We have crossed the midway point of the Sac-Joaquin Section high school softball season, and league play is in full swing with some conferences entering their second time around. Unlike football and basketball, softball has a set number of teams that receive bids to the postseason, without any at-large teams. Therefore, all teams are aware of what is required to earn a chance to compete for a section title.
Vacaville lost its season opener to
Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) but has been on an impressive winning streak, winning 14 consecutive games, including a 4-1 victory over Central of Fresno in the NFCA NorCal Leadoff Classic Gold bracket championship. In the title game,
Paige Witte collected a pair of hits and RBI, while
Xochitl Atayde pitched the entire game. The Bulldogs will now resume Monticello Empire League play and face
Rodriguez twice this week.
The Bulldogs have claimed the top spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section rankings.
Del Oro (Loomis), after losing four consecutive games, bounced back with impressive wins. The Golden Eagles handed
Franklin (Elk Grove) its first defeat of the season with a 12-7 win, and then relied on strong pitching by
Daniella Morillas and a key RBI to beat
Granite Bay 2-1 on Saturday. The competition in the Sierra Foothill League is fierce, with five of six teams securing postseason bids. Nevertheless, all five teams have the potential to make a significant impact in the playoffs.
Whitney (Rocklin) holds the league's top seed, sitting at No. 2 in the overall rankings.
Though new to the section,
Sutter has a track record of winning. The Huskies traveled to Southern California last week and proved why they are considered one of the best teams in both the section and the state. Their only loss was a 1-0 defeat to powerhouse Huntington Beach. Sutter has a pivotal game scheduled Wednesday against
Wheatland in Pioneer Valley League play.
Sutter's Alexa Carino is among the Sac-Joaquin Section leaders in home runs. (Photo: Anthony Brunsman)
was another team with a flawless record heading into last week. The Eagles secured wins against
Christian Brothers (Sacramento) in a league game on Tuesday and in-city rival Folsom on Friday. However, they suffered their first loss on the road at
Ponderosa (Shingle Springs), where the Bruins took a 3-0 lead after a two-run home run by
Brynn Escobar. Vista del Lago staged a comeback and tied the game in the sixth inning, but Ponderosa ultimately secured a 5-3 win with a two-out base hit by
Whitney Montoya followed by a home run by
Chase Mueller. The Eagles face Franklin on Wednesday and
Capital Christian (Sacramento) on Thursday. Capital Christian is a new team with seven eligible transfers now back in the lineup.
The Delta League will be an interesting one to watch as the competition heats up.
St. Francis (Sacramento) has been on the rise since pitcher
Kiley Shea became available after transferring from Folsom, and with
Franklin,
Pleasant Grove,
Elk Grove and
Sheldon (Sacramento) in the mix, any of these teams could make a run for the title.
Top 5 rankings1.
Vacaville (14-1)
2.
Whitney (Rocklin) (11-3)
3.
Sutter (16-1)
4.
Ponderosa (Shingle Springs) (11-2-1)
5.
Pleasant Grove (15-5)
FULL SAC-JOAQUIN RANKINGS: Top 25 LeaderboardsHome runs Briseis Botonis,
Wheatland — 9
Mariah Hopkins,
Cordova (Rancho Cordova) — 9
Alexa Carino,
Sutter — 6
Danyelle Castillo,
Atwater — 6
Ayla Tuua,
Capital Christian (Sacramento) — 6
StrikeoutsRandi Roelling,
Central Catholic (Modesto) — 159
Madison Cribbs,
Summerville (Tuolumne) — 153
Madeline Lawson,
Pleasant Grove — 142
Bree Barner,
Golden Valley (Merced) — 123
Olivia Bauer,
Sutter — 116
Batting averageTereza Thomas,
Sacramento — .842
Ayla Tuua,
Capital Christian (Sacramento) — .722
Macie Vickers,
Escalon — .700
Savannah Warman,
Union Mine (El Dorado) — .700
Leiana Madrazo,
Stagg (Stockton) — .680
