Big early season games and tournaments highlight a great week of high softball in the Greater Sacramento area.
Video: Kristin Blake of Ponderosa hits a 2-run home run
The Bruins junior clubbed the long ball in her first at-bat of the season.
Unlike a year ago, the softball season can begin as scheduled around the Sac-Joaquin Section. Some were in action on Friday and with the sun is out this week, that brings good news for players, parents, coaches and fans as we have solid games on tap.
Starting mid-week and lasting through Saturday will be several tournaments.
Tawni McCarty, Waterford
File photo by Samuel Stringer
Here are some things to keep an eye on for the week of March 2.
No. 1
Sheldon (Sacramento) begins its season on the road on Tuesday against Oakdale and then on Saturday at No. 2
Whitney (Rocklin). Sheldon is not messing around as it's stacked the preseason schedule.
Before hosting Sheldon, Whitney opens up on the road Monday at No. 18
Roseville.
Some unfortunate news for Del Oro as it looks like the Golden Eagles may be without Clemson commit
Maddie Moore for the season. They'll be in the Franklin High School PreSeason Tournament starting March 5, opening against Vacaville in a rematch of last year's Division II section title game.
Before heading to the Franklin tournament, No. 17 Ponderosa starts this week at No. 20 Rosemont on Monday and at No. 14
Folsom on Tuesday.
No. 4
Elk Grove is another team that was hit with injuries. Humboldt State commit
Ava Hand recently had surgery. Hand was 37-11 overall with 494 strikeouts in the circle. Also sitting out right now is catcher and Boise State commit
Brooklynn Pettis. The Herd lost to No. 9 Rocklin on Friday and travels to No. 11
Lodi on Tuesday and hosts Vacaville on Wednesday.
No. 5
Tracy is 1-0 after beating Oakdale on Friday. The Bulldogs have Cosumnes Oaks and No. 7
Vanden (Fairfield) this week.
No. 15
Vista del Lago (Folsom) and Roseville meet Wednesday. Both these teams have potential to make deep postseason runs this year.
How about some stats: (Thanks to those coaches who enter your data. It makes easier for us to highlight them).
It's early, but freshman
Randi Roelling of
Central Catholic (Modesto) already has three home runs.
Mariah Rodriguez and
Marissa Ramirez of
Lincoln (Stockton) have hit two, and so has
Deborah Torres of
Orestimba (Newman).
Senior
Tawni McCarty was a 2020
Sac-Joaquin Section Player to Watch heading into the spring, and for good reason. In her first outing, she fanned 15 in a 3-1 complete-game win for
Waterford.
