The Port Of Los Angeles High softball team will begin their season on Friday in the Redondo Union Tournament, and with that opener against Marymount, it begins another incredible journey.

Last year, the Polar Bears would make a marvelous run in a year of firsts... a dominating run to the Crosstown League championship, followed by becoming the first team in the history of POLA to claim a CIF-Los Angeles City Section championship, when they edged Northridge Academy, 2-0 last May to earn that distinction for the Small Schools Division title.

Several returning players return from that team for head coach Melissa Bugarin-Espinoza.

First, the catcher position is solid with junior Brianna Grayson, a returning All-City selection for the Small Schools Division. Grayson batted .474 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs, while stealing 22 bases in 23 attempts, showcasing explosive speed. Grayson only committed 2 errors behind the plate for POLA, who went 18-7 last season while playing in some killer tournaments against bigger schools to better themselves for the playoffs.

Another key returner is sophomore infielder Kelsea Short, who along with senior infielder Lizelle Florez, were the two heroes in last year's championship victory over Northridge Academy.

Short, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the title game, hit a solid .415 with 5 homers and 23 RBIs for the Polar Bears, while Florez hit .360 with a homer and 17 RBIs. Florez is one of three returning seniors on the team this year, also including senior outfielder Drucilla Gonzalez and infielder Everly Dominguez-Loera.

Five freshmen will enter into the fold for POLA in P/SS Nicolle Miranda, OF/DH Tiffany Mercado, OF/3B Briana Valencia, 2B/OF Adriana Vargas, and infielder Tiffany Torres, who's also starring for the currently undefeated girls soccer team as a high-scoring forward.

Miranda will battle returning sophomore pitcher Allison Bayer for the No.1 spot in the circle.

Bayer, who also is a first baseman, saw limited action pitching behind City Section Small Schools MVP, the recently departed Brandi Sutcliffe. Bayer posted a 1.29 ERA with 29 strikeouts opposed to just 21 walks.

Sophomore third baseman Sarah Maldonado is another returning player for POLA, who's only other newcomer is senior outfielder Megan Russo.

POLA will try to defend their Crosstown League crown against the likes of Harbor Teacher Prep of Wilmington, Rancho Dominquez Prep of Long Beach, Central Region 16 of Los Angeles, and South Region 2 of Los Angeles, and has nonleague contests against Mary Star, Rolling Hills Prep, and Jefferson of Los Angeles.

Bugarin-Espinoza, a Mary Star alumni, has complied a 48-17 record in three years coaching the Polar Bears.