Having returned all but one starter off a team that went undefeated in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division last year, the Los Gatos High School softball team looks poised to run the table again this season.
The Wildcats entered this week’s action at 4-3 overall and 1-0 in De Anza Division play, including a 10-1 win over Homestead in the league opener on March 20. Los Gatos has qualified for the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs in three of the last five years, but has yet to walk off the field with a victory.
“Getting a win in the Open Division would be the next logical step for the program,” coach Randy Frey said. “Los Gatos High School softball hasn’t won CCS since 1993, so we’d like to fix that as well.”
With the returning sister battery of pitcher Ava Norquist and catcher Annika Norquist—the duo were the 2024 SCVAL De Anza Division co-MVPs—Los Gatos has the ability to match up against the top teams in the CCS.
That was evident in a season-opening 2-0 loss to Mitty, a traditional Northern California power.
Ava, a sophomore, has 34 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. As dominant as Norquist has been in the circle, she’s been equally as potent at the plate.
Norquist leads the team with 13 hits in seven games, producing a .565 batting average and nine RBIs while hitting from the cleanup spot. Annika, a senior, provides a steadying presence behind the plate with her ability to call pitches and play rock-solid defense.
In sophomore Danica DeSantis, the Wildcats have a strong No. 2 pitcher who can spell some innings for Ava Norquist—a luxury they didn’t have last season. DeSantis has allowed just two hits in 11 innings pitched and sports a 0.00 ERA and .182 WHIP.
“Danica has pitched really well, which is great for us,” Frey said. “The plan is to let her pitch her fair share of innings so we can keep Ava strong through the end of the season. With Ava and Danica, pitching is not going to be our problem. And actually, I don’t really know what our problem is going to be. We can hit, we can play defense and we can pitch.”
Of that, there is no doubt. The Wildcats have already bashed four home runs from four different players, surpassing their total from last season. They return shortstop Grace Tucker, who was the 2024 De Anza Division Offensive Player of the Year.
Second baseman Olivia Sickels is a five-tool player who boosts the team in several ways.
“She may be one of the best pure athletes ever to come through the program,” Frey said. “She runs like a deer, hits, slides everywhere, hustles everywhere.”
Twin sisters Lily and Robyn Young round out the infield at first base and third base, respectively. Both players are reliable and have had some standout performances. Frey has been encouraged by the play of Addie Sorto, who has been starting as the designated player but can also play catcher, third base and outfield.
“Last year, Addie sprained her ankle in a club game in January, and that basically caused her to miss all of preseason conditioning and a lot of practices,” Frey said. “She got off to a really slow start and sort of never recovered. But this year she’s come out on fire and is tearing the cover off the ball.”
Sorto leads the team with a robust .579 batting average to go along with eight RBIs and seven runs scored. The outfield is also stockloaded with talent, including Sophia Krish, Ria Sharma, Tessa Lillienstein and Keira Kelly.
To further elevate the team, Frey put together arguably the toughest non-league schedule in program history.
Los Gatos has already played CCS powers Mitty and Valley Christian and still has St. Francis, Capuchino, Carlmont and Westmont in non-league action—just to name a few.
“We’ll probably have our ups and downs this year because of the competitiveness of our schedule,” Frey said. “The girls need to realize they can play with these teams because they can and they showed it against Mitty. So we’ll continue to get better and better and I’m happy with what I’ve seen from the team so far.”
