If there is one sport in San Pedro that has brought about the most success in the Prep Sports world, it's definitely softball.

San Pedro has won 16 CIF-Los Angeles City Section titles, in only five years, Port Of Los Angeles has already won three CIF-LACS titles, while Mary Star has claimed 16 league titles and reached their first CIF-Southern Section final appearance just two years ago.

Going into 2015 the landscape has changed dramatically.

San Pedro has a new coach, POLA is in a new league, and suddenly, Mary Star has new found power in their offense.

It's also the final year for two of the most decorated pitchers in San Pedro Prep Softball lore, as POLA's Eastern Michigan-bound Nicolle Miranda and Mary Star's George Mason-bound Marina Vitalich look to go out in grand fashion.

POLA is the team to watch out for the most in 2015 as one of the favorites in a wide-open CIF-LACS Division I title chase, but Mary Star will also be strong.

"I believe that this year will be exciting," POLA assistant coach Melissa Bugarin-Espinoza says. "We have a core set of seniors that are ready and hungry to get back to where they left off."

POLA (30-8 overall in 2014) - In their first year as a Division I school in the City Section, POLA had a remarkable 2014 campaign, winning the Redondo Tournament, beat San Pedro twice in a three-day span last April, and reached the Division I semifinals, suffering a narrow loss to eventual champion Carson.

Miranda will no doubt be the focal point of this team, as she is the reigning three-time City Section Pitcher Of The Year and is equally dangerous at the plate. Indiana Tech-bound senior catcher Savana Ramirez also returns. Senior infielder Rose Garcia, sophomore pitcher Analise De La Roca, a Arizona State verbal commit, senior INF/OF Briana Valencia and sophomore outfielder Shelby Younkin are also critical to the Polar Bears' success.

"Together they push one another to be better than the day before and only focus on how they can contribute as role players," Bugarin-Espinoza says. "They trained harder than ever this year and the incoming players along with the returners add a huge depth."

Seniors Tiffany Mercado and Adriana Vargas will both look to play prohibitive roles more frequently, while Bugarin-Espinoza and her husband Moses, the head coach, has high hopes on the incoming freshman class in Anessa Quiroz, Kierah Murrillo, Sienna Valencia, Angie Vargas and Brittany Mercado. Senior first baseman Laura Leos and junior pitcher Vanessa Munoz both return after taking a year off last season.

POLA is now in the Coliseum League after going 46-0 in the Crosstown League, and will draw new tough competition from King-Drew and Crenshaw, plus old Crosstown rival Harbor Teacher Prep, the defending CIF-LACS Division III champion.

MARY STAR (15-9 in 2014) - The Stars have a brand-new face lift in the Camino Real League. Gone is defending champion Cantwell Sacred-Heart of Montebello and Serra of Gardena, and they have now been replaced by Bishop Montgomery and Pomona Catholic. St. Monica appears to be the front-runner, but the Stars beat them all three times last season.

One ting to note about the 2015 Stars is this... the offense is finally catching on, and that's a dangerous omen, especially when Marina Vitalich dissects the opposition with her mesmerizing array of pitches.

"As has been the case the past three years our pitching will keep us in most games, and hopefully our offense will support it with the runs needed to win the tough match-ups," Mary Star coach Gregg Aguilar says. "I am excited to see how the season turns out for us."

Right now, the Stars have already won the Duarte Tournament championship, and Marina Vitalich has been on fire with 68 strikeouts and three tape-measure home runs.

Not to be outdone is her sister, sophomore shortstop Amanda Vitalich, who earlier this year verbally committed to Loyola Marymount University.

"Amanda is a very talented young lady. She has one of the best arms I’ve ever coached," Aguilar says. "Like her sister she has put in a ton of work to get her the opportunity to play at the next level and I am very happy that she has found her home for the future."

Don't let the brilliance of the Vitalich sisters be the only reason you may believe the Stars will be a threat. Aguilar has other hitters around that will make them extra dangerous in sophomore catcher Gianna Fletcher, junior third baseman Bella Samperio, senior shortstop Lexie Geich and freshman first baseman Miranda Marquez.

Freshmen Jillian Duran and Arriana Corrajelo will look to enhance on the Stars' improved outfield.

SAN PEDRO (21-9 in 2014) - A legendary staple in coach Tony Dobra has officially moved on into retirement after 700-plus victories and 13 City crowns. Entering into the mix is new coach Robert Whitney, who coached the JV team to a 10-0 Marine League title last season, and the 2012 CIF-LACS JV softball title in his ten years at the helm.

Gigantic shoes to fill no doubt, but Whitney is poised to make his own mark on the program.

"Coach Dobra was an amazing coach that I was able to learn a lot from him over the past 10 years," Whitney says. "I am honored to be coaching after great coaches at San Pedro and I am ready to live up to their legacy. "

Dobra didn't leave the cupboard bare for his predecessor, as ten players from last year's team returns, including the All-City duo of senior INF/OF/P Taylor Richter and senior catcher Alexa Ponce. Senior second baseman Johnie Cortez, sophomore C/INF Andrea Cline and senior outfielder Chase Wong are returning All-Marine League standouts.

Senior outfielder Cayla Ezelle, sophomore outfielder Andrea Trejo, sophomore pitcher Cindy Robles and sophomore third baseman Ricki Justiniano are other key players for the Pirates, who will challenge the likes of both Carson and Banning in the offensively-stacked Marine League.

"We have our work cut out for us with those successful programs, but our offense is good when it's on too," Whitney says. "I believe we have a good chance."