Preseason 2026 Top 25 Sac-Joaquin Section high school softball rankings

Del Oro (Loomis) starts the season as the top-ranked team in the preseason Top 25 Sac-Joaquin Section softball rankings. The Golden Eagles are the returning Division I NorCal champions and have the talent to make another deep postseason run in 2026.

Del Oro joins fellow Sierra Foothill League opponents Whitney (Rocklin), Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) and Rocklin in the Top 5. The SFL has six teams ranked to start the season.

The first allowable contest is Feb. 10 as the season is fast approaching. Returning section champions include Oak Ridge, Whitney, Vanden (Fairfield), Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento), Calaveras (San Andreas), Argonaut (Jackson) and Foresthill. The race for a blue banner is on.
1. Del Oro (Loomis)
Ace and Cal commit Mikayla Finn returns after finishing her sophomore campaign 21-1 in the circle with over 200 strikeouts. North Dakota State University signee Chloe Champas also returns to a loaded Golden Eagle lineup.

2. Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento)
When your two aces are LSU commit Ayla Tuua and Purdue commit Roxanne Sardo you will always be tough to beat. The two seniors are back alongside other big-time talent in 2026.

3. Whitney (Rocklin)
The Wildcats return as the Division II section champions and bring back all three pitchers who saw innings last year. Whitney may have the top talent from top to bottom in the section, including sophomore ace Taylor Cordell.

4. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
The Trojans added to their collection of blue banners last season by taking home the Division I crown. They lose their main arm from 2025, but look for talents like LMU commit Kennedi Freeland and Washington signee Brooklyn Paratore to have monster years.

5. Rocklin
The SFL train continues with the Thunder as Junior Payton Prior finished 20-3 in the circle. At the plate, look for Coastal Carolina slugger Savannah Lorenzini to have another big year.

6. Vanden (Fairfield)
The reigning Division III section champs may have lost their main arm, but return most of their hitting lineup, including arguably one of the top bats in the country in Niayli Calvo. The Florida commit batted an eye-popping .710 last season.

7. Tracy
The Bulldogs are always in the mix and should be right there again. Watch out for a breakout season from Long Beach State commit and pitcher Hayden Fell. Arizona commit Taylor Sansaver is back as well and may be one of the toughest outs around.

8. Sheldon (Sacramento)
The Huskies return two standouts in the circle with junior and UC Santa Barbara commit Micah Kennedy and senior power pitcher Kwinci Brown, who will play at Kentucky next fall.

9. Central Catholic (Modesto)
The Raiders return all their pitchers from last year along with a lineup that always competes. Florida commit Samantha Nichols led the team last season, batting nearly .500 and blasting seven home runs.

10. Pioneer (Woodland)
The Patriots scored nearly seven runs per game in 2025 and return weapons capable of doing it again. Stanford commit Marisa Bryson and Caitlin Mayfield are players to watch.

11. Manteca
The Buffaloes had one senior on the roster last spring and finished 21-9. Cal State East Bay commit Jocelyn Baptist and slapper Sienna Owen are just a few of the many weapons in their lineup.

12. Folsom
The Bulldogs feature a mix of returners and fresh talent that will be battle-tested in the SFL. Senior Raygan Mercado has pitched over 230 innings across the past two seasons.

13. Calaveras (San Andreas)
The small-school power will be back and should be in the mix for another deep postseason run. North Dakota State commit Kamryn Thornburg has mowed down 620 batters over the past two seasons.

14. Elk Grove
The Thundering Herd will be right in the mix for a Delta League championship. Sophomore Izi Castillo had a breakout season as a freshman, leading the team with a .425 average.

15. Granite Bay
The Grizzlies will feature a solid lineup that includes Cal Poly commits Cam Lincoln and Leilani Terrazas, along with California State University, Stanislaus pledge Sami McKown.

16. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs)
The Bruins have one of the best sophomores in the state in Kate McCartney, who went yard nine times last year. Southern Oregon commit Haley Warney returns in the circle alongside freshman Lauren Klomp.

17. Inderkum (Sacramento)
The Tigers return a talented lineup that includes Natalie Aboosh, who pitched 86 innings as a freshman. Fellow sophomore Brielle Collins led the team last season with a .417 batting average.

18. Lodi
St. John's commit Abby Schweigerdt takes over most of the innings in the circle this season. She was also the team's top hitter last year, batting .477.

19. Woodcreek (Roseville)
Coach Gary Ybarra consistently puts together a solid squad. The team will enjoy an all-new on-campus stadium this year. Players like UC Davis pledge Chloe Preuss will look to defend their CVC title.

20. Vacaville
The Bulldogs always boast one of the strongest lineups in the section. Idaho State University commit Laila Dean and junior Maddie Rhodus will be tough outs all season long.

21. Merced
The Bears return a CSU Monterey Bay commit Annalise Ramirez, who posted a 1.06 ERA across 105 innings as a junior while striking out 148 batters.

22. Franklin (Elk Grove)
The Wildcats bring back a talented young core in 2026. As a freshman, Leilani Garcia logged over 140 innings in the circle.

23. West Park (Roseville)
Boise State commit Jolene White batted .548 and returns in 2026. Expect the Panthers to feature a strong group of new talent as they chase a Metro League title.

24. Oakdale
The Mustangs are never a team to count out in the always-tough Valley Oak League. University of Nebraska at Kearney commit Reese Donaldson and Southwestern Oklahoma State University pledge Audrey Romiti return in 2026.

25. Davis
The Blue Devils return their top five hitters from last season, along with ace Kaytlin LeBar-Triepke. The 6-foot junior pitched over 100 innings in 2025.