HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PREVIEW
2017 features Lodi coach Guardado and Tokay coach Misasi, who grew up friends in Stockton
Aaron Misasi and Michelle Guardado have a lot of respect for each other.
That comes from having known each other’s families since the 1990s. Misasi, in his first season as the Tokay High softball coach, and Guardado, entering her 16th season at Lodi, played baseball and softball at St. Mary’s and Franklin, respectively. Misasi played travel baseball with Eddie Guardado, Michelle’s brother, who is now the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen coach.
“She knows the game, and knows how to manufacture runs,” said Misasi of Guardado. “She definitely knows what she’s doing.”
Guardado added, “Aaron has a different approach.” Which led to success when Misasi was the Tokay baseball coach for years.
Aaron and Michelle are looking forward to their first friendly rivalry next week when Misasi’s Tigers play Guardado’s Flames in a TriCity Athletic League contest at the Lodi Softball Complex, the first of three. In between, they hope that their respective teams will make some noise in the league this season.
Misasi and Tokay are off to a 7-5 start, but 0-2 in the TCAL. The Tigers started the season at 4-0, then lost three games, and has won three of its last five.
“The first week, we were hitting the ball really well,” said Misasi, whose Tigers are batting .347. “You can go hot and cold.”
Seven seniors return for Tokay. Headlining the list is second baseman/outfielder Keala Brown, who is headed to Fresno State on a scholarship. She is batting .382 in 12 games and 16 RBIs. Another key returnee is infielder Brooke Graddy, who is smacking the ball for a .484 batting average.
“Two seniors who have had success,” said Misasi of Brown and Graddy. “Their work ethic is excellent. They are very talented ball players. They are good kids. And those are the kinds of kids you like to have as leaders.”
Other seniors on the Tigers’ 16player squad are Alexis Alcantara, Jasmine Marquez, Hailey Schlinder, Salina Torres and Jenna Schneider.
Juniors on the squad are pitcher Arianna Lozano, plus Sydney Giovannoni, Aliah Cisneros, Destiny Lopez, Bryanna Bernal and Elizabeth Arnaiz. Lopez, along with Schlinder and Schneider, are multisport athletes who played volleyball and wrestling. Two freshmen make the move in Mia Misasi, Aaron’s daughter, and Simone Medeiros.
The key for the Tigers has been hitting. Defense and hitting continue to improve each game, points out Aaron Misasi.
“We have a strong hitting game,” Misasi said. “On defense, everyone struggles here and there. But we have very good athletes.”
Guardado, whose Flames are 1-2 in the TCAL and 4-9, feels solid pitching will be a big plus for her Flames. Leading the way is sophomore Danielle Pfennig, plus junior Shelby Featherston and freshman Ashlee Toy.
“Danielle is starting off really well,” said Guardado of Pfennig.
Another returning player for the Flames are sophomore infielder Bailey Correia. Guardado is pleased with Correia taking charge in running the team’s defense in recent games.
“That’s pretty powerful as a sophomore,” said Guardado of Correia. “She’s been taking the reigns.”
Other seniors on the Flames’ roster are Courtney Steckman, Meagan Gonzalez and catcher Samantha Amarante.
“She (Amarante) has come around this year,” said Guardado of Amarante. “She’s a more mature player, and more committed player. She’s been more consistent behind the plate and hitting (.423).”
Juniors on the squad are Allisa Yabumoto, Harlie Litton and Madison Ahlach. Two more sophomores on the roster are Marissa Fabian, who was on the school’s varsity girls basketball team this past winter, and Dessa Zavala. Two freshmen in Toy and Kali Mazza round out the team.
The TCAL will be tough for Tokay and Lodi, plus Lincoln and West. St. Mary’s, which won the TCAL title, and Tracy, are expected to battle for the top two spots. The league’s top three teams advance into the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in two months.
“Our league is very tough,” Misasi said. “We have a lot of strong hitting teams. But anybody can beat anybody.”
Guardado added, “Tracy is the tougher team. Tracy is going to be tough for everybody.”
Other area softball teams
Liberty Ranch is currently tied for first place in the Sierra Valley Conference with Rosemont at 3-0.
One of the Hawks’ win came against defending SVC champion Union Mine and University of the Pacific-bound pitcher Bethany Hammer. Liberty Ranch (9-1-1) and Union Mine face each other two more times, while the Hawks have yet to play Rosemont.
Returning to the Hawks’ dugout are seniors Lexi Davis, who has a .650 batting average, followed by Lexi Cheever (.435) and Celina Maberto (.318).
Another key player returning are junior centerfielder Kayley Rocha, who started in the same spot as a sophomore last spring. Fellow juniors on the Hawks’ roster are outfielders Rachael Atkins and Astril Najar-Meza, and infielder Jordyn Farren.
Sophomores on the squad are sophomore infielder/outfielder Kharizma Lathipanya-Kham, who started as a freshman last spring. Three more sophomores include catcher/utility player Haley Ward, pitcher/outfielder Audrey Brookins and outfielder Emilee Mort. Rounding out the team is freshman outfielder Yvonne Craig.
Galt has already doubled the number of wins from last season; the Warriors are 5-2 and 1-2 in the SVC. Last spring, Galt went 2-20 overall.
In her second season, Galt coach Carli Feuerbach has three seniors in first basemen/outfielders Cheyanne Street and Cierra Allen, and pitcher/first baseman Samantha Martinez, who has a .440 batting average.
Seven juniors make up the bulk of the Warriors’ squad in Arika Smith, Amy Hebenstreich, Sydia Morales, Hana Koyama, Katy Proctor, Jayna Galano and McKinzie Spriggs, who leads the team in batting average at .750. Hebenstreich is next at .667.
One sophomore and two freshmen round out the Warriors’ roster. Sophomore catcher/outfielder Sophia Pate joins freshmen Cam Corlett and Haley Sanchez.
Mike Pontius returns for his 14th season as the Elliot Christian High coach. Pontius has an impressive record of 267 wins, 76 losses and 2 ties. One of those draws came in a 21-21
contest against Victory Christian on Monday. Currently, Elliot is 1-1 in the Central California Athletic Alliance and 4-2-1 overall.
Six of Pontius’ 12 players on the Eagles’ roster are seniors in pitcher/infielder Grace Robles, utility McKenzie Salinas, first baseman/third baseman Tabitha Lang, outfielder Natalie Pinasco, first baseman/outfielder Sara Burns and second basemen/utility Charis Guerzo, who played as a sophomore but not last spring. Salinas and McCortsin, both of whom played on the school’s girls basketball team, are in their first year playing. Lang suffered a knee injury last year and didn’t play.
One sophomore and two freshmen also complete the Eagles’ roster. Sophomore first/third baseman and outfielder Sophia Butler joins freshman pitcher/first baseman Annabelle Sepp and outfielder Sydnee Johnson.