Club Team Spotlight: Wildcats – Holcomb/Knight 16U… “New Group Has It All!”

Sometimes you just have to do it the hard way.

At PGF Nationals in July, the Wildcats – Holcomb/Knight team lost its first game in bracket play and had to then battle back in the loser’s bracket.

Battle they did, as the team went on an eight game run knocking off (and sending home) several top teams from California and Georgia.

The Wildcats ultimately lost to the Birmingham Bolts Premier – Kaplan team in ITB, 3-2, but the impressive run—which including several nail-biters with scores of 1-0 and 2-1—plus the return of several key players makes the future look very bright for this Southern California-based 16U team

The Wildcats were led by a pair of outstanding pitchers in Taylor Mediano and Audrey Lopetegui who both threw in all eight games of the run.

Taylor had a 0.75 ERA and Audrey had a 0.85 ERA through PGF Nationals and helping the team end up in 7^th place.

“These two pitchers were absolute workhorses throughout PGF,” Coach Ted Holcomb said. “Our bats went cold, but it just goes to show you can win a lot of games with great pitching and defense.”

The young team never scored more than three runs during the streak, but still found ways to win.

“Lots of bunts and small ball,” the coach continues. “We just kept saying scratch out two or three runs a game for these pitchers and we have a chance.”

This team was strong all year, also finishing in the Top 10 in the Boulder IDT and going undefeated in Zoom into June.

Most of the team will be going to Rob Weil’s 18U Gold team but Holcomb is excited about the new squad he has put together for the 2023/2024 team.

“This new group has got it all!” he says excitedly. “Speed, power and great athletes.  We are young with mostly first-year 2026 grads, but they are all ballers.”

“We are especially solid in the infield with middles Renay Chavez, Kaila Arakaki and Paige Kingery.

Holcomb expects Chavez and Arakaki to fill the rolls of his great 1-2 punch he had last year in slappers Quinn Southerland and Ashley Hernandez who are both committed to Boise State.

“On the corners, we have very strong players with huge bats in Mikayla Sta. Ana, Alexis Galicia and Janessa Gutierrez,” Holcomb continues. “Behind the plate we are stronger than ever with three stud catchers in Blair Rune, Raleigh Chung and Jordan Castrellon.  All three have great arms and big bats.”

In the outfield, the Wildcats had a nice balance of experience and athleticism.

“We have returners Kaycie Gavlak and Zariah Billinger,” Coach Holcomb continues, “and the will be joined by speedsters Hayli Mcllroy and Kara Tessier.”

And, though this summer’s dynamic duo in the circle – Taylor Mediano and Audrey Lopetegui – may have moved on, Holcomb feels the team will be strong once again in the pitching department, Moorpark High standout Viviana Ramirez and South Hills (West Covina, Calif.) High hurlers Hailey Marez and returner Alyssa Tafolla.

“I think we were able to attract these new top players based on what we achieved in PGF,” the coach concludes.

“We had large crowds and stands were packed with college coaches watching our team make the run.”

— Brentt Eads/Extra Inning Softball

The 2023 Fall Wildcats team roster:

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