East County Sports

So Cal Sidelines Prep Softball Rankings

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

 


Final So Cal Sidelines Rankings (6/13/17)

 


SO CAL SIDELINES RANKINGS


(Records through Saturday, June 3, games)


SO CAL TOP 20


1. (2) Los Alamitos (Sunset) 28-3

The Griffins, who reached the finals for the first time since 2004, avenged all three of their losses, including a 3-1 victory over Norco in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals to finish as the top team in the OC, So Cal, the state and the nation. Los Al loses 14 seniors to graduation, but they still have a ton of young talent that will be champing at the bit to help the Griffins repeat as champions.

2. (1) Norco (Big VIII) 33-1

The Cougars won the two biggest high school tournaments in the nation — the Tournament of Champions in Bullhead and the Michelle Carew Classic in Orange County — and the Big VIII League title before losing to Los Alamitos, 3-1 in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game. Cal State Fullerton-bound Taylor Dockins became the CIF-SS’s all-time winningest pitcher and went 9-1 against nationally-ranked teams and still picked up the Gatorade State and National Player of the Year awards for her fantastic season.

3. (3) Orange Lutheran (Trinity) 28-4

The two-time defening Trinity League champions reached the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals before getting edged by Los Alamitos, 1-0.

4. (6) Buena of Ventura (Channel) 27-0-1

UC Davis-bound Brooke Yanez tossed a no-hitter with 12 Ks to help the Bulldogs beat San Marcos of Santa Barbara, 5-0, in the CIF-SS Division 4 finals for their first championship since 1989 and to help them become the first team from Ventura County to go undefeated.

5. (4) Cathedral Catholic of San Diego (Western) 27-5-1

After losing to Granite Hills of El Cajon, 3-2, in eight innings in the opening round of the playoffs, the Dons had to win four consecutive elimination games, including two over San Marcos of San Marcos on Thursday, to reach the finals where they pulled out a 3-0 victory in 10 innings over Ramona of Ramona to capture the CIF-SDS Open Division championship. UCLA-commit Megan Faraimo tossed a six-hitter with 17 strikeouts in the title game to help the Dons finish No. 1 in the final San Diego Top 20.

6. (5) Grand Terrace (Sunkist) 23-3

The Sunkist League-champion Titans, who won the CIF-SS Division 3 title last season, gave Norco all it could handle before falling, 11-7, in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals. Oklahoma-commit Alycia Flores returns for Grand Terrace next season.

7. (7) San Marcos of San Marcos (Avocado East) 24-6

Back-to-back losses to Cathedral Catholic in the semifinals prevented the Knights from getting a shot to defend their CIF-SDS Open Division title. San Marcos played the toughest nonleague of any team in San Diego this season by going to the Best of the West in Orange County and the Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Ariz. Notre Dame-committed pitcher Payton Tidd, Utah State-committed SS Lexi Orozco, Utah State-committed 2B Kenzie Bolin and Central Florida-committed OF Terra Testa return for the Knights next season.

8. (8) Ramona of Ramona (Valley) 29-5

Arizona-bound Hanah Bowen had a spectacular season for the Bulldogs, going 25-1 with a 0.94 ERA and she batted .489 with 33 RBI to lead Ramona to a fourth consecutive Valley League title and the CIF-SDS Open Division finals.

9. (10) Camarillo (Coastal Canyon) 27-3

Freshman Eryka Gonzales tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts to help the Scorpions knock off Riverside Poly, 4-0, in the CIF-SS Division 2 finals for their first title since 2011.

10. (13) Riverside Poly (Inland Valley) 27-6

The Bears won the Inland Valley League title, reached the CIF-SS Division 2 finals for the first time since 2004 and they have BYU-committed outfielder Megan Delgadillo returning next season.

11. (14) Santiago of Corona (Big VIII) 23-7

Brittney Gossett replaced John Perez as the Sharks’ new coach and led them to another successful season with a second-place finish behind Norco in the Big VIII League and a trip to the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals before they lost to eventual-champion Los Alamitos, 4-1.

12. (11) Valencia of Magic Mountain (Foothill) 24-8

The Vikes pushed Orange Lutheran to the limit in a 1-0 loss in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals, but the future looks bright with Foothill League Pitcher of the Year Shea O’Leary and Foothill League Player of the Year Ally Shipman returning next year.

13. (12) La Habra (Freeway) 21-8

The nine-time defending Freeway League champions reached the CIF-SS Division 1 second round before losing to Santiago of Corona, 3-1. The Highlanders went 1-1 against Mission Viejo, but they beat the Diablos, 5-4, in the last meeting at the Michelle Carew Classic, so they got the slight edge.

14. (15) Mission Viejo (South Coast) 22-6

The 10-time defending South Coast League champions’ season came to a brutal end with a 16-2 loss to Grand Terrace in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals.

15. (17) Pacifica of Garden Grove (Empire) 22-8

Boosted by Empire League MVP Ali Seng and Arizona-bound Hannah “Peanut” Martinez, the Mariners picked up momentum after a rugged nonleague schedule and a ninth consecutive league title before running into Norco in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals.

16. (NR) St. Lucy’s of Glendora (Baseline) 19-7

After upsetting top-seeded Gahr of Cerritos, 10-4, in the second round, the Regents lost to eventual-champion Camarillo, 1-0, in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals.

17. (19) Mater Dei of Santa Ana (Trinity) 22-8

After winning the CIF-SS Division 1 title in 2016, the Monarchs didn’t have enough pitching to make another deep run as they fell to Grand Terrace, 8-6, in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs.

18. (9) Gahr of Cerritos (San Gabriel Valley) 26-1

After getting stunned by St. Lucy’s in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, the Gladiators have a lot to look forward to next year with the return of Arizona-committed pitcher Vanessa Foreman and Washington-committed outfielder Madison Huskey.

19. (16) Oaks Christian of Westlake Village (Marmonte) 26-6-1

After losing to Orange Lutheran, 4-0, in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs, the Lions have a lot of young talent, including UCLA-committed infielder Maya Brady, returning next season.

20. (20) Santa Margarita of Rancho Santa Margarita (Trinity) 24-6

The Eagles finished tied for second with Mater Dei of Santa Ana in the Trinity League and reached the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs before falling to Riverside Poly, 3-1, in the quarterfinals. The good news is North Dakota State-committed pitcher Paige Vargas and Notre Dame-committed infielder Miranda Johnson return next season.

 


(NOTE: Report news and notes to So Cal Sidelines editor-in-chief/softball writer Carlos Arias via email (carlos.arias@socalsidelines.com), text (949-606-3602) or Tweet (@SoCalSidelines))

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