Burroughs is looking to rebound from its surprising CIF Southern Section opening-round loss to Woodbridge and make another attempt to get over the hump in the playoffs 

The John Burroughs Bears are heading into a new season with skyrocketing expectations under long-time head softball coach Doug Nicol. Last season the Bears finished with a 21-7 overall record and a 6-1 in the Pacific League, including a third-place finish in the inaugural Pacific League Tournament. Burroughs also suffered an opening-round playoff loss to Woodbridge in the CIF Southern Section Playoffs. Nicol is currently in his second stint overseeing the program, entering his fifth season as the head softball coach at John Burroughs High School, a role he also previously held from 2010-2016 before stepping aside following the 2016 season. This Bears team should be one of the favorites to win the Pacific League alongside Arcadia and Crescenta Valley. 

The coaching staff under Doug Nicol will feature junior varsity head coach Katie Taix, frosh head coach Lysette Perez, and veteran assistant coaches Laban Freeman, Sheila Oasay, Bill Dunaway, and Louie Binda. Taix takes over as the head JV coaching duties from Krystin Thomas who recently stepped down from the position. Freeman, Oasay, and Dunaway will assist Nicol on the varsity team and Binda will assist Perez and Taix on frosh and JV. 

While this team is loaded with talent, Nicol has a lot of elite players to be on the lookout for heading into the new season. This roster will feature three returning all-Pacific League players in seniors Chloe Centeno (returning all-first-team Pacific League first baseman/Fort Hays State University Commit), Alyssa Morales (returning all-second-team Pacific League outfielder) along with junior Karlee Earl who is coming off a season where she earned all first-team Pacific League honors and has earned Pacific League awards since her freshman season. Sophomore Sophia Rangsiwayong (younger sister of former Bears shortstop Gizelle Rangsiwayong) along with freshmen Kalani Miramontes, Claire Simons, and Haven Vickers should be key underclassmen for this Bears team this season. 

“Fort Hays is my top choice to play college softball because I love the campus and the coaches and players were all so nice,” said Bears senior superstar first baseman Centeno. She also mentioned that she enjoyed visiting Fort Hays, which was also a leading factor in choosing her college softball school. 

“I’m really optimistic about our chances of making a deeper playoff run this season but with the new season starting we have to take it game by game as it’s all about conquering both non-league and Pacific League opponents,” said Doug Nicol. Nicol stated that Cenento is the program’s career doubles leader with the fact that no one in the history of the team has hit more doubles than Centeno. Nicol also added that Morales has come a long way since her sophomore season and also called Karlee Earl one of the best hitters in Southern California and that she will be a division one or two player whenever she plays college softball. He also expressed confidence in sophomore Sophie Rangsiwaong and freshman Haven Vickers playing a factor on this team this season. 

Important dates on the calendar to be on the lookout for will be when Burroughs begins the 2025 season on the road with La Canada on Thursday, February 20th with the first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Tournament’s that the Bears will be participating in is the Hart Tournament which will take place on Saturday February 22nd and March 1st. They will also be a part of the Woodbridge Dugard Tournament from Saturday, March 22nd until March 29th along with the Best of the West Tournament at Righetti High School beginning on Thursday, April 24th until Saturday, April 26th. 

Other key dates on the calendar to be on the lookout for will be the season home opener against Woodbridge on Wednesday, March 12th which will be a CIF Southern Section opening round rematch. Pacific League play will begin on Tuesday, April 1st as Burroughs will host League rival Muir Mustangs of Pasadena at 3:30 p.m. Senior Night honoring the three graduating seniors Alyssa Morales, Chloe Centeno, and Valentina Clemmons will take place on Wednesday, April 23rd before the first pitch against the Crescenta Valley Falcons at 6:00 p.m. The crosstown rival face-off with Burbank will take place on Tuesday, April 29th at 6:00 p.m. at McCambridge Park field two. Stay tuned for coverage of the 2025 season of John Burroughs Bears softball all season long.