Pleasant Grove pitchers make The Bee’s list of Sacramento area’s top prep softball players
Brian Cherry doesn’t just have one ace to trot out there for a big softball game on the regional high school circuit.
The Pleasant Grove coach has two of them, and he’s not about to apologize for the wealth of arms that anchor his surging Eagles of the Elk Grove Unified School District. The goal is to prevent opponents from getting on base, to strike them out, and to keep that momentum rolling through the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.
The Eagles ace is junior Maddie Lawson, and the co-ace is senior Alexa Lewis. Both have produced stellar seasons for the Delta League champions, who are the No. 3 seed in the large-school D-I field that started Tuesday. Lawson is a 4.7 student headed to Columbia University of the Ivy League. Lewis is also a fine student at 4.0 and is off to Pacific in Stockton.
“To have two aces is a great luxury,” said Cherry, a coach at Pleasant Grove for all but two years since it opened in 2005. “We’re extremely blessed to have two aces. They’re close. They support each other. They play on the same travel team. They hang out on the weekends together. They’ve had a great season.”
Lawson is the likely MVP of the Delta League, her ERA of 0.92 the best in the conference. She also batted .433 in league play. Lawson and Lewis have combined for more than 200 strikeouts and have been paramount in the team’s 18-3 season and 12-game winning streak, which includes a 12-0 victory over McClatchy on Tuesday.
Lewis started in the circle against McClatchy and struck out eight, allowing two hits. Lawson had a single, a double and two RBI to help lead the offensive charge. Mindy Brian had four RBI and Marley Escobar three for Pleasant Grove, which will host the Lodi Flames on Thursday in a second-round game.
Lawson or Lewis in the circle firing windmill pitches? Pick your poison if you’re the opponent. Lawson’s intensity is shared by Lewis as they both care about this game.
“Mads is very stone faced, doesn’t show much emotion, and for the rest of us, when she’s on and striking people out, it’s a sight to see,” Cherry said.
Here’s a peek at 20 other softball players to keep an eye on in the section playoffs (all statistics are entering Tuesday’s playoff openers):
Hailey Alkire, Capital Christian
The versatile senior has been steady in complimenting the sister star act of Ayla and Alannah Tuua with steady play and leadership. She is batting .481 for the defending section and Northern California champions.
Syd Barker, Rocklin
The senior shortstop is headed to the national powerhouse Oklahoma Sooners via scholarship and has had one of the great infielder careers in regional history. She is batting .414 with a .515 on-base percentage, six home runs, six stolen bases, 31 hits, 17 RBI, nine doubles, 27 runs and an 0.800 slugging percentage.
Olivia Bauer, Sutter
The senior pitcher headed to Boise State on scholarship has the best ERA in the Sacramento area at 0.51 with 158 strikeouts. The fourth-year varsity starter is also batting .525 with 31 RBI.
Briseis Botonis, Wheatland
The senior first baseman/outfielder is batting .655 and has swatted 28 home runs over three varsity seasons for the Pirates.
Marisa Bryson, Pioneer
The sophomore infielder has a .587 batting average. She is tied for second in the section with 45 RBI and tied for third in home runs with 11.
Alssa Dethlefson, Bella Vista
The senior infielder/pitcher is batting .446 with three home runs, 14 stolen bases, 33 hits, 33 RBI, 27 runs, a 0.797 slugging percentage and a 9-0 pitching record with a 1.57 ERA for the Broncos.
Hannah Duncan, Whitney
The senior ace is 16-2 against stout competition, has a 1.05 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 106.2 innings, having allowed just 16 earned runs.
Brynn Escobar, Ponderosa
The senior infielder who helped the Bruins win their first section crown last season is batting .488 with 25 RBI and 34 runs.
Taylor Fitzgerald, Elk Grove
The senior centerfielder plays great defense and is batting .432. The four-year starter is headed to Fort Hays State in Kansas.
Mya Flindt, Whitney
The senior catcher/slugger headed to South Carolina on scholarship is batting .532 with 11 home runs, some of them dramatic. She has 34 RBI and a 1.193 slugging percentage. She has had a tremendous season.
Allyssa Flindt, Whitney
The junior shortstop and sister of Mya Flindt has been All-Sierra Foothill League her first three varsity seasons. She is batting .344 with a .608 on-base percentage and a .948 fielding percentage.
Kennedi Freeland, Oak Ridge
The freshman ace has combined with junior teammate Ellison Schroeder to strike out more than 200 with an ERA of 0.90 for the defending D-I champions.
Faith Hahn, Pleasant Grove
The senior outfielder is a tough out, sporting a .542 average and 1.218 slugging average for the Delta League champions.
Sophia Hernandez, Pioneer
The junior infielder has belted nine home runs, has a .570 average and a slugging average of 1.164. Her 45 hits lead the Sacramento area for Divisions I-IV.
Tylie Kitchen, Whitney
The junior third baseman and multi-sport star is a clutch hitter, batting. .368 with seven home runs. She invites pressure and thrives in it.
Chase Mueller, Ponderosa
The senior is batting .519 with three home runs and has a 12-2 record in the circle for the defending section champion Bruins of Shingle Springs.
Summer Stephens, Foresthill
The senior pitcher has a Sacramento regional best .695 batting average with 14 doubles to go with a 0.80 ERA and 217 strikeouts. A true small-school wonder.
Hannah Tandy, Christian Brothers
The senior utility star has a .518 average and led the Falcons to a second-place finish in the Capital Athletic League behind top-ranked Capital Christian.
Bella Tonso, Roseville
The senior catcher is batting .425. She is second in the section with 14 home runs and tied for second with 45 RBI.
Ayla Tuua, Capital Christian
The sophomore pitcher, slugger, leader and national recruit has a .532 average, 10 home runs, 12 stolen bases, 33 hits, 25 RBI and a 1.08 ERA with a 13-1 record in the circle.
Summer Stephens, Foresthill
The senior pitcher has a Sacramento regional best .695 batting average with 14 doubles to go with a 0.80 ERA and 217 strikeouts. A true small-school wonder.
▪ Who’d we miss? Tell us about a player of note who is still competing in the playoffs. Email jdavidson@sacbee.com.
This story was originally published May 15, 2024 at 5:00 AM.