John Glenn softball wins first postseason game in school history

John Glenn’s Veronica Flores celebrates getting a hit against Magnolia in their CIF softball playoff game at John Glenn High School in Norwalk on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

NORWALK – “The team that could” might be a label for the upstart John Glenn High School softball program this season.

After 31 years of not qualifying for the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, the Eagles made a run in 2021 that will be remembered for some time.

A first for the program was qualifying for an at-large berth in division 7, then its first win and again a second win to advance to the quarterfinals Tuesday (June 8).

JG defeated host Shandon, 14-0, in the first round and Magnolia, 10-0 in the second round.

An 8-4 loss to Alverno Hts. (Sierra Madre) Academy ended the season for the team, but the future looks very, very bright.

This years’ team is mostly freshmen, but the next two incoming classes also look to carry the Eagles for the next few years.

Third-year coach Larry Leal said the success of the team is simply “practice, practice, practice, just keep practicing.”

After finishing the season with an overall record of 10-7 and 5-5 in the 605 League for fourth place, Leal thought the young team was done for the year.

“[Athletic Director Linda Parra] let me know that we were putting in a bid for CIF,” Leal added.

On the announcement of the possibility of a spot in the post season, Leal said, “we were in the school parking lot and the girls were all on their phones waiting for the decision. I told them they were in and they were all excited.”

John Glenn's Julia Cole (23) runs to home after hitting a three run home run against Magnolia in their CIF softball playoff game at John Glenn High School in Norwalk on Saturday. John Glenn defeated Magnolia 10-0. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

The team found out they were in the playoffs and would have to travel over four hours to a little-known school East of Paso Robles (Shandon).

“It feels good because it hasn’t happened in a long time,” John Glenn junior pitcher Gabby Ortega said. “I feel like communication was big today and my screwball and curve was working.

“The first inning really got us going as we were all hyped up.”

Parra, who has been at Glenn awhile, was excited for the softball program.

“What an incredible run our softball program had this year,” she said. “John Glenn High School and the Norwalk La Mirada Union School District is so proud of the accomplishments of our Varsity Softball program this year. The team was very young, with many of the girls playing in a high school game for the first time this year.

“The setbacks we faced due to COVID did not seem to really affect the girls on the field. Our girls showed resilience, hard work and a lot of pride in every game they played.”

The key game for the team was a come-from-behind win over Artesia early in the season.

Trailing by three runs, freshman third baseman Julia Cole smacked a three-run home run to tie the game and freshman first baseman Anais Perez scored in the seventh on a single by Beatriz Galvez for the win.

John Glenn second baseman Janessa Leal (4) catches a ball behind first base as they play Magnolia in their CIF softball playoff game at John Glenn High School in Norwalk on Saturday. John Glenn defeated Magnolia 10-0. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

“After that game, the girls starting talking about CIF,” Leal said. “It’s getting the kids to follow the program.

“It all came together once we started winning when we were 5-0 and they fought for those wins.”

Fast forward to the first playoff game against Shandon, the eagles came out swinging, as they scored twice in the first and second innings before an explosion in the third for 10 runs to lead, 14-0. Two innings later, the game ended due to the 10-run rule and the Eagles had their history-making first CIF win.

The team totaled 23 hits in the game and leading the way was Ortega pitching a two-hitter and had seven strikeouts.

Offensively, freshman centerfielder Diana Bravo (4 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB) and Galvez (4 for 4, 3 R, 3 RBI, double and a triple) led the team with four hits each.

Three players had three hits each: Ortega (3 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI), Cole (3 for 3, 2 R, RBI) and freshman catcher Sienna Contreras (3 for 3, R, 3 RBI, SB).

All nine players in the lineup had at least one hit.

“After the win, the girls asked ‘what’s next and who are we going to play,’” said Leal after the 14-0 first round game.

First home playoff game for Glenn

The first home playoff in school history was a second-round game on Saturday (June 5) with the Eagles hosting Magnolia.

The offense and pitching were nearly identical with 15 hits and another two-hitter by Ortega.

John Glenn's Gabby Ortega (5) makes a pitch in their game against Magnolia in their CIF softball playoff game at John Glenn High School in Norwalk on Saturday. John Glenn defeated Magnolia 10-0. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

The first inning was all they needed, as the inning was highlighted by a triple and double by Ortega (3 for 3, 3 R, RBI) and Cole, respectively, for the 4-0 lead.

Cole (3 for 3, 6 RBI, 2 R, HR) kept up her offensive attack with a three-run home run in the second for the 7-0 lead. She had six RBIs in the game.

“I was a little bit nervous in the game because it is the first time in CIF and it makes me feel good,” Cole said. “I just did it for my team and tried to win.”

Cole gave the Eagles their ninth and tenth runs with a two-run triple to left field, scoring Ortega and Galvez.

“For me, just being around the kids is great and they kept saying, ‘we’re in it,” Leal said. “After this win, we could see the difference in their play. When we beat them, we were getting confident.”

Season ends with quarterfinal loss

The quarterfinal game against Alverno Heights was another home game for the Eagles, with over 200 in attendance at the school, including former players.

For the first time in the playoffs for the eagles, they found themselves trailing in the game, 3-0, in the second inning.

Contreras led off the inning with a double to center field and eventually scored on a ground out to second by Lopez.

Each team scored a run in the third inning, with the Jaguars holding a 4-2 lead.

A pair of runs in the fourth extended Alverno’s lead again, 6-2.

Glenn closed the gap to 6-4 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Junior right fielder Daniela Barron (1 for 3, R) opened the inning with a single to left field. That was followed by another single by Bravo (1 for 4, R) and a walk by Galvez (2 for 2, R, Dbl.) to load the bases.

John Glenn's Julia Cole (23) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three run home run against Magnolia in their CIF softball playoff game at John Glenn High School in Norwalk on Saturday. John Glenn defeated Magnolia 10-0. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

Cole (3 for 4, 3 RBI), with her eight hit of the playoffs, doubled to centerfield, scoring Barron and Bravo.

Cole would add another hit in the seventh to run her playoff totals to a near-perfect, nine for 10 at the plate.

Alverno added two more runs to lead, 8-4, in the sixth.

JG had runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to score and end the game and the season.

“When the season first started, the team had a goal to make the CIF playoffs, something that has not happened in 31 years,” Parra continued. “To make it to the quarterfinals was a great accomplishment for the team. I know that they were upset about losing to Alverno, but we spoke to the girls that their goal should be to continue to work hard and improve their skills to be an even stronger team next year.”

“Our coaches, Larry Leal and Javier Galvez, did an incredible job this season with the team. The team talk that followed the loss to Alverno was very inspirational and motivating. I know they truly care about the well being of the players beyond the softball field. Their goal is to make the girls to be able to apply the lessons they learn on the field to help them become well rounded successful adults in the future.

The future of JGHS Softball is looking bright. I am hopeful that the success of the softball program and the support that was shown district-wide, will draw more of our students out to join our athletic programs.”

“We’re excited for the girls as we have two good freshmen classes coming in over the next two years,” Leal added.

John Glenn third baseman Aileen Lopez (14) throws to first base to get the Magnolia runner out in their CIF softball playoff game at John Glenn High School in Norwalk on Saturday. John Glenn defeated Magnolia 10-0. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

Glenn softball offers clinics this summer

Beginning June 15 and continuing every Tuesday and Thursday in the summer, John Glenn Softball will be offering clinics (ages 10 and up) taught by the coaches and college players. Time is 5-8 pm and cost is $10 per session.

Glenn is also planning to hold a softball league starting in August.