The top three teams remain the same after No. 1 Norco tops No. 2 Los Alamitos and No. 3 Orange Lutheran to win another major tournament. Sheldon of Sacramento also jumps to No. 6, unbeaten Stockdale climbs to No. 7 and Mission Viejo now has to drop behind La Habra and out of the Super 8.
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(Through games of Saturday, April 8; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Norco 19-0
MVP Kinzie Hansen, the big-time sophomore catcher, and most valuable pitcher Taylor Dockins (now has 94 career wins) led the Cougars past No. 2 Los Alamitos and No. 3 Orange Lutheran in the semifinals and finals of last weekend’s Michelle Carew Classic. Will they be unbeaten going into CIFSS playoffs?
Norco’s Taylor Dockins once again was a rock inside the circle for nation’s No. 1 team at Michelle Carew Classic. Photo: Patrick Takkinen/SoCalSidelines.com.
2. (2) Los Alamitos 16-3
No change for the Griffins with their only loss at the Michelle Carew Classic coming to No. 1 Norco. They had chances to score runs in 1-0 loss to Cougars, but just couldn’t get the big hit. Los Al’s only other two losses this year were later avenged.
3. (3) Lutheran (Orange) 16-3
Stanford-bound Maddy Dwyer pitched the shutout when the Lancers beat Amador Valley of Pleasanton 1-0 in the semifinals of the Michelle Carew Classic. They lost in the final 4-0 to Norco.
4. (4) Gahr (Cerritos) 16-0
Alyssa Kumiyama hammered three home runs to lead the Gladiators past Los Altos (Hacienda Heights) 6-4. None of the team’s other games last week were close.
5. (6) Rio Mesa (Oxnard) 17-0-1
Like Gahr, even though they are also unbeaten, it’s going to be tough for the Spartans to move up any further than they’ve gotten in these rankings. Both teams are lucky that the rest of SoCal’s top teams have tended to be beating each other.
6. (9) Sheldon (Sacramento) 15-1
Although the Huskies got a forfeit win in the semis and didn’t have to face an ace in the final, their accomplishment of winning the Livermore Stampede title helps them move up three spots in this week’s rankings.
7. (11) Stockdale (Bakersfield) 17-0
Freshman Sydney Hornbuckle pitched a one-hitter as the Mustangs blanked Centennial of Bakersfield 6-0 in their only outing of last week.
8. (8) San Marcos 12-4
The CIF San Diego Section’s No. 1 team and defending champion has lost once to Norco and twice to Los Al and has shown in its other games that it’s an elite squad.
