Western softball team ready to challenge for shot at state title
When Western High won its first state softball championship in 2018, the Wildcats hoped it would be the first of many.
After missing the playoffs the following year, the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season.
The Wildcats took the first major step back last season, advancing to the state final four in Class 7A before running into nationally ranked Bradenton Lakewood Ranch.
Western thinks it has all the ingredients to make it to the top this season.
The Wildcats open their season on Tuesday afternoon and are considered by many of their peers to be the top-ranked overall team in Broward County this season and perhaps a favorite to reach the state tournament in Clermont this May.
The Wildcats return seven starters and added a few talented transfers who should give their lineup and rotation more depth. And despite Lakewood Ranch still presenting a possible major obstacle in Class 7A, as it was when it beat Western 11-3 in last year’s state semifinals, Bradshaw believes the deeper roster should put them on more competitive footing this season.
“This team could be just as good, or maybe even better, than our 2018 team,” said Johnny Bradshaw, who enters his second season as the Wildcats’ head coach and eighth overall with the program. “It’s a good group of girls and there’s talent that’s gelled all the way around.”
Sophomore pitcher Ali Solo headlines the Wildcats’ group of returners. Solo is coming off a stellar season in which she struck out 115 in 116 innings and compiled a 1.51 ERA.
When Solo is not on the mound, Western will turn to junior Emma Mosher, who will play first base as well, and freshman Ally Brady, a transfer from Pembroke Pines Charter and starter the past two years for the Jaguars.
Western has only one senior on its roster and that’s Meagan Ramos, a Hampton University commit, who hit .373 with 15 RBI last season. Ramos and junior outfielder Alana Cypress, who has offers from multiple Division-I schools, are the top two mainstays in the Wildcats’ lineup.
The additions of junior Arlette Caravaca, an Iowa commit, and infielder Jade Castillo, each of whom transferred from Cooper City, make Western’s lineup more potent. Caravaca will be the Wildcats’ starting center fielder and leadoff hitter, and already hit two home runs combined in preseason games against West Broward and SLAM. Bradshaw also thinks incoming freshman middle infielder Brooke Bacaris will make an impact.
The Wildcats will test themselves against multiple perennial playoff teams such as Coral Springs Charter, Doral, American Heritage, Cypress Bay, Douglas and Cooper City as well as participating in the Orange Bowl tournament in March.
“I try to play teams that have really quality pitching so once we’re in the playoffs we get used to topnotch pitching,” Bradshaw said. “My philosophy has been this way for years. We don’t care about the record at the end as long as we’re playing the top opponents and playing our best softball, so then all that other stuff will take care of itself.”
MORE OUTLOOKS Stoneman Douglas
●
(16-7) returns senior pitcher Jesyne Espinal (3.01 ERA, 101 strikeouts) to lead a squad that made it to the Class 7A regional quarterfinals last season. Junior first baseman Victoria Diaz, a first team AllBroward selection last season, leads the Eagles’ hitters.
● is coming off its sixth trip to the state final four in the past seven seasons the tournament has been held. The Panthers have a tough road to get back, however, led by a young pitching staff that will try to make up for the loss of Miami Herald Pitcher of the Year Brianna Godfrey to graduation. Sophomore Sophie Bertorelli is the team’s No. 1 in the circle. Coral Springs Charter’s lineup took a hit when it lost Doral Academy transfer
Coral Springs Charter
Giu Gurgel to a knee injury, but will be led by juniors Steph Basso (catcher/shortstop) and Kate Maston (outfielder) as well as senior Bella Bertorelli and sophomore Addi Michel in the infield.
●
appears to be a strong contender once again, led by pitcher Sammy Murphy, who struck out 119 batters in 67 innings with a 1.25 ERA last season. Pitcher/ outfielder McKenzie Jewell leads the Golden Tornadoes’ lineup.
West Broward ,a
●
Class 7A regional semifinalist last season, returns a pair of All-Broward first team selections in junior pitcher Gabrielle Cruz
(2.65 ERA, 72 Ks) and senior outfielder Lexi DiFato (.545, 43 stolen bases).
●
will vie to return to the state final four after losing in the 4A regional semifinals a year ago. Senior infielder Emily Legette, a Virginia Tech signee, hit .455 with three home runs and 25 RBI last season.
Cooper City, a perennial
● contender, went 22-5 before losing in the 6A regional final to Doral, but was hit hard by graduation and transfers. Coach Phil Schmalz’s squad returns only four players from last season, but he expects them to remain competitive, led by senior first baseman Bella Rodriguez and senior outfielder/ infielder Savanah McCormick. Junior Daniela Nino and sophomore Lauren Legacki will be Cooper City’s top pitchers, and expect junior shortstop Lily Mitchell to create havoc on
Pompano Beach American Heritage
the basepaths.
Fort Lauderdale ,a
●
Class 6A regional semifinalist, returns a pair of All-Broward first team selections in senior outfielder Destiny Washington (.547, 34 runs, 24 stolen bases) and Vanessa Gilbert (.500, 15 extrabase hits, 23 RBI).
St. Thomas Aquinas
●
(9-11 last season) will once again be led by senior third baseman Raylee Leiman, an N.C. State signee, and senior first baseman Christina Woods. Sophomores Isabella Melley and Christina D’Agostino, a transfer from Coral Springs Charter, lead the Raiders’ infield.
Cardinal Gibbons
●
bolstered its pitching depth and might be primed to make it to regionals for the first time since 2018. Returning junior Angela Pooley (2.33 ERA) and freshman Lydia Berent will anchor the Chiefs in the circle while sophomore shortstop Sophia Berg (.422, 12 RBI) will try to add some offense.
Westminster Academy
● broke through to the state final four in Class 2A in 2021 and lost in the regional semifinals a year ago. The Lions (17-10 last season) hope a strong core of sophomores will lead them back to state. Shortstop Diana Montidoro, pitcher/first baseman Ava Salvino and catcher Savanna Lee lead the group.
Pine Crest (11-11 in
●
2022) will be led by two talented juniors — infielder/catcher Alicia Marzouca, a first-team AllBroward selection and Columbia University commit, and junior pitcher
Lindsey Eldridge, who won 11 games and struck out
141 batters last season.
Cypress Bay finished
●
third in its district last season, but will look to make it to regionals for the first time since 2019. The Lightning will be led by a trio of juniors — third baseman Ana Rincon, first baseman Alexis Gaitlin and pitcher Ayden Ballard.
South Plantation
●
(8-12) made it to the regional semifinals in Class 6A last season and will try to build upon that success despite losing ace Yessenia Lopez, who transferred to Doral Academy. Seniors Aleena Husein, a third baseman, and Dani Sigal, a catcher and Florida Tech signee, will lead the Paladins along with junior shortstop Zuli Henriquez and pitcher/outfielder Natalie Wirth.
Chaminade-Madonna
● (6-8 last season) will be led by junior pitcher Lucy McLogan, senior first baseman Camryn Kelly and junior outfielder Angelina Giolito.
South Broward,
●
which finished third in its district last season, will be led by junior pitcher Isabel Wellins, sophomore third baseman Lindsey Perrin and senior shortstop Sarah Willen.
Northeast will be led
●
by senior pitcher/shortstop/catcher Ashleigh Banfalvy, junior shortstop/ catcher Alyssa Andrews, junior pitcher/catcher Kaylee Raulerson and sophomore outfielder/first baseman Ra’Niyah Ariss.