Top 50 pitchers in L.A. County high school softball (Southern Section list)
Los Angeles County is a hotbed of high school softball talent. The county is home to both the L.A. City Section and many of the Southern Section's elite softball programs. Several Southern Section pitchers in the county were off to excellent starts in the 2020 season, and they deserve to be recognized.
Based primarily on 2020 statistics and strength of schedule -- while also taking 2019 end-of-season awards into consideration -- these were the 50 best pitchers in L.A. County softball in 2020. While many star pitchers are also premier hitters and position players, this list reflects only what they accomplished on the mound.
To submit a photo or nominate a player who isn’t the list, email lance@wpsblivest.wpengine.com. Players who were injured or ineligible for the start of the season can be nominated. The list is in alphabetical order.
TOP 50 PITCHERS IN LA COUNTY SOFTBALL
Isabella Alonso – Long Beach Poly – SO.
In 20.1 innings across four games, Alonso finished with a 2.41 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and an opposing batting average under .200.
Ashley Alvarez – Workman – JR.
Alvarez pitched in all 12 games for the Lobos. She had an ERA of 1.05 and racked up 93 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Alissa Alvarado – Schurr – SR.
The Spartans' ace was First Team All-Whittier Daily News last season and was guiding them to a fantastic start before the 2020 season was cut short.
Ashley Benavides – Gahr – JR.
After an excellent sophomore breakout season, Benavides was again dominant on the mound in the shortened season for unbeaten Gahr, one of the top-ranked teams in the county.
Savannah Benson – Burbank – SR.
Benson pitched 38 innings in seven of eight games for the Bulldogs and finished with a 2.39 ERA.
Jayla Cadena – St. Anthony (Long Beach) – SO.
Cadena was half of one of the best pitching duos in SoCal. She only got 19.2 innings across five games, but she was 4-0 with a 1.07 ERA and only allowed a .164 batting average.
Courtney Callison – Santa Fe – JR.
One of two Chiefs on this list who were great in 2020, Callison was 3-0 in eight appearances with a 2.15 ERA.
Devyn Cox – La Cañada – JR.
The Spartans were unbeaten in eight games in 2020, and Cox was 5-0. Her ERA of 0.40 was the best in L.A. County for both the Southern and City Sections by a margin of 0.15. Cox had 46 strikeouts in 35 innings, an opposing batting average of .149, and an opposing on-base percentage of .167.
Kimberly Dea – Gabrielino – JR.
Gabrielino was off to an 11-3 start in 2020, and Dea pitched in every single one of them. She started 12 of 14 games and finished with a 10-2 record, a 2.11 ERA, and 85 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.
Sophia Fernandez – South (Torrance) – SR.
Fernandez was on the All-Southern Section Division 2 team as a junior in 2019.
Dahlia Fink – Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) – JR.
Notre Dame was off to a scary 11-1 start in 2020, and Fink pitched in every game except their one loss. She had an ERA of 0.92, a great opposing batting average of .146, and 41 strikeouts in 38 innings.
Halyne Gonzalez – La Mirada – JR.
Gonzalez made the Whittier Daily News' first team all-area in 2019 as a sophomore and was great again in 2020.
Bailey Gertsch – El Segundo – SO.
The Eagles loaded up with a difficult preseason schedule, but Gertsch had a 0.98 ERA in four appearances in 2020. She recorded 38 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.
Mya Guzman – Garey – SR.
Garey pitched in all eight games for the Vikings and finished with a 1.38 ERA. She recorded 54 strikeouts in 40.2 innings.
Dee Dee Hernandez – Crescenta Valley – JR.
Hernandez is the ace for one of the top-ranked teams (9-1) in the country, and received numerous all-state honors as a sophomore.
Jordan Hill-Cogill – San Dimas – JR.
In six games, Hill kept an ERA of 1.75 through 32 innings. Her work included a complete game shutout against a strong Bonita squad.
Hailey Houston – Woodrow Wilson – JR.
In seven appearances, Houston went 4-2 in 34.1 innings with a 2.45 ERA.
Allison Howell – Hart – SO.
Howell has been lights-out since day one at Hart with a capacity for a high workload, and is one of the top sophomore pitchers in the county.
Jordin King – St. Paul – JR.
One of two Swordsmen on here who had excellent 2020's, King was 3-1 in seven appearances. In 27.2 innings she registered 34 Ks and had a 2.28 ERA.
Carly Koltko – Redondo Union – JR.
Koltko is the Seahawks' ace and a reigning CIFSS All-Division 5 member.
Addy Kostrencich – Palos Verdes – SR.
Kostrencich appeared in all 10 games for Palos Verdes and had an ERA of 0.70 despite a very difficult schedule. She racked up 57 strikeouts in 40 innings and had a strong opposing batting average of .168.
Richere Leduc – California – SR.
Leduc pitched in all nine games for the Condors, with seven complete games and an ERA of 1.58 despite a challenging schedule.
Grace Luderer – Louisville – JR.
Luderer was named CIFLACS all-division after a dominant sophomore campaign in 2019.
Kiley Kraft – Ramona Convent – SR.
In 28.2 innings, Kraft had an ERA of 1.22 and totaled 41 strikeouts.
Brianna Macias – Bishop Amat – SR.
In six games, Macias had a 1.93 ERA in 32.2 innings.
Alexis Martinez – Diamond Bar – JR.
Martinez went 5-1 in nine appearances for the Brahmas with an ERA of 1.22.
Hannah Mearns – Windward – SR.
Windward was just a couple games into their 2020 season when it was canceled, but Mearns was a dominant all-division selection in 2019.
Lauren Narvaez – Warren – JR.
Narvaez pitched in seven of 6-2 Warren's eight games, starting all seven and throwing three complete games with a 2.10 ERA.
Ryann Orange – Torrance – SO.
Orange is a reigning All-Southern Section Division 5 honoree.
Maya Osegura – Sierra Vista – SR.
In seven games, Osegura threw 27 innings and had a 1.30 ERA.
Ella Parker – Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) – FR.
Another member of the Knights' stacked pitching staff on this list and an elite freshman prospect, Parker went 6-1 with a 1.22 ERA in 2020. She racked up 77 strikeouts in 40 innings and had a remarkable opposing batting average of .116.
Mikaela Perez – Diamond Ranch – SR.
Perez is one of two Panthers on this list who were great in 2019 and off to even better starts in 2020.
Julia Pevsner – Alverno Heights Academy – FR.
As a freshman, Pevsner went 5-0 in seven appearances with a 1.79 ERA.
Janet Ann Purtell – Malibu – SR.
Through eight games, Purtell was in the circle for all but one inning for the Sharks. In 50 innings, she struck out 61 batters, had a 2.38 ERA, and only allowed a .190 batting average.
Natalie Quezada – Hawthorne – SR.
Hawthorne was off to a 4-5 start in 2020, but they were 3-2 with Quezada in the circle. She recorded 28 Ks in 24 innings and had a 2.62 ERA.
Alyssa Ramirez – Saugus – SO.
Ramirez has been dominant for one of the best teams in SoCal, and was recently the MVP of the Hart Tournament.
Lilly Ramirez-Johnson – West (Torrance) – SO.
One of the top sophomore pitchers in the county, Ramirez-Johnson was the ace for the 8-0 Warriors.
Monique Rangel – Santa Fe – JR.
Rangel pitched 29 innings across seven games for the Chiefs and finished with a 1.93 ERA.
Erika Rivera – Mountain View – SR.
Mountain View's ace and anchor, Rivera was all-division in 2019.
Kaelyn Rodriguez – South El Monte – JR.
Rodriguez threw 40.2 innings in eight appearances and finished with a 2.24 ERA.
Peyton Rohr – Viewpoint – FR.
Rohr had a 2.02 ERA in eight appearances as a freshman. She racked up 75 Ks in 45 innings and held opponents to .172 batting.
Alessandra Samperio – Mary Star of the Sea – SR.
Samperio was 5-2 appearing in seven of Mary Star's eight games with an ERA of 0.85. She struck out 64 batters in 41 inning and had a strong opposing batting average of .172.
Katherine Serna – St. Paul – JR.
Serna had six appearances in St. Paul's strong 9-2 start with a 2.05 ERA. She got 46 Ks in 27.1 innings and held hitters to just .133.
Tehani Seto – St. Joseph – JR.
Seto had the highest ERA in our top 50 at 3.00, but the strength of schedule she pitched against is among the higher ones on the list. She gave the Jesters opportunities to win against some big-time opponents, and at times they capitalized.
Faith Soriano – The Archer School – SO.
The Panthers were only four games into their 2020 season before it was canceled, but Soriano was a dominant all-division performer in 2019 as a freshman.
Claire Streeter – San Marino – SO.
Streeter appeared in six games for the Titans with a 1.71 ERA. She recorded 51 Ks in only 28.2 innings.
Brooke Townsend – St. Anthony (Long Beach) – SR.
St. Anthony was unstoppable through eight games in 2020, and Townsend was 4-0 with a save in six appearances. She had a 0.55 ERA in 25.1 innings and had an opposing batting average of .180.
Summer Voth – Calabasas – JR.
Part of a crowded Coyotes rotation, Voth was off to a great start in 2020.
Devin Waddell – Marymount – SR.
Waddell was an all-division star with a large body of work in 2019, but her senior season was cut short three games in.
Tiara Westbrook – Arcadia – FR.
In four starts as a freshman, Westbrook had an ERA under two and threw one complete game shutout. She also had a great opposing batting average of .171.
Kayla Zavala – Diamond Ranch – SR.
Zavala is committed to pitch at Friends University.
Hailey Yoshida – Westridge – SO.
Yoshida pitched 41 innings across six games in 2020. She racked up 75 strikeouts, kept a 2.05 ERA, and held batters below .200.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Elliana Zellien – Temple City – SR.
Sophia Aguilar – Canyon (Canyon Country) – SR.
Madison Diaz – Montebello – JR.
Jordan Cervantes – Covina – SO.
Samantha Bohorquez – Los Altos – SO.
Holly Stiebel – Palos Verdes – JR.
Savannah Madrigal – Chaminade – JR.
Shawnti Shannon – Golden Valley – SR.
Natalie Ascencio – St. Genevieve – FR.
Giselle Peralta – El Monte – FR.
