Meet the La Habra HS softball team
LA HABRA, Calif. — Lady Highlander Softball is the sleeping giant athletic program in the city of La Habra. For years the Highlanders have a proven track record of a winning program with a total of 25 Freeway League Titles, currently 13 consecutive Titles and one CIF Championship. In years past our program has unfortunately gone through lots of changes and Coach turnover. Despite the turnover, the Lady Highlanders would consistently show pride and excellence with an impressive list of sixty-five alumni scholar athletes who have moved on to play at collegiate level. Most recently the Class of 2022 had ten athletes move on to play at collegiate level on scholarship.
La Habra High School’s most notable alumni is Jenny Topping, “Class of ’98,” who is in the USA softball Hall of Fame, a former collegiate four-time first team All-American, Olympic Gold Medalist, and a retired professional All-Star softball player. Topping played college softball at the Cal State Fullerton and Washington primarily as a catcher. She is best known for being a member of the United States women’s national softball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics that won gold! She also played professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch for the Akron Racers.
“Our 2023 Team Goal is to preserve the tradition of pride and excellence of our program and to win our 14th consecutive Freeway League title. Our captains will be a vital part of our success because they understand and respect the foundation our program is built on. They lead by example through great work ethic, wear our uniform with pride and are committed to excellence. Everyone around our league is aware we lost ten seniors last year and we have a new team this year. Our motivation is to prove we are still the team to beat in Freeway League and take pride to keep it that way. We are stoked at the direction of our school with the new admin and support we have received to be able to build our program as the premier high school program in North Orange County.” Coach Villalobos proudly states.
Team Captains
2023 Senior Sophia Kissling- 3-year Varsity, Committed – Seattle University
2023 Senior Nadia Villalobos- 3-year Varsity Committed – Utah Valley University
2025 Sophmore Crystal Alatorre
Tradition
The softball team supports each other enthusiastically with fun traditions. Before they take the field defensively each inning, they will circle up and drop down to touch the inside the circle. Inside of the circle they have the number “65”. 65 is the number of alumni who have moved on to play college softball and pay respect to those who have laid the foundation of our program.
When teammates get a hit and get on base; that player on base and every player in dugout will make a “X” with arms above their head representing our La Habra HS Flag with pride.
Each time the Lady Highlanders have a victory during Freeway League Play they will turn on lights they installed on their score board. These lights are on a timer that turn on at dawn. This will let local residents, friends, and fans know the team won their game when they drive by our field.
Team Record
13 Consecutive Freeway League Titles
Freeway League Titles
1976, ‘78, ‘79, ‘81, ‘82, ‘89, ‘91, ‘92, ‘93, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, 2009, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘21
1981- CIF Champions
Coaching Staff
Head Coach – Joaquin Villalobos
Varsity Assistant Coach – Chris Kissling
Junior Varsity Head Coach – Vince Perralta
JV Asst Coach – Maleena Esparza
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