It was about as tough a transition year as it gets for the St. Anthony softball program last season. With players transferring out, a large group of inexperienced freshmen, and injured returners, the odds were stacked against the Saints in what ultimately ended as a winless campaign.
Now, after moving to the Camino Real League and seeing growth from a large sophomore class, there’s finally some optimism for St. Anthony coach Joe Younger.
“Last year was tough but they never hung their heads,” said Younger. “They always had each others backs and that’s rolled over to this year, and they just want to go out there and play softball now. Last year we saw a lot of improvement with the younger girls that we had, so we’re excited about them stepping up this year and seeing it translate on the field.”
Leading the group will be standout junior and Stanford commit Ivy Burnham, who will get the start in the circle as the Saints’ ace. Burnham previously played in the outfield and will also see time in the infield when needed, and she’s the Saints’ most dangerous hitter after batting .407 last season. Burnham was recently selected to the U-18 USA Women’s National Team for the 2026 Pan American Championships.
“She led the team last year in home runs and she was a first-teamer in the Del Ray League,” Younger boasted of Burnham. “Last year she was one of the best hitters in that tough league and there’s a lot of weight on her shoulder this year.”
Burnham is one of just two juniors on a team that features one freshman and no seniors, with the rest of the roster made up of nine sophomores, including returner Ariana Lara. Lara was part of that large freshman class last year that was thrust into action, and she said it was a valuable opportunity for the group to grow and learn together.
“I think our chemistry is so much better this year,” she said. “With a big group of all the sophomores I’m just excited for us to grow to our senior year all together. We’ve all been very quick with developing so I have a lot of hope for this new year.”
Lara was named one of the Saints’ captains this year and is embracing the leadership role as just a sophomore.
“I’ve just been learning about playing as a team and playing together,” Lara said. “We lost so many seniors, so coming in and being named one of the captains made me nervous, but I think just knowing that I do have girls on my side and all of their support has been a big lesson for me this year.”
Like much of the team, Lara might bounce around from position to position but will primarily play first base and pitch when needed. Younger expects the rest of his infield to include some combination of sophomores Anissa Valdez, Gabriella Bennett and Kayleigh Gillette, along with freshman Deja Graham.
Luisa Perera is the only other junior on the team and should spend some time somewhere in the outfield alongside sophomores Natalia Vega, Khalen de Jesus and Kaitlin Millan.
Sophomore Anabelle Amaro will handle catching duties for most of the season and serves as the Saints’ third captain, another underclassman Younger expects to embrace a leadership role.
“She makes practice easier for me,” he said of Amaro. “She’s such a good kid to coach and she has really stepped up as a leader on this team with helping the newer girls. Attitude is everything and she has the best attitude.”
The Saints enter the Camino Real League this season after spending years in the Del Rey League, and Younger believes the change will be a better fit. He also understands that a new league brings unfamiliar opponents, meaning his team will have to adjust quickly against programs they haven’t faced before.
“We have to approach it one game at a time,” he said. “We don’t know what to expect. Last year we knew what we were going to get out of the pitchers we were facing, but we’re really going into it blind this year not knowing who’s pitching for any of these schools. We’re just going to go out and play St. Anthony softball and put our best foot forward.”
St. Anthony will open its non-league schedule against former Del Rey League opponent Bishop Montgomery on Feb. 26 before opening Camino Real League play against La Salle on Mar. 10.
“Obviously we want to make the playoffs,” Younger said of his team’s goal this season. “That’s always the number one goal, but my biggest goal this year is to have all of these girls fall in love with this team and have a good experience with St. Anthony softball.”
Projected Starters:
P – Ivy Burnham, Jr.
C – Anabelle Amaro, So.
IF – Ivy Burnham, Jr. / Anissa Valdez, So. / Ariana Lara, So. / Gabriella Bennett, So. / Kayleigh Gillette, So. / Deja Graham, Fr
OF – Natalia Vega, So. / Khalen de Jesus, So. / Kaitlin Millan, So. / Luisa Perera, Jr.
