Bishop Amat High School Softball Season Preview

As the spring season approaches, the Bishop Amat High School softball team is gearing up for a successful season. We sat down with Coach Tony Delgado to get his insights on the goals and expectations for the team this year. When asked about the team's overall goals for the season, Coach Delgado emphasized winning the League and advancing to the second or third round of Cif as top priorities. He also hopes to have four of his players make the first team all league, with one pitcher competing for pitcher of the year and one positional player competing for MVP of the league. It's clear that Coach Delgado has high expectations for his team and wants them to be competitive at all levels. However, in order to achieve these goals, there will be a few challenges for the team. Coach Delgado stated that pitching and hitting will be the key to success this season. With a thin pitching staff and a young team, these areas will require extra attention and effort. On the bright side, the team is very strong defensively, but the focus will be on developing their offense throughout the season. When asked about top returning players, Coach Delgado immediately mentioned Ayana Jimenez, the team's sophomore pitcher. Jimenez made varsity as a freshman but didn't have a prominent role until the second half of the season. She had an impressive league season and made first team all-league. The team's other prominent returning player is senior Sofia Paneto, a four-year varsity player who serves as the starting shortstop and lead-off hitter for Bishop Amat. As a key player on both offense and defense, Paneto will play a crucial role in the team's success this year. As for team captains, Coach Delgado looks for players who lead by example and are willing to do whatever is necessary for the team to succeed. With a young team dominated by sophomores, he wants captains who can guide and inspire their teammates. Captains should be able to handle difficult situations and be mentally tough, as this is an essential quality for success in softball. When asked if his coaching style differs from previous seasons, Coach Delgado responded that his objective is always to win, so his style remains consistent. However, as this is only his second year coaching the team, he has a better understanding of the players and the team's strengths and weaknesses. He looks forward to helping the team grow and improve as the season progresses.