The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs.
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser.
After years of not knowing who their coaches would be from year to year, Jordan softball is finally leaning on strong leadership from an experienced senior class, four-year coach Santiago Morales and his new assistants who are former Panthers players.
“We’ve struggled with losing coaches,” said Jordan senior Brianna Lucio. “But now we have one of our old players from last year and she’s helping us out. It was kind of rocky at first because I saw her as a teammate so I was like, ‘How am I going to take her seriously,’ but she was in the (military) so she’s given us a lot of drills and is working on stamina, conditioning and strength. She’s helping us a lot.”
Lucio and fellow senior Katelyn Garcia will be joined by sophomores Amberly Reyes, Josselin Alvarenga and Deana Lizarraga as key returners who picked up a lot of experience last season.
“All we can do is go up,” said Morales last season. “As long as I don’t give up on them and they don’t give up on themselves we’re going to get better. Do I think we’re going to beat the Millikans of the Lakewoods? No. But we’re going to sure give them as much as we can.”
Lucio said she’s worked hard in the offseason lifting free weights to improve her already strong arm to play third base, shortstop and catcher.
“From freshman year (Jordan softball) has grown a lot,” said Lucio. “My freshman year we only had enough players for one team, and now have enough for two teams. We’ve got girls interested in the sport after we’ve proved we can play.”
Jordan is in CIF-SS Division 7 this season.
