La Salle, Alverno Look to Remain on Top in Softball

Getting to the top isn’t easy and staying there is even tougher.

The La Salle and Alverno softball teams will be trying to repeat the success they enjoyed last season.

The Lancers won the CIF Southern Section Division VI title, and they have now moved up to Division III. The Lancers will also play in the Del Rey League with the likes of Bishop Amat and St. Joseph’s of Lakewood.

Alverno, which won the Horizon League, will try to repeat with a much different cast.

La Salle’s baseball team will try to improve on a second-round playoff appearance a season ago.

Softball

La Salle went 25-6 a year ago and virtually returns its entire team with the exception of pitcher Allie Forillo, who was the CIF-SS Div. VI Player of the Year.

Trying to replace her is sophomore Rachel Albright, who moves up from the junior varsity squad.

“She’s young, but she has excellent control of her pitches,” said La Salle coach Rich Diaz, who is in his second season as the Lancers’ head coach. “This is a great challenge for us. The girls are working hard and have great chemistry.”

The Lancers open the season Friday in the Palm Springs Tournament.

Albright is surrounded by an excellent supporting cast.

Shortstop Sterling Shuster is a returning All-CIF player, who has signed with Loyola Marymount. Junior first baseman Colleen McWilliams also earned All-CIF honors last season.

Sophomore center fielder Katie Smither is another top returner. Smither went 3-for-3 in the last year’s division championship game with a home run and a pair of doubles.

Junior third baseman Madison Worley and junior right fielder Meaghan Allen are both entering their third year on the varsity squad.

Junior second baseman Toria Baltazar will offer support as Albright’s backup on the mound.

Sophomore Stephanie Ferry returns as the starting catcher.

“The core of our team is led by Sterling. We’re excited about this season,” Diaz said. “They moved us to a tougher league, but our goal is to win league. And once we win league, let’s take it a step further.”

Alverno went 15-8 a year ago and won the Horizon League with a 9-1 mark.

But the Jaguars, who went to the second round of the Division VI playoffs, were hit hard by graduation.

“I have a very young team,” coach Lucinda Buchan said. “Our goal is to make it into the top two in league and make it to the playoffs.”

Alverno begins its season today against Pasadena.

Sophomore Ileana Vior will be the Jaguars’ starting pitcher.

Buchan noted two up-and-comers are sophomore infielder Lauren Pappi and freshman infielder Amanda Iacano.

Baseball

La Salle went 14-12 a year ago and is hoping to improve on last year’s postseason success.

Sixth-year Lancers coach Harry Agajanian likes his team’s chances after finishing third in the Del Rey League last year. The Lancers begin their season Friday against Alhambra.

“We came in second in our fall league out of 16 teams, so we’re excited,” Agajanian said. “We’re balanced all the way around. We want to come back and make a longer run in the playoffs this year.”

The Lancers return junior pitcher Bodien Derby, who was an all-league selection last year. Junior third baseman Chris Williams is also a returning all-league player.

Senior Garry Goebel will also see significant time on the mound and in the outfield.

Senior catcher Henry Smither and senior second baseman Johnny Auer are other veterans that will be counted on heavily.

“They’re going to push each other,” Agajanian said of his two star pitchers. “Goebel was our ace last year.”