The high school softball season has begun in the Santa Clarita Valley, and for many teams, the road to winning their respective league title is underway as many are poised to challenge those at the top.
Here’s what you need to know heading into the start of the league softball season:
Editor’s note: Teams are listed in order of their Foothill League finish in 2025, followed by the two SCV private schools competing in the Heritage League.
Saugus ready to repeat in league
Last season, the Saugus Centurions finished as the Foothill League champions with a perfect 12-0 record. This year, head coach Kyle Mark is looking to do the same, withmultiple returners from last season to contribute again.
Mark said the Centurions will return their entire pitching staff and they’ll be a huge part of the team this season.
One of the arms to watch for Saugus is senior Taliya Mata, who earned Foothill League pitcher of the year honors last season.
On offense, it’s the Foothill League’s reigning player of the year Amelia Johnson returning for her senior season at catcher.
“Our goals this year are simple: defend and repeat as league champions and make a deep playoff run,” Mark said.
The Centurions open the Foothill League season Thursday at Castaic High School against the Coyotes with first pitch scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
Valencia looking to challenge with young team
After a second-place Foothill League finish last year, the Vikings are back with a young team.
On the mound, freshman Emily Contreras is an addition head coach Sean Pollard said to watch.
Joining Contreras on the pitching staff is sophomore Keira Rand.
On offense, Pollard has named three players he expects to have big seasons.
Senior catcher Blair Rune will be a key and will be joined by junior third baseman Sydney Bolder and sophomore Aubrie Jensen.
The Vikings have a young team, and Pollard understands contending for a league title will be challenging. But the goals are the same, and it’s to build upon last season and challenge for league.
The Vikings open the Foothill League season 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at home against the visiting Hart Hawks.
West Ranch ready to challenge those at the top
After losing out on a California Interscholastic Federation championship on a walk-off, the Wildcats are using last season’s results to motivate them.
For head coach Michael Merrilees, this season offers plenty of reasons to be excited as he expects multiple returners from last season to perform again.
On the pitching staff, sophomore Gretchen Roen and freshman Juliette Merrilees will be key contributors in the circle. Last year, Roen carried the workload as a freshman, recording multiple seven-inning games.
On offense, Michael Merrilees is looking forward to senior catcher Madi Meister, junior outfielder Nami Stoll and sophomore infielder Kara Carnes to all have major impacts both offensively and defensively.
“Our overall goals this season are clear: Win the Foothill League and finish what we came so close to accomplishing last year — winning CIF,” the coach said.
The Wildcats open the Foothill League season 3:15 p.m. Thursday at home against the visiting Golden Valley Grizzlies.
Young Hart Hawks return with big expectations
This year, the Hart Hawks only have two seniors and one junior on their roster.
Despite the young group, head coach Stephen Calendo is confident that the Hawks will be playing their best come playoff time.
On offense, junior Gabby Kobliska is expected to lead the group. Calendo also named sophomore Hannah Cook and freshman Niama Melendez as players to watch.
In the circle, Calendo is expecting that Kobliska and Cook will be arms providing length for the Hawks.
In the infield, look for senior center infielder Jessica Gutierrez to lead the defense and be Hart’s anchor in the middle infield.
Calendo believes his Hawks can challenge. “Overall, we expect to improve over the season and play our best at the time playoffs begin.”
The Hawks open the Foothill League season 3:15 p.m. Thursday at home against the visiting Canyon Cowboys.
High expectations for Canyon
After missing out on the postseason last year with a fifth-place finish in the Foothill League, the Cowboys are back looking to make the playoffs. And, the Cowboys have a strong roster to help lead them there.
Senior catcher Jaylynn Sussi is hitting .474 through the first nine games of the season. Senior outfielder Karina Montero is hitting .429 with senior Vivian Rangel hitting .417.
Another player to watch is senior outfielder Emily Torres, who’s already hit three home runs this season.
In the circle, expect Emily Torres and Evanie Torres have already thrown a combined 39.1 innings through nine games.
The Cowboys open the Foothill League season 3:15 p.m. Thursday at Hart High School against the Hawks.
Castaic looking for bounceback year
The Castaic Coyotes are already 4-1 through five games this season with the lone loss coming on the road to Santa Paula.
One of the main players leading the Coyotes’ hot start, sophomore Tatum McAfee, is hitting .647 through the first five games with four stolen bases and 11 hits.
Head coach Garrett Leon said McAfee will be a player to lead Castaic after she led the team in batting average as a freshman.
Leon also named senior Lexie Steen and sophomore Samantha Farell as two other players who hit the ball well.
In the circle, McAfee is expected to be an arm to look out for and will be joined by Katelyn Eppenbaugh.
Leon believes this is the best Coyotes team yet and the chances of making the postseason are on their side.
“Our first few years of a varsity program has been slowly improving, and we have taken some lumps,” he said. “This year I expect to have a chance to win every single game, even against the strongest teams, as we are right there with them.”
The Coyotes open the Foothill League season at home 3:15 p.m. Thursday against the visiting Saugus Centurions.
Young Golden Valley looking to make playoffs
There are no seniors on the Grizzlies roster, according to MaxPreps.
Despite the young squad, the Grizzlies have already picked up two wins in the early portion of the season.
One of the players leading the Grizzlies to wins, junior Ilana Watson, has hit two home runs and is hitting .500 through six games.
Watson is also a pitcher and will be an arm to look out for in the circle.
Another player to look out for us junior shortstop Andi Anderson, who has nine runs, seven hits and four doubles.
The Grizzlies open the Foothill League season 3:15 p.m. Thursday at West Ranch High School against the Wildcats.
Trinity Classical Academy back and ready to play
After a hiatus last season as Trinity didn’t field a team, Trinity returned to the diamond this year with a young foundation.
The Knights will have eight freshmen on the roster, according to head coach Holly Pacini. And although Pacini is expecting youth to take over, she said not to count out the seniors.
Senior Sofia Previtire is expected to have a strong final season and will be joined by junior Abby Carillo as players to watch.
“Our goals this season are centered around setting our own expectations and continuing to raise the standard of what we want this program to be,” Pacini said.
The Knights open the Heritage League season 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, against the Santa Clarita Christian Cardinals.
New-look SCCS ready to compete
There’s a new face at the helm for the Cardinals. Wyatt Waldron, who’s the former baseball coach for SCCS, will take over the softball team.
Aubrey Moore will be a player to watch as she has six runs batted in with two triples through the first four games. On the mound, Presley Waldron is expected to take the mantle, having posted a 4.85 earned run average through 4.1 innings pitched.
The Cardinals open the Heritage League season 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, against the Trinity Knights.
