West Hills calls for Doctor in softball

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 14, 2023

Courtesy file photo, LIU-Brooklyn University

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

ECS staff report

Lauren Morizi, (circa 2010 at New Mexico State

SANTEE – Lauren Morizi, one of the top lead-off batters ever in North County’s Palomar League, has been named the new head softball coach at West Hills School. The announcement was made by Wolf Pack athletics director Lucas Lucas Hondros.

Morizi replaces the successful Mike Applebaum who spent 12 seasons guiding the Wolf Pack, highlighted by capturing the CIF-San Diego Section Division II championship in 2011.

Morizi — more specifically, Dr. Morizi — was known as a terror on the basepaths as a four-year letter-winner at Torrey Pines High School.

Morizi as a senior at LIU-Brooklyn, circa 2014

“I was looking to get back into coaching hen the job at West Hills opened up. I felt it was a great opportunity.”

“Coming into a program with a fresh set of eyes is always a good thing as it will allow me to bring a new perspective and bring ideas to help get the program back to a competitive one and also move back to a Division I program in the future.”

“For the upcoming season, I just want to compete and for the kids to have fun and enjoy their experience as well as create better student-athletes and role models on campus.”

Post-high school, Morizi would go on to play her college ball at both New Mexico State and LIU Brooklyn. While at LIU-Brooklyn in 2013. she would be named to the Capital One Academic All-America team.

How good was Morizi with the Blackbirds, an NCAA Division I program? In just one season, she became the school’s career leader in doubles, despite missing two full season after she tore her Achilles tendon at NMSU in her freshmanseason. She also posted a 20-game hitting streak.

Read about her comeback HERE

“Lauren was a slap hitter and a lefty so she would just put the ball down and go,” said veteran Torrey Pines head coach Jon Moore. “But she also had some pop in her at, so she had to bat lead-off.”

“Her sister, Karen was also a good player for us and was a four-year letter-winner, too.”

Following her playing career, Morizi joined the LIU-Brooklyn coaching staff for four season before returning to San Diego County. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in (Health Science) degree and also a doctorate in physical therapy, graduating at the top of her class.

The Grossmont Union High School District hired her as the physical therapist for all of its schools in 2021.

‘I am really excited and so far the girls that have come out have been receptive and are excited as well.:

However, the pressure is on — Morizi replaces a coach that captured the CIF-San Diego Section Division II crown in his first season at the helm of the Wolf Pack.

Moore added, “Lauren will be great at West Hills. She’s super-knowledgeable and a great person.”

Moore also compared her to one of East County’s all-time best lead-off slap hitters in Carri Leto (Martin) of Valhalla (Class of 2000), who went on to play professionally and became a two-time National Pro Fastpitch All-Star. and won the Cowles Cup championship with the New York/ New Jersey Juggernaut in 2004,

Plus, with the Moore-Morizi connection, the Wolf Pack should re-gain entry into the Falcon Fiesta, the section’s top mid-season tournament.