High school softball rankings: Sutter stays unbeaten; Elk Grove and Sheldon rematch
One of the joys of any softball season is the chance to see teams from all over the Sacramento area compete in the exciting atmosphere of in-season tournament play against teams they might not otherwise include on their schedules. Sadly, that could not happen this year, so we are left to wonder about some of the teams in our top 20 who don’t have the benefit of playing a more robust, competitive set of games. Also the schools with lower enrollments have to share their precious few softball athletes with the basketball, track and soccer teams this season.
There are some smaller schools to the north loaded with talent who are making noise again this season. And when they get their shot at the big guys, they take it. For instance, Sutter (15-0) went on the road last week and kept its perfect season alive with a 5-2 win over No. 3 Elk Grove. Junior Ella Jolley makes the Huskies go with her .636 average, four home runs and 24 RBIs. She had three of those RBIs against Elk Grove, and teammate Riley Wickum struck out eight Herd batters while giving up just one earned run. First baseman Madison Schamanski drove in three runs in the Sutter win. She’s one of three ninth-graders who are lighting it up for Sutter this year.
East Nicolaus has moved to 11-1 behind junior Remmington Hewitt’s talents. She’s hitting .605, and her fourth home run of the year was a grand slam last week. Coach Neil Stinson has Hewitt for one more year before she leaves for Arizona State and legendary coach Mike Candrea. Jerzie Brown is hitting .571 and the combo of Meika Lauppe and Danni Farris make a formidable pitching staff. East Nicolaus hosts Marysville and travels to rival Sutter this month.
COVID-19 cancellations have become a reality in the high school softball season. It is yet to be seen if all those games will be rescheduled. With playoffs removed this year, it’s all about the league championships. Here’s a look at how some of them are shaping up:
Pioneer Valley League
Sophomore Jenissa Conway has hit seven home runs with her .472 batting average for Marysville, which is 12-2 and leads the Pioneer Valley League. One of those losses was to East Nicolaus. The PVL is wide open, with Center, Colfax and Bear River making bids. Center pitcher Rylei Trujillo is averaging 10 strikeouts per game with only 10 walks, and smacked her fifth home run of the year against Del Campo last week.
Foothill Valley League
Donna Tofft’s Lincoln Zebras took a big step from the pack by beating Oakmont in extra innings with the help of Kya Pratt’s ninth-inning home run. The FVL is theirs to lose now and it could come down to the May 27 season finale at home against those same Vikings. Tofft, the longtime basketball, volleyball and softball coach — who has also served as the AD — is a pure winner. Lincoln’s second win this season was Tofft’s 500th in softball. Lincoln is 6-0 in league play. Oakmont, with Grace Johnson’s .652 average in the leadoff spot, is a game back with three to go.
Delta League
The big rematch is Tuesday at Sheldon. That’s when Elk Grove hopes to erase the memory of an error-scarred, extra-inning loss to rival No. 2 Sheldon. The Huskies are 8-0 in the Delta, a game ahead of Elk Grove, with St. Francis two games back.
Sierra Foothill League
No. 1 Rocklin has won six in a row. Contributions are coming from everywhere in the lineup. Lefty pitcher Brielle Wright held Oak Ridge to three hits and struck out 19 batters in a complete-game gem. Rocklin and No. 4 Del Oro are tied in the the SFL race with 8-1 win-loss marks, two games ahead of No. 13 Folsom and their fine pitcher Emma Fallen with her 122 strikeouts.
Capital Valley Conference
No. 5 Roseville beat No 7 St. Francis 7-1 in a nonleague game and is the class of the CVC, led by catcher Lauren Mirtoni, pitcher Malaya Johnson, shortstop Shay McDowell and centerfielder Makayla Newsom. All but Mirtoni are juniors, so if this really is the year coach Art Banks hangs up the clipboard, he will be turning over a loaded roster to some lucky coach.
Capital Athletic League
Eighth-ranked Vista del Lago is 11-2 and it does not appear as though anyone will overtake them in the league. The CAL started late and will play through the first week of June. Tayler Biehl is sailing along with a .688 batting average and 17 steals to go along with her gold glove play at shortstop where she has made just one error all year. Lexi Holihan’s five home runs and hard work in the circle have been crucial.
Golden Empire League
Longtime coach Linda Merrida of Pioneer has kept her team together after a tragic accident that severely injured junior Gabby Durgin. While the team mourns the loss of Durgin and cheers for her recovery, the Patriots keep winning. They are 8-1, led by senior Lauren Bryson’s eye-popping .867 batting average and six home runs. Taylor Day is hitting .609 with two knocks and Emma Brown has been solid in the circle. They move into the No. 20 slot this week. Dixon and Pioneer are 2-0 in the GEL.
Bee’s Top 20 Softball Ranking
1. Rocklin (14-1)
2. Sheldon (10-8)
3. Elk Grove (18-4)
4. Del Oro (14-2)
5. Roseville (14-4)
6. Vanden (11-0)
7. St. Francis (12-4)
8. Vista del Lago (11-2)
9. Lincoln (14-4)
10. Oakmont (13-4)
11. Sutter (15-0)
12. East Nicolaus (11-1)
13. Folsom (8-5)
14. Pleasant Grove (8-10)
15. Ponderosa (10-5)
16. McClatchy (7-3)
17. Marysville (12-2)
18. Center (4-6)
19. Granite Bay (11-9)
20. Pioneer (8-1)
Bubble teams: Colfax (7-6), Cordova (10-2), Cosumnes Oaks (7-7), Inderkum (11-5), Laguna Creek (6-6), Liberty Ranch (11-2), Rodriguez (9-3), Rosemont (14-4), Vacaville (6-7), Yuba City (9-5)