RIO HONDO – They were the Valley’s last team standing in the playoffs last year. Rio Hondo made it all the way to the Elite 8 in the Class 4A tournament, which was their deepest run in program history.

This year, the Lady Bobcats have five players coming back as starters from last year’s team. Despite losing a few seniors who moved on to play college softball, the team feels like they have enough talent for another successful season.

“It’s going to be hard,” said Rio Hondo senior pitcher Annie Alvarado. “They were all really amazing players. But we have a lot of girls here that can step up and fill their spots so we’re going to be okay.”

“We come out here and we already know what to do,” said Rio Hondo junior first baseman Kayla Castaneda. “We have a good group of girls coming up so there’s lots of excitement.”

“We’re ready where we want to be and we’re ready to make that next push,” said Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza. “We’ve been in these moments. We’re going to be solid up the middle this year. We have the two seniors who pitch and catch for us. There’s a senior in center field and a senior playing shortstop so we’re bringing back a good nucleus to stay strong up the middle. The key part is going to be adding the right pieces to the puzzle.”

The Lady Bobcats open the season February 13 against Brownsville Lopez.