By Annette Aucamp & Emma Kavcioglu 

Granada Hills Charter High School is known for its top notch academics – but it is also an institution known for cultivating exceptional student athletes. The student athletes on the Granada Hills Charter softball team are no exception. This collection of bright young women come together every year and lay their hearts out on the field to play like they practice during every single game. 

Last year, during the 2024-2025 school year, the softball team achieved an outstanding winning record of 29 games and just  4 losses. As a result of their hard work, the varsity softball team was the 2024 West Valley League Champions. 

This season, the team aims to win the League competition undefeated for the third year in a row and win the CIF championships. 

“This season is especially special since it is the last time on the field for a lot of us seniors,” senior and Captain Addison Moorman said. “We have 8 seniors and most of us have experienced earning 2nd place in the CIF championship. We just want to make our last year our best year and hopefully go out with a ring.”

The teams that they are especially looking out for are El Camino Real Charter High School, Birmingham Community Hills Charter High School, Harvard Westlake, and Carson High School. These schools are also major contenders for the West Los Angeles League Championship. 

In a recent away game against Valencia High School on Wednesday April 2, our Highlanders were clearly victorious with a 14-4 final score. Junior Zoe Justman was a standout in that game in particular with one homerun, three RBIs and two runs. The girls worked together well, always maintaining a player on base and finishing the game strong. This particular game was the eleventh straight win in away games for the softball team. 

With many seniors on the team, they are feeling the pressure to win and prove themselves to their school and themselves and feel the success of winning the CIF championship.

Out of the eight seniors currently on the team, there are four that have accepted offers and committed to universities so far. 

Samantha Esparza has committed to Cornell University. Addison Moorman, the team’s pitcher, has committed to LeHigh University. Their middle infielder, Lainy Brown, is committed to Manhattan University, and the team’s first and third basemen Annabella Ramirez is committed to Claremont Mckenna College. They are all expected to continue playing softball at their respective institutions. 

So far, the softball team has been in their preseason. They have started off strong by holding a 10-2 record, and their league season began this week. They played Cleveland High School on April 9.