High School Softball Previews: Teams set to begin

The first pitch of the 2016 prep softball season is about to be tossed by local teams.

Below is a capsule look at the teams from Edison, Huntington Beach, Marina and Ocean View. The Seahawks begin their new season with a new head coach.

Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

CIF division: 1

Head coach: Kim Ensey (3rd year)

Coaching staff: Tony Qualin; Deepak Naik.

Last year’s record: 14-13

Last year’s league finish: 6-3 (3rd)

CIF results: Lost first round.

Varsity roster: Kiana Pancino (P, Sr.); Alexandra Greenburg (1B, Sr.); Kayla Neff (C, Sr.); Olivia Maruska (1B, Sr.); Rachel Abboud (UTL, Jr.); Troi VanValkenburg (C/3B, transfer from Barstow, Sr.); Riley Wester (OF, Jr.); Danielle Votendahl (P/UTL, Jr.); Lauryn Terrazzi (C/OF, Jr.); Aislinn Martin (2B, Jr.); Hannah Matthews (3B/OF, Jr.); Hannah Horton (1B, Jr.); Ashley Papacosta (UTL, Soph.); Giovanna Liggett (2B, Soph.); Alex Loomis OF, Soph.); Jenna Bloom (P, Fr.).

Returning with honors: Kayla Neff (C, first-team all-league, Sr.); Riley Wester (OF, first-team all-league, Jr.); Rachel Abboud (UTL, second-team all-league, Jr.); Danielle Votendahl (P/UTL, second-team all-league, Jr.).

Coach’s take: “This year we are a great team,” Ensey said. “The girls all know their roles and what it will take for us to finish higher in the Sunset League. As a team, we are excited for the upcoming season.”

Season keys: “Everyone needs to do their job,” Ensey said. “This team is a true team and there is a lot of support for one another. If that continues, we will have a successful season.”

The schedule: Game 2 of the season pits Edison against Santa Clarita West Ranch which defeated the Chargers last year in the opening round of the playoffs. The Chargers also compete at the Torrance and Alan Dugard tournaments.

“West Ranch will be a huge test for us,’ Emsey said. “We want to improve on our positioning in the Torrance and Alan Dugard tournaments. It’s a tough schedule but an easy schedule wouldn’t prepare us for the Sunset League.”

Season opener: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Trabuco Hills.

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Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

CIF division: 1

Head coach: Jeff Forsberg (11th year)

Coaching staff: Johnny Martinez; Tony Rico; Monica Hanson; Eric Davis; Billy Foley; Don Ryono.

Last year’s record: 18-9

Last year’s league finish: 7-3 (2nd)

CIF results: Reached second round.

Varsity roster: Allee Bunker (3B/SS, Soph.); Chance Burden (OF, Jr.); Ivy Davis (2B/SS/P, Jr.); Janie Hammond (C, Jr.); Gabby Hirsch (INF/OF, Sr.); Alyssa Horeczko (P/OF, Sr.); Kristina Inouye (SS/2B, Sr.); Kelli Kufta (1B/OF/3B, Soph.); Anna Kufta (1B/3B/C, Sr.); Taylor Livingston (OF, Jr.); Jasmine Melgoza (INF/OF, Sr.); Callie Saccacio (C/1B, Sr.); Jadelyn Allchin (OF, Fr.); Jaelyn Operana (OF, Fr.); Kendall Henscheid (P, Soph.); Kiki Foley (C/OF, Jr.); Madison Germano (1B, Jr.); Tai Williamson (P/3B, Sr.); Delany Dupras, C, Sr.

Returning with honors: Allee Bunker (3B/SS, 2015 league rookie of the year, Soph.); Ivy Davis (2B/SS/P, first-team all-league); Alyssa Horeczko (P/OF, first-team all-league, Sr.); Callie Saccacio (C/1B, first-team all-league, Sr.); Anna Kufta (1B/3B/C, second-team all-league, Sr.).

Coach’s take: “I am really excited to see how this year pans out,” Forsberg said. “We have 12 returning players who all can play and have added a talented group of newcomers at all grades. I do know we will be very exciting and then let the games play out and see where we are. Our group of seniors is very special, on and off the field, and they have put in the work that could make the season one of the best in school history, something they control and want. We have the great team chemistry and a systematic approach of play that I am very proud of. I’m blessed to apart of this team’s future and these players’ lives as each is very special.”

Season keys: “The key for us is the same for all the top teams — pitching,” Forsberg said. “Alyssa [Horeczko] gained that experience last year and could be one of the county’s best. We also have Ivy Davis, Kendall Henscheid and Jaelyn Operana — all can rise to the level to make us a complete team. In my 11 years, we have never had pitching depth and this year we do with different options. The leadership from the seniors led by Inouye, Kufta, Horeczko and Saccacio, has been something in the making the last four years and now we can see how it all plays out.”

The schedule: Before starting the rigors of Sunset League play later next month, the Oilers will take on the likes of Whittier La Serna, Capistrano Valley, Foothill and San Clemente in nonleague play, and compete for the titles of the Carew Invitational and Arroyo Grande Best of the West Tournament.

“I really like our schedule,” Forsberg said. “We play some rivalries schools and, add in the highly competitive Sunset League, makes the schedule something of great value. Also, getting invited to the Carew and the Arroyo tournaments is reflection on how far we have come in a short period of time and what the girls have accomplished over the years.”

Season opener: Saturday at the Cypress Tournament (TBA).

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Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

CIF division: 1

Head coach: Mandee Farish (2nd year)

Coaching staff: Geoff Walker; J.D. Pulfer.

Last year’s record: 13-13

Last year’s league finish: 4-6 (4th)

Varsity roster: Malia Temple (OF, Soph.); Justine Coonis (OF, Jr.); Sage Malvin (1B, Soph.); Makayla Nieto (OF, Soph.); Shayla Thomas (3B, Fr.); Kayla Pemasa (3B/1B, transfer from Westminster, Soph.); Shayla Mizukami (3B/C, Jr.); Kaitlin Barry (C, Sr.); Jennifer Herron (CF, Sr.); Kristina Jones (UTL, Sr.); Amber Baldwin (P, Jr.); Ashley Myers (2B/P, Jr.); Ryan King (SS/C, Jr.); Ashley Pilatos (OF, Soph.); Julia Carreon (2B/P, Soph.); Brooke Baeyans (1B, Sr.).

Coach’s take: Farish called the Vikings a “young, charismatic team looking to build the cohesion and leadership it takes to compete in the (CIF) Southern Section.”

Season keys: “Playing cohesively as a team and staying aggressive on the field and at the plate,” Farish said.

The schedule: “We continue to have a very competitive schedule,” Farish said. “The Sunset League has some of the best teams in Southern California and we are working hard every day to become one of those top teams.”

Season opener: 11 a.m. Saturday vs. Palos Verdes (Cypress Tournament).

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Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

CIF division: 4

Head coach: Liberty McCollum (1st year)

Coaching staff: Mary Sojka; Sydney McCollum.

Last year’s record: 19-7

Last year’s league finish: 7-3 (3rd)

CIF results: Lost first round.

Varsity roster: Indiana Boes (SS, Sr.); Lacey Combs (1B, Sr.); Alyssa Slater (P/OF, Sr.); Tyler Frydman (LF, Jr.); Kylie McElligott (OF, Jr.); Kari Lane (OF, Jr.); Breann Page (P/1B, Jr.); Jazz Hodges (2B, Jr.); Jasmine Tapia (2B, Jr.); Hannah Burkholder (3B, Jr.); Kim MacPherson (CF, Sr.); Penelope Russ (C, Soph.); Caitlyn Sideris (3B, Soph.); Kaylee Dronzkowski (OF, Fr.); Cailey Coilado (2B, Fr.).

Returning with honors: Penelope Russ (C, second-team all-league, Soph.).

Coach’s take: “I think we are the underdogs this season,” said McCollum who started coaching at Ocean View more than 24 years ago and also coaches recreation and travel softball. “I’m hoping we prevail with all the hard work we have been putting in.”

Season keys: “Minimize mental errors,” McCollum said.

The schedule: The Seahawks play in only one nonleague tournament, the Costa Mesa Tournament in which they are the defending champions.

Season opener: March 9.