Nationally ranked Vacaville leads a section loaded with top Division I college softball talent. Also watch for East Union, Pioneer, Roseville and Pleasant Grove.
Katie Kibby went 29-1 last season as a sophomore for Vacaville, which is ranked No. 1 heading into the 2015 Sac-Joaquin Section softball season.
Photo by David Steutel
29-1-1
Head coach: Liz Sauerwein
The Bulldogs lost just five seniors to graduation off last year's No. 12 team nationally and return top pitcher
Katie Kibby, who went 29-1 with a 0.62 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 202 innings last year. Other top hitters returning are
Alyse Rojas (.516) and
Maddie Rojas (.383). Vacaville won 20 games for the first time since 2005 last season and missed out on an undefeated season when Pleasant Grove posted a 3-2 win on May 21. That forced a deciding game, won by Vacaville 3-0 as Kibby pitched a five-hitter.
View last season's Sac-Joaquin Section softball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard2. East Union (Manteca)2014 finish: 25-4
Head coach: Brian Goulart
The Lancers lost in the Division IV finals to Oakdale but figure to turn the tables with so many returning standouts, including sophomore pitcher
Alexis Erich (21-2, 2.04 ERA). She struck out 137 in 127 innings last season and just 113 hits. East Union lost only two seniors to graduation and returns many top hitters, including
Cherish Burks (.533),
Taylor Ward (.437),
Michelle Castro (.425) and
Samantha Owen (.408). Erich also hit .400 last year and hit four home runs, as did Burks. Goulart has led the Lancers to 187 wins over 10 seasons.
View last season's California softball playoff brackets
3. Pioneer (Woodland)2014 finish: 25-3
Head coach: Linda Merrida
The Patriots won the SJS Division III title last year for a second-straight year and return
Angelica Dark, who went 23-3 with a 1.30 ERA last season as a junior. She struck out 172 in 177 innings. Dark also hit .357 but the big power from the team should come from
Madison Bellin (.495),
Kailey Rossiter (.400) and
Rylie Carlier (.380).
Makenna Lipelt, who hit .360 as a freshman, should also supply pop. Coach Merrida has led the Patriots to 203 wins over the last 10 seasons.
View last season's California softball stat leaders4. Roseville2014 finish: 24-6
Head coach: Nicole Wallace
The Tigers return their top two pitchers from last year,
Shaylyn Borowiak (7-3, 2.18) and
Naomi Monahan (16-3, 2.18) to go along with some powerful hitters who include
Alyson Manzo (.398) and
Katie Edgar (.310). Borowiak actually led the team in hitting last year at .538 but in just 13 at-bats, while Monahan .311 for Wallace, who was in her first year in 2014. She led the Tigers to their most wins in the previous nine seasons.
View the MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section softball pro photo galleries
5. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove)
2014 finish: 26-9-1
Head coach: Russ Pettis
The Eagles finished 23rd in the state last season and with the return of top hitters
Victoria Camina (.383),
Sabrina Hicks (.341),
Aimee Hutchinson (.312) and
Katherine Antigua(.303), they could be even better. Pleasant Grove will need to replace two senior pitchers from last year, but the Eagles have won 133 games over the last six seasons and figure to rebound nicely.
