Prep softball playoffs: Sheldon has section, national title hopes

Sheldon High School is The Bee's No. 1 softball team and top-ranked in the state by Cal-Hi Sports. Now, the Huskies have an opportunity to finish the season No. 1 in the nation.

Pembroke Pines (Fla.), which entered last week as the country's top-ranked team by USA Today, lost to unranked Naples (Fla.) 5-2 in the Florida Class 4A state championship Saturday. Pembroke Pines had been undefeated in 30 games before that loss.

The Huskies, ranked No. 2 in the nation, lost to Pembroke 1-0 in the finals of the Nike Faster to First tournament March 15. They are expected to move up a spot if they can win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title without losing a game in the double-elimination tournament.

A look at the divisions:

Division I

Favorite: Sheldon (25-1) pitcher Jolene Henderson and catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt are key players. Henderson (0.39 ERA) had 191 strikeouts and was The Bee's 2007 Player of the Year. Ziegenhirt is second on the team in batting average (.492) but leads in RBIs (44) and shares the home run lead (five) with Henderson. Those two hope to lead the Huskies to a second consecutive section title and, perhaps, recognition as the best team in the country.

Contenders: Franklin (22-3) has won 11 in a row since losing to Sheldon 2-0. Franklin has the Delta Valley League's third-best hitter in Breanna Lopez (.486). Pitcher Brittany Vacura won a DVL-best 16 games, including a 2-0 decision over Elk Grove to clinch the league title.

Which Elk Grove (23-2) team will show up for the playoffs? The one that won its first 19 games or the one that faltered in two losses to Franklin? Led by Boise State-bound pitcher Allie Crump and center fielder Megan Suitos, the Thundering Herd is looking to avenge last season's D-I final loss to Sheldon.

Teams to watch: Pleasant Grove (17-7), St. Francis (19-9), Napa (23-4) and Fairfield (21-6). All are capable of a big upset, especially St. Francis. Ask Sheldon. The Huskies needed two runs in the sixth inning for a 2-1 victory over the Troubadours on April 24.

Division II

Favorite: Oak Ridge (20-6-1) is on an eight-game winning streak and can repeat as Division II champ if its once-struggling defense plays as well as it has lately and the Sierra Valley Conference's leading hitter, Gabby Goyette (.511), stays hot.

Contenders: Leading hitter Paige Emerson (.532) and ace pitcher Britany Linton could take Rocklin (21-5) far.

Galt (19-8) beat some of the section's best, such as Oak Ridge (twice), then struggled against sub-.500 teams such as Cordova.

Teams to watch: Woodcreek (21-7), led by seniors Kristi Burlin and Adriana Martinez, extended its winning streak to five games with a 2-1 victory over Rocklin on May 8.

Ponderosa (15-11) lost to Oak Ridge in the D-II finals last season. The Bruins were tough against teams such as Pleasant Grove, Capital Christian, Whitney, Woodcreek and Galt.

Division III

Favorite: Rodriguez (25-1) allowed the fewest runs in the Solano County League (29) and has a 19-game winning streak. The Mustangs have four hitters at .378 or better, including freshman shortstop Cheyenne Cordes (.408). Pitcher Megan Layne has won 17 games.

Contenders: Pioneer (22-4) has won 18 of 20 games, but the Patriots need San Diego State-bound pitcher Bailey Micetich to offset her team's recently declining offense, which has produced just four runs in the past three games.

Sluggers Holly Bourke (.573) and Alyssa Nakken (.519) helped Woodland (20-7) earn a share of the Tri-Country League title.

Team to watch: Underrated much of the season, Del Campo (17-8) haswon seven consecutive games and features Iona College-bound pitcher Sarah Jackson.

Division IV

Favorite: Defending champion Bear River (25-2) and top hitter Courtney Ceo (.520) want to win another title and make up for two regularseason losses to Oak Ridge, which dropped them out of Cal-Hi Sports' state top 20.

Contender: After losing to Bear River in the final last season, Valley Oak League champion East Union (23-4) wants a rematch.

Team to watch: A deep run in the playoffs would prove Rio Linda (26-1) and 26-game-winning pitcher Alex Newman are no fluke.

Division VI

Favorite: Senior pitcher and shortstop Mica Romero helped Woodland Christian (23-5-1) outscore opponents 260-58. She hit .632, with six home runs and 39 RBIs.

Contender: Golden Sierra (17-5) has the talent to make a championship run. Freshman pitcher Sarah Rasmussen is a key.

Team to watch: Capital Christian (13-13) started 0-9, but sophomore catcher Kendall Gill helped the Cougars win 13 of their next 17, including a 10-2 pounding of Golden Sierra in the regular-season finale.