This week’s top five has changed drastically with Gahr of Cerritos now gone after suffering its first loss plus the rapid rise of Grand Terrace. Benicia also is new to the Super 8 after completing impressive run to CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III title.
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(Through games of Saturday, May 27; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Norco 32-0
The hits were coming fast and furious and ended up with a total of 24 in a 20-2 win vs. Pacifica of Garden Grove in CIFSS D1 quarterfinals. The Cougars now play new No. 5 Grand Terrace in Tuesday semifinals.
Oklahoma-bound Eliyah Flores is having a strong senior season for Grand Terrace. Photo: Twitter.com.
Head coach Rob Weil’s team beat Santiago of Corona 4-1 in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinals and now gets No. 3 Orange Lutheran in the semifinals. If it does indeed become Los Al vs. Norco in the final, that matchup also would decide FloSoftball mythical national title.
3. (4) Lutheran (Orange) 27-4
Maddy Dwyer had a four-hit shutout and a one-hit shutout as the Lancers moved on in the CIFSS D1 playoffs with wins against Oaks Christian (4-0) and Valencia (1-0).
4. (8) Sheldon (Sacramento) 30-2*
This is where the Huskies rise after winning third straight CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 championship. They had to beat Tracy twice with no losses in the double-elmination format bracket and that’s what they did.
5. (NR) Grand Terrace 24-2
After beating defending CIFSS D1 champ Mater Dei 8-6, the Titans ramped it up even more in their next outing when they clobbered 2016 CIFSS D2 champ Mission Viejo 16-2. Their move up from D3 last year has thus been a hugely successful one.
6. (7) Buena (Ventura) 25-0-1
The Bulldogs may only be D4 in the CIFSS playoffs, but if they finish 27-0-1 to go with winning Thousand Oaks tourney this year that’ll be enough for a mythical D3 state title.
7. (5) Mission Viejo 21-6*
The Diablos’ season came to a surprising end last week when they were defeated 16-2 by previously unranked Grand Terrace in the CIFSS Division I quarterfinals. Playing in their first season in Division I, the Diablos were looking to make the section finals for the third year in a row.
8. (12) Benicia 28-2-1*
Of course, the Panthers have an argument to be the No. 1 team for Northern California this year with their head-to-head win over Sheldon. We have simply had Sheldon higher due to strength of schedule issues, although that win has helped Benicia climb into the top 10 and could help get a mythical D3 state crown.
