High school softball rankings: Central Catholic opens atop Preseason Sac-Joaquin Section MaxPreps Top 25

After two years without playoff play, the return of postseason action in 2022 was a welcome sight for all. Sheldon (Sacramento) won its ninth Division 1 championship, tying Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) for the most overall section titles dating back to 1976. Del Oro (Loomis) captured the Division II title, its eighth and first since 2002. On the other end of the spectrum, Vista del Lago (Folsom), Dixon, and Hilmar won their first section titles, while Woodland Christian and Big Valley Christian (Modesto) continued their small school dominance.


1. Central Catholic (Modesto)
2022 record: 27-5-1
Randi Roelling, a Cal commit, is one of the top pitchers not only in the area but the state. She was named top junior in the section by MaxPreps last year after striking out 386 batters. Class of 2025 Jazmarie Roberts is another solid player back for the Raiders. She tallied up 40 hits and drove in 29 RBI in 2022. Transfer Miranda Temple, committed to Cal, had 40 hits last year with 10 doubles for Enochs.

2. Whitney (Rocklin)
2022 record: 11-14
The Wildcats bring back a young talented team from 2022. Junior Hannah Duncan saw significant time in the circle last spring in the brutal SFL. South Carolina commit Mya Flindt is a stud behind the plate. Her sister, Alyssa, batted .420 as a freshman. Sonoma State commit Sarah O'Dea is another of the many big bats anticipated in their lineup here in 2023.

3. Granite Bay
2022 record: 15-10
The Grizzlies return Santa Clara commit Avery Seva for her senior season. The right-handed pitcher is one of the best in the area and has major experience pitching against tough competition. Fellow senior and Utah Tech commit Drew McKown is a top-tier infielder and lefty bat.

4. Lincoln (Stockton)
2022 record: 27-5-1
CSU Bakersfield commit Danielle Hunter is a do-it-all-type player for the Trojans, leading the junior class with 13 home runs. She is also a powerful right-handed pitcher. Class of 2025 utility player Olivia Holtz was a big part of the team's Division 1 runner-up finish.

5. Oakdale
2022 record: 26-3-1
The Mustangs return Delainey Everett to the lineup for her senior season. She can swing a good bat and brings it in the circle. She finished with a 0.46 ERA in 2022. Her younger sister, Raegen, is also an impressive overall player. The Class of 2024 pitcher and utility player went 13-0 and struck out 119 batters in 76 innings.

6. Vista del Lago (Folsom)
2022 record: 24-5-1
The defending D3 section champions welcome some key pieces from 2022. Charlize Cai, a 2024 Cornell commit, and Olivia Manchester, a 2023 Canisius signee, pitched the majority of the innings for the Eagles last spring. Both return and can swing a bat as well. Coach Julie Lazar is dealing with some injuries to start the season, but expect the team to make another deep playoff run.

7. Capital Christian (Sacramento)
2022 record: 12-8
The Cougars will be a different team come April, as seven transfers will be eligible, including Alannah Tuua and Savanna Newman from Pleasant Grove. Tuua is a Cal Poly commit, and Newman hit .528 as a freshman. Until then, Coach Caitlyn Olan's squad is still talented. Freshman Ayla Tuua is one of the top Class of 2026 pitchers in the country, with speeds in the upper 60s. Junior Ella Magda is a returning All-League utility player.

8. Rocklin
2022 record: 18-12
The Thunder's batting lineup will be as talented as any team in the section. Sydney Barker, an Oklahoma commit, is back for her junior year. Sophomore Katie Wetteland batted nearly .400 as a freshman. Chloe Kimbrell, a Simpson commit, brings speed as a lefty. The big question will be in the circle, as their talented pitching staff from past years have graduated.

9. Sheldon (Sacramento)
2022 record: 28-6
When you have a legendary coach at the helm, you can never count out the Huskies. The defending section champs lost a ton of talent to graduation, but still have some key pieces coming back. Jaylee Ojo, an Iowa commit pitcher, is injured as of now, and it remains to be seen if/when she can debut. Freshman Kwinci Brown (6-foot-1) is expected to see the bulk of the innings until Ojo is healthy. Jaylee Marshall, a Santa Clara commit, and Sakora Harvell, an LMU commit, both return in 2023.

10. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs)
2022 record: 22-4-1
The Bruins welcome the majority of their roster from 2022. Ana Niles, a Western Michigan commit, finished 14-2 in the circle as a junior. Chase Mueller, an Abilene Christian Softball commit, is a lefty in the circle and can swing a good bat. Whitney Montoya, a Sierra College commit, returns after batting .475 last season. Junior Brynn Escobar finished with a .474 average. Tatum Silva, a Utah State commit, is back from an injury that sidelined her all of last season.

11. St. Mary's (Stockton)
2022 record: 21-8
Ariel Nava, a Dominican University of California commit, will be back for her senior season. She struck out 142 batters and did damage at the plate as a junior. Kennedy Dingman had a solid junior season for the Rams in 2022, as she has a career .411 batting average at the varsity level.

12. Del Oro (Loomis)
2022 record: 27-5
Despite losing many players from the previous year, the defending DII section champions always seem to find a way to reload. Pitcher Daniella Morillas, who has committed to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, will play a crucial role both at the plate and in the circle. Abby Davidson, a talented 2025 utility player, is one to watch this season.

13. Inderkum (Sacramento)
2022 record: 17-10
The Tigers will once again have UC Santa Barbara 2023 commit Samantha Stoll leading them as a pitcher and batter. The team has also gained a strong new transfer in Rylei Trujillo , a senior and UNLV commit, who will provide depth in pitching and add strength to the lineup when she becomes eligible. Additionally, Isabella Jimenez, a senior and Academy of Art University commit, will be another valuable asset to the team.

14. Dixon
2022 record: 24-2-1
Felesha LePenske, a versatile class of 2024 player, played a pivotal role in the Rams' section title. She batted .486 and had an ERA of 0.70 in over 65 innings of work. Aemonn Rosenberger, another returning junior, had an impressive sophomore year, maintaining a batting average of .463.

15. Vanden (Fairfield)
2022 record: 20-1
After graduating some key players, the Vikings will look to fresh new leaders. Mia Zabat, a Saint Mary's commit with a strong fielding ability and a .378 batting average as a sophomore, and Aniya Lawson, who has committed to California State University, Monterey Bay, will be returning junior starters from a team who lost one game in 2022.

16. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
2022 record: 8-16
Coaches Sam Toy and Kelsey Wagner will be depending on young players, including standout sophomore Carly Short, the MaxPreps SJS freshman of the year, to step up this season. Depth in pitching will be a concern for the team, as Ellison Schroeder, a sophomore, will likely carry the majority of the workload.

17. St. Francis (Sacramento)
2022 record: 26-5
The loss of the Jenkins twins, who have gone on to make a strong impact at the University of Connecticut as true freshmen, will be felt by the Troubadours, but Kiley Shea, a talented class of 2024 transfer from Folsom, will bring a strong pitching presence to the team once she is eligible in April. Olivia McFarland, who has committed to UC Davis, and Alexandra Garcia, a Utah State commit, are a pair of returning starters.

18. Folsom
2022 record: 20-6-1
The Bulldogs will be under the guidance of a new coaching staff, with Sheena Jackson taking over as head coach. She will have some players to work with in the pitching department, including freshman Roxanne Sardo. The team should still maintain a strong lineup with players like Saint Mary's commit Gracie Carpenter leading the way.

19. Woodcreek (Roseville)
2022 record: 16-13
Dual-threat players Maryn Macneil, a sophomore, and Maliyah Lawson, a senior, will continue to be a driving force for the Timberwolves in the coming season. The team will also see the return of several key players, including seniors Mary Zepeda and Sophie Pelzman to name a few.

20. Gregori (Modesto)
2022 record: 20-6-1
Sophomore Kailey (Spidey) Estes dominated on the mound with a 0.87 ERA and 251 strikeouts in just 136 innings of work last spring. Also back in the lineup is Chloee Hoffman, who hit .321 with three home runs.

21. Cordova (Rancho Cordova)
2022 record: 17-9
Cassaundra Seifert returns for her senior year after striking out 122 batters last season. Mariah Hopkins, a Dominican University of California commit, is also back in the lineup as a .550 career hitter with 11 home runs.

22. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove)
2022 record: 16-12
Despite some holes to fill after graduation and transfers, the Eagles have promising young talent. Sophomore Madeline Lawson finished 8-3 on the mound, while junior Riley Bigley hit .321 and freshman Shaelynn Stinson joins the lineup. Senior Zoe Iverson returns as a power hitter.

23. Manteca
2022 record: 20-8-1
The Buffaloes welcome back key players from a young team, including pitcher Nayellys Torres who pitched over 128 innings as a sophomore. Elon James, named Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Valley Oak League, hit six home runs in her junior year.

24. Bella Vista (Fair Oaks)
2022 record: 13-12-2
The Broncos had only two seniors graduating from its 2022 team. Junior Alyssa Dethlefson shines as a versatile player on both offense and defense. Sophomore Hailey Shiflet struck out 94 batters in 76 innings pitched as a freshman.

25. Ripon
2022 record: 19-5