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JSerra’s softball team featured only two seniors in its starting lineup for the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals.
The young Lions, in Division 1 for the first time, impressed by playing defending champion Pacifica tough in a 1-0 loss.
“They have a lot to build off for sure,” JSerra coach Katie Stith said of her squad.
The strong showing against an experienced Pacifica team provided further proof that the Lions join Canyon and El Modena as arguably the top-three teams to watch in Orange County softball next season.
JSerra will be especially strong in the pitching circle with the return of freshman Abby Ford and sophomore Liliana Escobar, who sat out this season after transferring from Santa Margarita.
Pacifica coach Tony Arduino said Ford featured the “most velocity” his hitters have faced this spring.
“She comes inside, too,” he said of Ford, who plays for the Orange County Batbusters’ Stith 18-and-under Black team. “She was getting in our kitchen.”
Ford said she battled some nerves in the semifinals but found motivation in her teammates.
“I just wanted to come out here and perform for my team and do the best I could do to get them to the finals,” she said. “I think we just need to congratulate our entire team on how far we have got in our first time in Division 1.”
JSerra’s departing seniors won’t be easy to replace. Shortstop Kaylee Layfield (George Washington commit), catcher Mia Krueger (Cal Baptist) and pitcher Eva Hurtado (Cal State Fullerton) have been key contributors for four years.
But the Lions’ lineup will be loaded with experience next season. The returners include leadoff batter Brooke Stephens, slap hitter Reese Ferrel and No. 5 hitter Angelina Jimenez, a freshman third baseman who hit a home run in the quarterfinals.
Freshman left fielder Brooklyn Lamb hit a two-run home run to help the Lions beat La Mirada in the second round.
“I think people are going to fear them now,” Stith said of her squad. “To even go this far (in Division 1), they’ve really kind of knocked down a lot of barriers.”
Canyon, the Crestview League champion, only graduates two senior starters and returns its top-two pitchers.
El Modena, the Crestview League runner-up, graduates three starters and returns its top-two pitchers.
BEST LEAGUE IN 2025?
Pacifica and Cypress are set to the join the 15-team Century Conference next season and could face Canyon, El Modena and Esperanza in high-profile league games. The conference’s finalized league alignments have not been released.
“Every game is going to be just a dogfight,” Arduino said. “It’s going to be fun. We’re going to get our butts kicked a little bit sometimes and we’re going to kick other people’s butts.”
“I think it’s going to be the best softball league in Orange County,” the coach added.
BOISE STATE LANDS TOP O.C. RECRUITS
Boise State’s recruiting efforts in Orange County appears to be flourishing.
In the Class of 2024, the Mountain West Conference contender signed Fountain Valley slugger Makenzie Butt and hot-hitting shortstop Quinn Southerland of Capistrano Valley.
In the Class of 2025, the Broncos have commitments from Tesoro ace Loula-Rae McNamara and El Modena leadoff batter and second baseman Kaitlyn Galasso.
That foursome follows Boise State signing speedy Huntington Beach outfielder Sophia Knight, who had a huge freshman season to help the Broncos finish as the Mountain West runner-up to San Diego State this season.
“(Boise State coach) Justin (Shults) is really good at what he does,” Butt said. “I loved it out there and (along with) the team and the coaching staff. The coaching staff is what sealed the deal for me.”
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