Anaheim softball shows resiliency in push toward league, postseason goals
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Anaheim’s softball team features only three seniors but it has developed an important characteristic often associated with more experienced squads.
Resiliency.
Anaheim showed that quality last week as it overcame a six-run deficit to defeat Santiago 14-7 to remain undefeated in the Coast League.
“This year, I think we are really resilient and we trust one another,” Anaheim coach Chad Clark said. “We’ve been down quite a few times and even in the games that we’ve lost, almost every single time we’ve come back.”
Anaheim (14-5, 10-0) showcased its grit by rallying from a 7-1 deficit in the fourth inning against Santiago (11-4, 4-4).
Clark said the Colonists’ nine-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning started with a walk by freshman Lily Guzman.
“(Our players) know that they don’t have to do anything too big,” the fourth-year coach said. “They can just get on base and their teammate will pick them up.”
Freshman Mak Acosta highlighted the fourth inning with a two-run home run to tie the score.
Acosta, who plays shortstop and bats cleanup, is hitting .466 and leads the team with 34 RBIs and four home runs.
She helps power an offense that averages almost 12 runs per game.
Sophomores Jenelle Monzon and Chloe Tabita are both hitting well over .500.
Monzon, who plays center field and bats second, is hitting .618 with 12 doubles, 26 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. She is a left-handed hitter.
Tabita, who bats third in the lineup, is hitting .566 with 10 doubles, 27 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
Kamila Ramirez, a junior, is hitting .488 with 23 RBIs.
Tabita also has emerged as the team’s top pitcher. In her first season in the circle, she is 10-1 with a 3.56 ERA.
“She has a good mentality,” Clark said. “She doesn’t let errors affect her. She doesn’t let runs affect her. She does a good job of attacking the strike zone.”
Senior catcher Tatyana Rosa forms a strong battery with Tabita and is hitting .453.
Anaheim is aiming for an undefeated league title and to make a playoff run, Clark said.
Last season, the Colonists lost in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs to the eventual runner-up West Ranch. Anaheim also lost in the first round in Division 5 in 2024.
Clark said his team recently devoted time to learning about the postseason experience of the Anaheim girls flag football team, which claimed a section title in the fall.
Left fielder Valerie Florido played on the flag team and shared her perspective on the success.
“It was all intangibles,” Clark said of the tips. “The whole team trusted each other. They played for each other and they were genuinely happy for each other when anybody was doing something really good.”
NOTES
The San Juan Hills-El Toro game that was suspended in the 11th inning due to darkness on April 17 has been ruled a tie, Stallions coach Jeremey Wooten said. The teams were tied 4-4. …
Sunny Hills senior Elayna Marquez hit two home runs in a game twice last week to take the county lead with 12. …
Katella’s Dani Neville is batting .525 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs. The senior is 10-6 as a pitcher for the Knights, who lead the Golden West League by 1 1/2 games. …
The Orange County all-star game for seniors is June 10.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 2:03 PM.