California high school softball home run leaders: University Prep sophomore not resting on laurels, tops state leaderboard

The freshman season of Dani Jackman apparently was no fluke. Through games played on April 19, the 5-foot-9 sophomore catcher, first baseman and outfielder for University Prep (Victorville) leads California in home runs with 15, including a pair of dingers she hit on Tuesday during a 13-9 win over Big Bear (Big Bear City).

Jackman also leads the state in RBI with 62, which is impressive considering the Jaguars have played 20 games, winning 15. In 82 plate appearances and 68 at-bats, Jackman has piled up 48 hits which puts her at a .706 batting average. She's hit homers in 11 games, including a three round-tripper performance during a 21-3 win over United Christian Academy, and driven in at least five runs six times with a high of seven RBI.

Last season, Jackman smacked 10 home runs and hit .507 with 49 RBI during a 16-5 season that ended in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs.

Natalie Gleason of Capistrano Valley Christian (San Juan Capistrano), and Jessica Oakland of Saint Francis (Mountain View), are tied for second in the state with 14 homers apiece. As of Tuesday, 57 players in California have hit at least seven home runs. The national leader is Corine Poncho, of Notre Dame (Crowley, La.) with 29 (see video above).

MaxPreps compiles leaderboards from statistics supplied by high school coaches from throughout the state and country.