The spring season is right around the corner, and we kick off our 2024 Sac-Joaquin softball coverage by releasing the MaxPreps Top 25 preseason rankings.
Sierra Foothill League powers
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) and
Whitney (Rocklin) start the season in the top two spots as both captured section titles in 2023 and return the bulk of their lineups.
Scrimmages can begin as early as Feb. 16 with the first official games starting on Feb. 23.
The following 25 teams are based on who we see as the top-ranked teams at the end of the season, not necessarily those who get off to the best start. MaxPreps will also maintain computer rankings throughout the regular season.
The 2023 Division 1 section champions reload with nearly every player back. Sacramento State commit
Jess Szelenyi and NC State commit
Carly Short lock up the middle for the Trojans, while
Brooklyn Paratore and
Sam Alekman are two of the top sophomores in the area. Powerful right-handed pitcher
Ellison Schroeder is back for her third season in the circle.
The Wildcats return major weapons from a team that
won the Division 2 section champions and were NorCal D1 runner-ups.
Class of 2024 SJS Player of the Year
Hannah Duncan finished with over
180 Ks last spring. San Diego State commit
Tylie Kitchen and South
Carolina signee
Mya Flindt are two of the biggest bats in the entire
section.
3. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), 24-7The Eagles could easily make a case for having the top 1-2 punch in the circle heading into 2024. Columbia University commit
Madeline Lawson struck out 207 batters as a sophomore. University of Pacific commit
Alexa Lewis threw in nearly 60 innings in 2023 and finished 8-0 overall.
Shealynn Stinson is one of the top 2026 players in the area.
4. Vacaville, 29-3San Francisco State commit
Xochitl Atayde finished her junior season with 211 strikeouts. The Bulldogs welcome back many of their top hitters from a team that fell to Whitney in the D2 section finals.
5. Capital Christian (Sacramento), 19-5The returning D4 section champions are stronger on paper than they were last season. The Cougars are led by one of the top 2026 players in the entire country,
Ayla Tuua. She was the team's ace and top hitter as a freshman. The young squad finished 2023 winning eight-straight, capping it off with a NorCal Division IV title.
6. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs), 25-5-1The Bruins return six starters from their section title team that beat Central Catholic in the D3 finals. Abilene Christian commit
Chase Mueller takes over a good majority of the time in the circle, while Colorado Mesa University commit
Brynn Escobar leads a lineup full of strong bats.
7. Dixon, 22-7Nearly the entire lineup returns for the Rams, including
Ashley Garcia,
Audrey Graham and
Felesha LePenske. All hit above .400 last spring. The D4 section runners-up also have their entire pitching staff back.
8. Vista del Lago (Folsom), 26-3Cornell commit
Charlize Cai is back for a program that has contended and won a section title over the past two seasons. The Eagles lost a few of their top hitters but seem to reload every year and are in every game they play.
9. Sutter, 26-2Boise State signee
Olivia Bauer excels both in the circle and at the plate. She joins Sacramento State commit
Alexa Carino and a very formidable 2024 team eager to finish off a section title run after being upset last year in the D5 semifinals by Orestimba.
10. Granite Bay, 20-7A new Grizzlies coach has some holes to fill, but their young talent has shown a lot of potential, including sophomore
Leilani Terrazas, who hit 7 bombs in 2023. Cal Poly commit
Ava Doyle will see the majority of innings this spring.
11. Oakdale, 20-8University of Pacific commit
Presley Barnes led the team as a junior last spring with a .551 average.
Raegen Everett is the next Everett sister in line to be the next star pitcher for the Mustangs.
12. Woodcreek (Roseville), 16-9-1The entire pitching staff returns for the Timberwolves, led by junior
Maryn Macneil, who got the bulk of the innings. They graduated a few big bats, but expect another run at a CVC championship and beyond.
13. Kimball (Tracy), 13-9The Jaguars were young in 2023 and battled every opponent before finally falling to Vista in the playoffs. Top hitter,
Elysia Duarte, and junior ace
Alexa Contreras are just a few of their returning talents in 2024.
14. Manteca, 17-9Nayellys Torres will be back for her senior year after striking out 143 in 2023. The Buffaloes return a talented 2026 class that will help them compete for a Valley Oak League title.
15. Pioneer (Woodland), 21-5The Patriots have a lineup full of solid hitters, led by sophomore
Marisa Bryson, who hit .554 and smashed eight home runs as a freshman. Southern Oregon University commit
Briana Parker is another player to watch this spring.
16. Central Catholic (Modesto), 30-4The Raiders have to fill in a massive hole as star pitcher Randi Roelling is now at Cal, but don't count out the D3 section-runners-up. Juniors
Jazmarie Roberts and
Taryn Calderon led the team in hitting, while
Madie Harrison hit five home runs as a freshman.
16. Gregori (Modesto), 20-8Kailey Estes mowed down 267 batters last season and returns for her senior year. Her 2024 teammate
Kylee Huff hit .398 in the spring with five home runs.
17. St. Francis (Sacramento), 16-13The Troubadours will have a strong lineup led by Maine commit
Francesca Guerrera and Utah State signee
Alexandra Garcia. Pacific commit
Kiley Shea will lead the way in the circle.
18. Rocklin, 10-13Oklahoma commit
Sydney Barker leads a talented lineup and defensive squad. If the Thunder's new coaching staff can get their young emerging talent to shine, don't sleep on them as a contender for an SFL title.
19. Franklin (Elk Grove), 22-7The Wildcats lost several seniors who were big-time contributors in 2023, but still have several pieces intact that will keep them in Delta League play all season. Senior
Scarlett Riddle and junior
Micayla Arlotto are two to watch.
20. Elk Grove, 16-13The Thundering Herd has a solid mix of young new talent and returning weapons. Seniors
Taylor Fitzgerlad and
Kaitlyn Maciel look to build off stronger junior seasons.
21. Enochs (Modesto), 20-3Cal Poly commit
Natalie Camarena returns for her senior year after a stellar spring in 2023 where she mowed down 158 batters.
Alaina Calvo is another talented senior who hit .483 in 2023.
22. Wheatland, 20-9Briseis Botonis and
Halie Prather both return to the lineup in 2024. Together, they combined to hit 23 home runs as juniors. Prather tossed over 85 innings last spring.
23. Tracy, 18-10The Bulldogs have their entire pitching staff back, including
Elisa Galli, who worked the bulk of the innings. Class of 2026
Emalee Cargill had a solid freshman year, batting .425 overall.
24. Vanden (Fairfield), 13-9Bakersfield signee
Maalia Cherry has one of the biggest bats
in all of the section, hitting .426 with six bombs as a junior. Class
of 2025 pitcher
Isabella Cueva threw in 75 innings as a sophomore.
25. Oakmont (Roseville), 16-9The Vikings return the majority of their lineup this spring, including utility player
Chloe Gomes who led the team in extra base hits and RBI. Senior
Emilee Monell and sophomore
Kaashni Bains return to the circle for the 2024 season.
