The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
The Lakewood softball team enters the new season with a familiar identity and coach Andy Miramontes believes this year’s group has the right blend of returning experience and positional flexibility to better their fourth-place finish from a year ago.
One of the biggest storylines for Lakewood is the growth of junior pitcher Bella Polanco, who will anchor the staff this season.
“Bella’s really stepped up,” Miramontes said. “You can see that she improved her velocity over the summer, and that’s exciting for us.”
Polanco is expected to handle the bulk of the innings in the circle, while sophomore Alyssa Valdez provides depth behind her. While Valdez hasn’t seen many varsity pitching opportunities yet, the coaching staff is optimistic about her role.
“Bella’s getting a lot better from last year and her spins are just through the roof right now,” senior Katelynn Lewis said.
Defensively, Lakewood is making a key adjustment in the infield that could pay dividends. Sophomore Jaylene Echeverriqa will move from third base to shortstop, while Jamie Ramirez will slide to the hot corner. The move is about maximizing range and athleticism up the middle.
“I think Jay has a little more range,” Miramontes said. “She’s really aggressive, she’s got good range, and she attacks the ball. That’s going to help us out.”
At first base, Elise De La Torre provides stability, while sophomore Jayzee Childress will handle second base. Together, the infield brings a mix of youth and defensive versatility that the coaching staff believes can grow stronger as the season progresses.
Behind the plate, senior Lewis takes on an even bigger role as the team’s captain. Miramontes pointed to her leadership as a major reason for optimism early in the year.
“She’s keeping the girls together,” he said. “Very vocal, trying to teach the younger ones our system. I think we’re going to gel pretty well together.”
That chemistry has already been evident in preseason action.
“We had a couple preseason games, and the girls played really well together,” Miramontes added.
In the outfield, Mia Gastelum is projected to patrol center field, bringing speed and coverage to the defense. Isabel Joval will start in left, while right field remains open as players continue to compete during early-season practices.
Looking at the league as a whole, Miramontes expects a challenging road ahead, with familiar contenders still at the top.
“Millikan’s still looking pretty good, they have a lot of depth,” he said. “Poly is coming off a hot year. They graduated a few, but I’m sure they still have strong young players.”
The Lancers start the season at home against Saint Joseph and Paramount and they’ll have their Moore League opener on March 12 when they take on Poly.
Projected Starters
P: Bella Polanco – (Jr.) / Alyssa Valdez – (So.)
C: Katelynn Lewis- (Sr.)
1B: Elise De La Torre- (Jr.)
2B: Jaszee Childress- (Jr.)
SS: Jaylene Echeverria- (So.)
3B: Jamie Ramirez-(Sr.)
OF: Isabel Jovel- (Jr.)
OF: Mia Gastelum- (So.)
