Alyssa Brito of No. 16 Pacifica (Garden Grove), shown in game from last year, is believed to have tied a state record by hitting two home runs in one inning of a game last week. Photo: Patrick Takkinen / SoCalSidelines.com.
No. 1 Norco regains some momentum as CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs are beginning next week. No. 2 Foothill (Pleasanton) also looking to do the same in the CIF North Coast Section. For this week’s rankings, Chino Hills joins the top five, Buchanan joins the top 10 and Huntington Beach wins a big league game. We also welcome probably for the first time in school history Santa Teresa of San Jose at No. 20.
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(Previous ranking listed in parentheses)
(Through reported results of Saturday, April 20)
(Results from some games played on Monday, April 22 or later not included)
(Thanks to correspondents Chuck Nan for Orange County, Daniel Poulter for Northern California and Bill Hutton for CIF Central Coast Section for providing writeups and information)
1. (1) Norco 26-1
Pushing that one loss to Santiago of Corona from the week before deep into their memory banks, the Cougars beat Centennial of Corona 9-0 and Roosevelt of Eastvale 6-4 in Big VIII League games last week. Sarah Willis pitched four no-hit innings and had a double, homer and four RBI against the Huskies. Paige Smith led the way with three RBI vs. the Mustangs, who were No. 21 in last week’s rankings. Assuming Norco rolls past Corona in its final regular season game on Tuesday, the Cougars then would be in line for the top seed in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. Obviously, if they win out they would finish No. 1 in the state. Their mythical national title aspirations, however, may need a team or two from Florida or Texas not to finish unbeaten.
