Nation's No. 3 softball team Archbishop Mitty hasn't missed a beat

Small ball, big wins
It was a true team effort while winning the Stampede as the Monarchs posted impressive wins over California (2-0), Whitney (6-2) and Livermore (4-2).

Those three teams have combined records of 32-11 as of April 15.

In the win over Livermore, Jackson was 3-for-4 with a double and two steals, Kiersten Nordin had a home run and Bowers singled in a run and doubled.

For the tournament, Bowers was 6-for-18 with a homer and three doubles, Jackson was 11-17 with a double, triple and seven steals and Kiersten Nordin and Kim combined for nine hits and six RBIs.

"Just the way we like it," Yocke said. "Everyone contributes."

Yocke, a former baseball and football standout at Mitty, has fallen for the game in which he watched his sister Megan excel.

Megan Yocke graduated in 2007 and was a star second baseman before playing catcher at the University of Kentucky.

Brian Yocke was a 2003 Mitty graduate, played two seasons at Mission JC before transferring to San Jose State where he played and graduated in 2007.

He coached baseball at Mitty and San Jose State before former softball coach Sarah Thomas stepped down after a highly successful seven-year round.

Brian Yocke took over, and with the vast help of assistant Ed Barclay, who handles the pitching and catching, has won two CCS titles in his first two seasons.

He credits Barclay heavily, his sister and the talented, hard-working players for the team's success.

"From the get-go I was excited for the change (from baseball to softball)," he said. "I've always been a big believer in bunting players over and getting runs early. I enjoy small ball.

"Every one asks me the biggest difference between baseball and softball and in my honest experiences, the best softball players – like Vanessa Alvarez and Jazmyn Jackson — have much smaller egos than the top baseball players. They take advice and are receptive to criticism. Boys, myself included at that age, some times let their egos get in the way."

E-mail senior writer Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchMashMax.