Former La Mirada Softball trio finds a home at Mt. SAC
La Mirada alumni, from left, freshmen Janis Espinoza, 19, Aleyna Urbina, 7, and Grace Archuleta, 11, are on the Mt. San Antonio College softball team on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
WALNUT – The odds of three high school senior softball players ending up at the same college and making an immediate impact in their freshmen year is a unique situation.
These three La Mirada grads have fit in nicely with the Mt. San Antonio College Softball program.
It just so happens that beginning Thursday (May 18) and continuing through Sunday (May 21), Mt. SAC will be playing in the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Championships.
The Mounties, a high-end softball program, will be aiming for their seventh state title since 2003.
The three La Mirada standouts are Grace Archuleta, Janis Espinoza and Aleyna Urbina.
“We’ve never recruited three players from one high school,” said Mt. SAC assistant coach Jim Bollier, who has been with the program as a coach since 2009. “These are two strong defensive and offensive players and the other (Urbina) is strong in the circle.
“They’ve played together at La Mirada and have brought that special bond to Mt. SAC.”
Bollier, who is heavily involved in the recruiting process for the Mounties softball program, said of the three players – “Grace (Archuleta) is a valuable part of the outfield and in certain situations when in the lineup, she has a sneaky bunt and also no fielding errors. Her strongest point is defense.”
Archuleta is batting .444 (8 for 18) and has a .500 slugging percentage.
“Janis (Espinoza) is a very selective situational hitter, that knows the strike zone and has gap-to-gap power. Janis’ decision to be a Mt. SAC Mountie was key to our success and Aleyna (Urbina) is our work horse in the circle.”
Espinoza and Urbina both received post-season awards. Espinoza received the Co-Player of the year in the South Coast Conference, along with being named to the All-3C2A State So Cal team.
She scored 43 runs, stole 23 bases with a .458 batting average and .530 on-base percentage.
Urbina was named SCC Pitcher of the Year with a 17-2 record (19-2 overall) with a 1.10 ERA. She also was named to the All-So Cal NFCA -First Team as an All-American and the All 3C2A South Region First Team.
“It’s really exciting and I trust these girls and I’ve been with them for a really long time,” Archuleta said. “They will get the job done no matter what, even in a pressure situation.”
Archuleta explained the important part each of them has on the team will be going forward. “We each know how we are out on the field, and we just trust each other at different spots.
“It’s very different here at Mt. SAC than in high school. Coach (Brent) Tuttle (La Mirada Softball coach) would be very excited for us, and he still posts about us on social media and he’s still watching all of us. He’d be very excited for us.”
Espinoza, who was a big part of Mt. SAC this year and also for La Mirada, said of the three of them – “Honestly, it’s very exciting and we all have different roles on the team. (Mt. SAC Coach Ruby) Rojas has said to have each other’s backs and Grace (Archuleta) has so much passion out there when she gets to go out there. She has a fire in her. I just love watching her.
“At the end of the day, we’re all one.”
Espinoza spoke of La Mirada – “The person I was in high school to the person I am now, is a different type of person and have had tremendous growth coming to this program and I owe it all to the coaching staff. I owe it to every single one of them (Rojas, Bollier, Erika Eklund and Anthony Gonzalez).”
Espinoza missed a few games due to an arm injury and talked of her time away from the action – “It was more of a mental battle than a physical one, because coming back it was in an intense situation (playoffs).
“I had to concentrate on my next opportunities. Not one person wins a game, it’s a team effort.”
The third baseman also talked of the importance of taking the two-year college route.
“JC (Community College) is a great path to take. I think that this is a great opportunity if they want it to continue to the next level (four-year college or university). The growth at a JC is the best choice you ever have to discover as an athlete and as a person as well.
I would recommend it to anybody. Coming here was the best choice for me.”
The third player in this trio is the “quiet one” out of the circle, but very focused and intense when she is pitching and also spoke of the support from her teammates.
“It’s very exciting knowing that they (Espinoza and Archuleta) are going to be behind me when I’m pitching,” Urbina said of her former La Mirada and now Mt. SAC teammates. She also said of her pitching teammates, especially freshman Mirannda Rodriguez, who hasn’t lost a game yet this season with a 15-0 record.
“We all have each other’s back and we all are an extension of one another and if one of us has a bad day, the other person is going to be there for us and pick us up,” Urbina added.
Asked about her former coach at La Mirada, Brent Tuttle, Urbina quietly said, “I think he would be pretty happy.”
Mt. SAC sophomore second baseman, Asia Chacon, who played at Sonora High played summer ball with two of them.
“I grew up with them,” Chacon said. “I actually played travel ball with Grace (Archuleta) and Aleyna (Urbina). It was fun.”
Grace’s stepdad ran a Honda Taggers team and they (Archuleta and Urbina) played together.
“Even in Rec (recreation) Ball it was La Habra versus La Mirada,” she said. “I played with Janis (Espinoza) in La Habra in little league (La Habra Softball).
“I kind of convinced Aleyna and Grace for sure. I hadn’t talked to Janis in a while, but I knew that this was the program for Aleyna and Grace. I was really happy for them and this was the place for her. I was really excited. Look at them now – Aleyna is the pitcher of the year and Grace hits the ball every time she steps in the box. I’m just really proud.”
Coach Tuttle at La Mirada currently has 13 players playing at the college level now and keeps tabs on all of them.
“I knew going in that Mt. SAC was getting three high-level players,” said Tuttle of the three former La Mirada players. “That’s a lot for a JC, especially for a program like Mt. SAC.
“I always try to keep in touch with our former players,” said Tuttle, who’s teams are consistently in the playoffs in high school.
“All three of them (Archuleta, Espinoza and Urbina) are great players. Aleyna pitched in 27 games last year and that kind of prepped her for this year.”
Tuttle on all three players – Urbina – “Her changeup keeps batters off balance. It’s her bread and butter. Aleyna is the quiet type. Once you know how to call her pitches, she’ll be great.”
Archuleta – “Grace is a leader and a great kid.”
Espinoza – “Janis is a true utility player. She could play any position, except pitcher. She could pitch too if we taught her.”
In her four years, Espinoza played catcher in her freshman year, the outfield in her sophomore and junior years and third base as a senior.
“I was shocked that all three were available (for Mt. SAC),” Tuttle concluded.
What they said:
Christine Mead, La Mirada Athletic Director (JV Softball coach): “It’s extremely exciting to see three former Matadores preparing to compete in the college state playoffs. It’s always amazing to see our girls competing and succeeding at the next level. The La Mirada family wishes them luck this weekend.”
Asia Chacon, Mt. SAC sophomore second baseman: “I think it’s fun to watch them grow. Looking at all three of the freshmen and knowing that what they’re doing now is going to happen for next year is super exciting.
Watching them grow and handle pressure is comforting.