Mira Costa, Redondo softball teams prepare for Bay League

Mira Costa sophomore Katie Katsuyama returns as a key member of the Mustangs pitching staff after leading the 2018 team with a 10-5 record and a 1.70 ERA. Photo

With the softball season underway, coaches are busy evaluating their players and finding the right hitting lineup before entering Bay League action next month.

Four teams are expected to battle it out for the title as Mira Costa, Redondo, Palos Verdes and Peninsula prepare with tough non-league schedules.

Mira Costa and Palos Verdes tied for first place last season with 8-2 records despite Mira Costa winning both contests between the schools. Redondo and Peninsula each finished at 6-4.

Mira Costa is coming off an 18-12-1 season that saw the Mustangs fall in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs with a 6-2 loss to Schurr.

This season’s campaign began with a split in a doubleheader with Cypress. After dropping the first game 2-0, the Mustangs rebounded for a 3-0 win.

Emma Fong walked with the bases loaded and Amanda Siegel drove in two with a single. Mira Costa hosts North Torrance on Monday at 3:15 p.m. then begins the Katella Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 2.

The Mustangs will also compete in the 8th annual Torrance National (Mar. 12-16) and the La Mirada (Mar. 23) tournaments.

“We are looking forward to another great season,” Mira Costa head coach Brittany Gardner said. “We graduated three of our four year starting infielders so we have had some big shoes to fill in the infield.”

The Mustangs return pitchers sophomore Katie Katsuyama, who led last year’s squad with a 10-5 record, 1.70 ERA and 61 strikeouts, along with junior Angel Santellan.  

Strong hitting junior Piper Neri, who had a team-high nine extra base hits, returns to handle duties in center field while sophomore utility player Emma Fong is another strong hitter.

“The Bay League seems to always be us, Peninsula, PV and Redondo battling it out,” Gardner said. “Any given day anyone can beat anyone, so it is all about which team shows up mentally and plays the toughest game that day. We look forward to going after our third consecutive title.

“This year’s squad is made up of veterans but young at the same time. We only have two seniors but six juniors. Most of our players are playing in positions they have not played before but they are all such talented athletes that it is working and they are playing well together.  

“Like every year I have big expectations for this team. They are a talented group and if they mentally show up for every game and play their hardest they will go very far and have a lot of success.”

Junior infielder Dara English will play a key role for Redondo after batting .357 with team highs with 11 runs and 20 hits last season. Photo

Redondo also began the season with a 1-1 record after defeating Canyon 5-0 before losing to San Dimas 12-2 in the Brea Olinda Tournament.

Sophomore pitcher Carly Kolto shutout Canyon while, at the plate, she went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

The Sea Hawks are coming off a 2018 season when they were 12-6. They defeated Long Beach Poly 4-3 in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs before falling to Downey 10-2.

Junior shortstop Dara English, who batted .357 with a team high 11 runs and 20 hits last season, is also a strong defensive player who went 2-for-3 against Canyon with a run scored.

“Amy Simonek is a junior pitcher and first baseman and sophomores Viviana Rivero and Molly McCoy are solid defenders in the outfield,” head coach Jennifer Dessert said. “Seniors Maddy Larkin, Sarah Reels and Alyssa Hatakeyama are playing solid roles for us as well as our other newcomers on the squad – Nicole and Ashley Swartz, Giselle Dorantes, Sydney Inana and Katie Tan.”

Dessert feels playing a strong non-league schedule will help the Sea Hawks make a run for the Bay League crown. They host North Torrance for a doubleheader today beginning at 3:15 p.m.

“I entered us into the Brea Olinda tournament (Saturday) so that we can see competition out of the area and it paid off,” Dessert said. “We played two good games and found some defensive issues that we need to work on as a team. We are facing Culver City on Friday, March 1. It’s been a few years since we faced them and I’m looking forward to the competition. We also play South Banning and are entered in the TNT tournament.”

Dessert realizes the Bay League is full of talented teams and is looking to reverse the last two seasons when Redondo has struggled in league play.

“We have a nice squad of talented players who have a good attitude and are ready to move forward as a team in this 2019 season,” Dessert added.

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