CIF Sac-Joaquin Section softball: Whitney wins D-I title, Escalon takes D-V
Winning or sharing the rugged and deep Sierra Foothill League was the first goal for the Whitney Wildcats softball team, and that happened.
Winning another section championship was the greater goal. That mission was accomplished, too, with one more to go.
Behind three RBIs by Sidney Kleiner and two by Rebecca Rau, and with Taylor Cordell cruising in the pitching circle, the Placer County school routed Rodriguez of Fairfield 11-1 to win the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section banner on Saturday afternoon at Sacramento State’s Shea Stadium.
That’s a repeat effort for Whitney and the sixth section crown for the Wildcats since 2011 and third since 2023. Whitney has won nine consecutive games and is 24-8 overall.
Both teams advance to the CIF Northern California playoffs that start at home sites June 2.
A sophomore, Cordell scattered six hits against the fast-rising program from Solano County, and she struck out five and walked none in a game that was halted after five innings because of the CIF’s 10-run mercy rule. Cordell is 19-3 this season.
Whitney under coach April Steele scored two runs in the first inning, four in the second, two in the third and three in the fifth, off of 11 hits and six Rodriguez errors.
Also producing an RBI for Whitney: Lulu Im, Bri Seffens and Kaitlyn Johnson. All of Whitney’s runs were earned against Rodriguez.
Whitney and Del Oro of Loomis tied for the SFL crown. Del Oro reached the section Division II finals and will also advance to the CIF NorCal rounds.
Division V
Escalon 5, Casa Roble 1
The Cougars of San Joaquin County scored three runs in the top of the seventh and final inning to defeat the Rams of Orangevale in the Division V title game at Cosumnes River College.
It marks the first time Casa Roble lost in a section final after going 8-0 in previous meetings. The last title for Casa Roble was 10 years ago. Escalon has six section crowns, the most in D-V in section history.
Escalon leadoff hitter Madison Babasa had a double and triple and three RBIs, and freshman Tenley Adams pitched a complete-game no-hitter with two walks and 13 strikeouts for the Cougars, the No. 7 seed in the bracket that eliminated No. 2 Calaveras 2-1 in a quarterfinal and No. 3 Sutter 7-6 in a semifinal. Adams is 9-1.