 3B Diona Whitley (Jr.), LF Shelby Telford (Jr.), CF Tiara Del Rosario (So.), C Mya’lea Bathea (Fr.)
Outlook: Walters takes over a team that qualified for the postseason last year and brings back nine letter winners in hopes of competing in a rugged Northwest League.
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CLARK
Head coach: Matt Malcolm, second season
2016 record: 0-21 (0-14 Division I-A Sunset, eighth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: P/IF Taylor Roberts (Sr.), IF/OF Alyssa Clara (So.), OF Mariana Estrada (Jr.), IF/OF/C Sharon Vernaz (Fr.)
Outlook: The Chargers struggled last season and are hoping for better results this year.
“This varsity team only consists of four returning players and 11 new faces,” Malcolm said. “The Chargers are still rebuilding their program with an emphasis on sustaining talent and cultivating young players at the JV level.
“This team is far more polished than last year, and the girls are looking forward to not only eking out their first win in three seasons, but many more on top of that. This team is ready to compete.”
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CORONADO
Head coach: Missy Krueger, seventh season
2016 record: 26-10 (16-4 Division I Sunrise, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (six)
Top players: P/CF/1B Tatum Spangler (Jr.), SS Dylan Underwood (Sr.), P/1B Jillian James (Sr.)
Outlook: The Cougars welcome back 10 letter winners and have been among the Sunrise’s best teams in recent years.
“We will rely on the leadership of nine seniors to guide us successfully through a competitive Sunrise League,” Krueger said.
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Ryan Fischer, first season
2016 record: 2-17 (1-13 Division I-A Sunrise)
Top players: C/IF Nicki Zuniga (Sr.), 3B/SS Jeanette Poulsen (Sr.), OF Yadira Martinez (Sr.), P/IF Jazmine Rivera (Jr.), 1B Noa Bowie (Jr.)
Outlook: Fischer takes over a program that hopes to show big improvement this year.
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Jordan Connell, first season
2016 record: 21-16 (10-8 Division I Sunset, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (seven)
Top players: P/SS Elsy Guzman (Sr.), C/SS Meagan Anders (Sr.), OF Izriah Hodson (Jr.), P/OF/2B Paisley Garcia (So.), SS/P/3B Holly Severance (So.), 1B Jalyn Chao (Jr.), 2B Maggie Shepard (Jr.)
Outlook: Connell previously coached at Western and takes over a team that won 21 games last season and brings back seven starters.
“(Last year) was one of the best seasons in school history for the Diamondbacks, and we plan to build off that success again this year,” Connell said. “Desert Oasis returns a large majority of its letter winners and starters, including eight sophomores who round out a fairly young team.
“While the team may be young, the Diamondbacks are eager and prepared to show Las Vegas who we are and surprise the city with a deep run in the playoffs.”
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DURANGO
Head coach: Roy Goodell, second season
2016 record: 8-22-1 (4-14 Division I Sunset, ninth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (four)
Top players: C Lexi Geraldo (Jr.), OF Madisyn Conriquez (Jr.), IF Keely Thompson (Jr.), P Trinity Valentine (Jr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers narrowly missed out on a postseason berth last year and are hoping to show improvement this season.
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ELDORADO
Head coach: Steve McMechan, first season
2016 record: 4-17 (4-16 Division I Sunrise, ninth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (six)
Top players: P/IF Heather Holman (Jr.), P/IF Kristie Thomas (Sr.)
Outlook: Holman (.411, 14 RBIs) and Thomas (.387) lead a group of six returning starters for the Sundevils, who are hoping to show improvement this year.
“With six returning starters and adding new talent and a new coaching staff, we are looking to come out strong and play hard,” McMechan said.
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FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Hilary Nell, first season
2016 record: 27-10 (11-3 Division I-A Sunset, second)
Returning starters: Five
Top players: C Ellie Fried (So.), OF Clara Heislen (So.), P/SS Sophie Foster (So.), OF Grace Hornsby (So.), P/OF Haley Jack (Sr.)
Outlook: Nell takes over a program that had a large amount of success in Division I-A.
The Crusaders hope to remain competitive as they make the return to Class 4A.
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Cyndi Castro, third season
2016 record: 17-16 (11-9 Division I Sunrise, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (six)
Top players: LF/3B Alexa Blazek (Sr.), RF Tyre Hilton (So.)
Outlook: Nine letter winners return for the Gators, who are hoping to use that experience to their benefit.
“We will be starting the season with seven seniors,” Castro said. “We are looking for great senior leadership with a focus on a team-first mentality. We are also adding a couple of new players that are competing for starting spots.
“Our goal is to compete in league and earn a regional spot.”
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INDIAN SPRINGS
Head coach: Lynn Dale, 16th season
2016 record: 15-8 (8-2 Division IV Southern, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (seven)
Top players: P Aspen Avery (Jr.), C Sadie Heath (Sr.), 1B Faith Prine (So.), 3B Halle Jackson (Jr.), SS Kayla Noyes (Jr.), OF Evangelia Tapia (Sr.), OF Hailey Linfoot (Sr.), OF Hailey Butler (Sr.)
Outlook: Traditionally one of the top programs in Class 1A, Indian Springs has the makings of a successful club again this season.
Eight letter winners, including seven starters, return as the team bids for its seventh straight state tournament appearance.
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LAKE MEAD
Head coach: Cary Baker, first season
2016 record: 13-9 (10-6 Division III Southern, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (six)
Top players: C Josey White (Jr.), SS/P Kayla Freund (Sr.), P Lauryn Freund (So.)
Outlook: White (.563, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs) is one of the top offensive weapons in the Class 2A Southern League, and Kayla Freund (.396, 24 RBIs) offers the Eagles another threat.
Lauryn Freund (13-3, 3.42 ERA) returns in the circle.
“We only have two seniors, but we expect to compete and make it to the playoffs,” Baker said. “I think we will finish in the top three teams in the league.”
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Darleen Fernandez, second season
2016 record: 13-9 (13-7 Division I Sunrise, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)
Top players: SS Sabrina Saldate (Sr.), P Skylar Gorrell (Jr.), C Arienn Ackerman (Sr.), 2B Sarina Ramirez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Wildcats bring back most of their players who helped the team finish in the top half of the Division I Sunrise League last year.
Saldate (.418, 13 RBIs), Gorrell (.362, 17 RBIs; 3.49 ERA, 76 K), Ackerman (.317, 16 RBIs) and Ramirez (.333, 12 RBIs) should be among the leaders.
“With eight returning starters and 12 returning varsity members, we hope to use our experience to go deeper into the postseason this year,” Fernandez said. “We are working hard to be a top team in the state and finish at the top of the Sunrise League. There is a lot of tough competition, but I think we are mentally stronger and will be able to push through issues that held us back last year.
“We have multiple seniors signed to compete at the college level that are hungry to end their high school career on a high note.”
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LEGACY
Head coach: Michael Pedersen, first season
2016 record: 16-14 (7-11 Division I Sunset, seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: P Haley Pedersen (Sr.), SS Clarissa Lona (Jr.), OF Braelin Brockway (Sr.), C/UTL Kiani Tung (Fr.), C/UTL Angel Ortiz (Fr.)
Outlook: Michael Pedersen takes over the Longhorns, who return only four letter winners.
“We have a mix of some young talent and returning talent,” he said. “We hope to compete in an absolutely brutally tough league. The future is bright as we have some good young talent developing.”
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LIBERTY
Head coach: James Portese, seventh season
2016 record: 22-10 (15-5 Division I Sunrise, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (10)
Top players: P/3B Breanna Alvarez (Sr.), OF Ashleigh Rodriguez (Sr.), OF/C/1B Marisa Olmos (Sr.), C McKenna Hefley (Sr.), 2B Kylie Hefley (Sr.), SS Cali Christopher (Jr.), P Soraya Seumalo (Jr.), 3B Morgan LaNeve (Jr.)
Outlook: If any team could be in midseason form on opening day, it’s Liberty, which brings back its starting lineup from last year.
Alvarez (.561, 44 RBIs; 2.27 ERA), Olmos (.473, 32 RBIs) and Rodriguez (.393) might be the most well-known commodities, but they have plenty of help with McKenna Hefley (.384), Kylie Hefley (.300), Christopher (.337) and LaNeve (.356, 26 RBIs) on offense. Seumalo (3.41 ERA) split time with Alvarez in the circle.
“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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MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Matt Messer, fifth season
2016 record: 17-12 (11-3 Division I-A Sunrise)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (five)
Top players: SS Kessa Evans (Jr.), P Daesha Stastny (Sr.), CF Aria Messer (Jr.), C Lainey Cornwall (So.)
Outlook: The Pirates being back five starters from a squad that finished second to state runner-up Boulder City in the Sunrise League.
Evans (.420, 23 RBIs), Aria Messer (.352, 16 RBIs, 26 stolen bases) and Cornwall (.346, 17 steals) all return to spark the offense. Stastny (10-9, 3.22 ERA, 78 K) gives the Pirates an experienced and successful arm in the circle.
“Our goal is to make the state tournament, something we haven’t done in a long time,” Messer said. “We should be solid defensively and fast. If our veterans mix well with the newcomers, we should be pretty good.”
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PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Head coach: Mike Sparrow, 16th season
2016 record: 27-8 (10-0 Division IV Southern, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)
Top players: 3B Madison Harris (Sr.), SS/2B Kyla Shumway (Sr.), C Madalyn Taylor (Jr.), P/2B Ashlyn Wadsworth (Jr.), SS/2B Morgan Harris (So.)
Outlook: The Panthers return eight starters from a squad that captured the school’s fourth consecutive state title last season.
Marison Harris (.447, 4 home runs, 40 RBIs), Taylor (.398, 34 RBIs), Davis (.390, 4 homers, 37 RBIs) and Wadsworth (14-5, 3.00 ERA) have played big roles on some of the title squads. Morgan Harris (.375, 23 RBIs) also contributed last year for the Panthers, who picked up Shumway, a transfer from Moapa Valley.
“Our current seniors and juniors have been a major part of our success as underclassmen the last two or three years,” Sparrow said. “We do expect to contend in the postseason again this year.”
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Kelly Glass, 11th season
2016 record: 29-8-1 (15-3 Division I Sunset, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Fourteen (eight)
Top players: 3B Cara Beatty (Sr.), 1B Ally Snelling (Sr.), P Taylor Askland (Jr.), SS Lauryn Barker (Jr.), OF Makall Whetten (Jr.), C Grace Chavez (Jr.)
Outlook: Consistently one of the state’s top teams, the Panthers return 14 letter winners and show no signs of slowing down.
“We are looking to compete against all teams in our tough league,” Glass said. “We are looking at one game at a time and taking each day as a different battle.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Julia Meyn, third season
2016 record: 30-7 (16-2 Division I Sunset, first)
Returning starters: Seven
Top players: SS/P Alisha Schultz (Jr.), 3B/2B Caitlyn Covington (So.), P Shelbi Denman (Jr.), 1B/P Alyssa Stanley (So.), OF/C Shea Clements (So.)
Outlook: Coming off their first state tournament appearance since 2009, the Mustangs bring back seven starters.
Schultz (.561, 5 HR, 41 RBIs) was a first-team all-state pick last season and has plenty of offensive help around her.
Denman (13-2, 2.02 ERA, 97 IP, 119 K) is one of the top returning pitchers in the state.
“We want to stay focused and defend our region title,” Meyn said.
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SIERRA VISTA
Head coach: Raul Almaguer, first season
2016 record: 23-7 (11-3 Division I-A Sunset, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (six)
Top players: P Kalei Watkins (Sr.), C Mia Buranamontri (So.)
Outlook: Watkins (.513, 9 home runs; 185 strikeouts) has been one of the top players in the state throughout her career. Buranamontri (.484) burst on the scene last year and gives the Mountain Lions another weapon.
“Our first priority is to compete and take the Southwest League title,” Almaguer said. “After that, we’ll just it one game, one win at a time with one goal on our minds — the state title.
“We’re going to have a young team behind a great senior leader in Kalei Watkins.”
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SILVERADO
Head coach: Teresa Ostolaza, first season
2016 record: 13-17 (8-12 Division I Sunrise, seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: SS Mary Dungey (Sr.), 1B/OF Jaime Gonzalez (Sr.), C Megan Johnson (So.)
Outlook: Ostolaza was an assistant coach with the Skyhawks last season and takes over a team that brings back five starters and picked up Dungey, who transferred from Desert Oasis.
Gonzalez (.407) and Johnson (.346) also are expected to be among the offensive leaders on a team that is hoping for more success this year.
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Caroline Saenz, fourth season
2016 record: 28-3 (13-1 Division I-A Sunset, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (three)
Top players: 3B/C Marlena Adras (Sr.), P/2B Madison Hood (Jr.), OF Teegan Teal (So.)
Outlook: The Grizzlies have some positions to fill with only four letter winners returning from the team that won last year’s Division I-A state title.
Teal (.500, 10 RBIs), Adras (.317, 23 RBIs) and Hood (.313, 9 RBIs) are expected to be among the leaders on a team that is hoping to continue its success as it moves back into Class 4A.
“We are excited to have another productive year,” Saenz said.
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TECH
Head coach: Stormy Hanson, third season
2016 record: 16-13 (8-6 Division I-A Sunrise, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: 1B Avery Rayos (Sr.), C Melissa Fuller (Jr.), P Giselle Cascos (Sr.), OF Haylee Makue (Sr.), SS Katy Orellana (Sr.)
Outlook: The Roadrunners bring back six starters from a team that qualified for the Southern Region playoffs last year.
“We’re returning a veteran team that is eager to make it to playoffs,” Hanson said.
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THE MEADOWS
Head coach: Kim Jacobs, second season
2016 record: 6-15 (6-10 Division III Southern, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: P/IF Rachel Siegel (Jr.), OF Hillary Giang (So.), IF Hailie Monkarsh (Fr.)
Outlook: A large class graduated last year, leaving the Mustangs with only three returning starters.
“We lost a big number of seniors from last year’s team,” Jacobs said. “We are a young team with no seniors. This will be a growing year as we have four freshmen with no softball experience and three sophomores with very little exposure to the game.”
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WESTERN
Head coach: Colyn List, first season
2016 record: 12-15 (4-10 Division I-A Sunset, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: C/SS Jennessa Dunton (Sr.), P/3B Makalita Moeaki (Jr.), CF Ellyson Reynada (Sr.)
Outlook: List takes over a program that has shown flashes of solid play in recent years, but is hoping to put everything together.
“We hope to make regionals and advance to state,” List said.
