The 2012 season was pretty rough on the Port Of Los Angeles High JV softball team.

Due to many of the players on the team having sub-par grades at best, the team was not able to finish the season as it was cut short before Crosstown League play even began, and two of them would continue the season on the eventual two-time CIF-Los Angeles City Section champion varsity team as they were pulled up as a reward for keeping their grades up throughout the school season.

It was painfully hard for head coaches Angie Ochoa-Gallegos and Becky Ochoa, but both along with the great backing of varsity coach Melissa Bugarin-Espinoza, an impeccable support system from the team's parents, and even more support from the school itself, the JV team was going to make 2013 their year.

Did they ever.

The POLA JV softball team not only managed to maintain their team GPA high enough for them to finish the season, they posted an incredible 17-5 record, won the Lincoln High JV Tournament, dominated in all six of their Crosstown League victories to win the league title, and even won a City Section playoff game against Lincoln of Los Angeles.

2013 was definitely their year.

During this historic season the JV Polar Bears posted victories over some big schools such as Long Beach Poly, Lakewood, Carson, Banning of Wilmington and Millikan of Long Beach, while also defeating St. Anthony of Long Beach in a pair of intersectional contests. POLA outscored all their opponents 296-80 during the season, providing the same commitment to excellence as their fellow varsity players.

The JV team has four players that won a City Section title on the varsity level in each of POLA's first two championships.

Juniors Stephanie Ramirez, Errica Loera and Karina Vargas were all members of the 2011 City championship team, while junior third baseman Eleesa Atchley and sophomore infielder Brooke Harmon were members of the 2012 City championship squad. Harmon was pulled up to varsity again this season as she'll try to go for a second ring as POLA hosts Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences in Tuesday's Division III semifinal at the Pistol Range.

Atchley blasted two fence-clearing home runs in POLA's 5-2 win over Lincoln last Saturday in the City Section JV playoffs at the Wilmington Jaycee Athletic Complex.

POLA brought in an infusion of talent that could be future champions down the road with a strong freshman class that includes pitcher Lexus Ibarra-Guzman, who started the season on varsity but decided to drop to JV for more playing time in late March. Also, other talented freshmen such as first baseman Alexis Solis, infielder Malia Street, P/INF Joelle Demonte and outfielder Daisy Garcia, who was a goalie on the City Small Schools runner-up girls soccer team, made their mark as well.

Sophomore pitcher Julie Jaime was part of a deep rotation alongside Ibarra-Guzman and Demonte. Street also saw some time in the pitcher's circle earlier in the season. Junior infielder Connor Wright, and sophomore outfielders Alex Gardea and Jackie Garcia were also vital to the JV team's success.

Outfielder Kassy Jaime was the JV team's only senior, as the team honored her with signs and cake while showering her with string confetti after the Polar Bears defeated St. Anthony, 22-0 at Bloch Field in San Pedro on May 9.

POLA's JV season ended sadly with a hard-fought 3-0 loss to perennial City Section JV power Granada Hills last Saturday, but the Polar Bears fought valiantly, with the lone three runs all coming off a home run. Despite that bitter setback, this team still conducted themselves like true champions on and off the field.

A true testament to a terrific program. Congratulations to the POLA JV softball team for a job well done.