Shay Knighten’s sensational hitting, including a grand slam in one game and three-run double in another, paved the way for Oklahoma to repeat this week as NCAA champions at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. She was named the Most Outstanding Player. Here is a list of ladies from California high schools who’ve been MOP at the WCWS:
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Cal-Hi Sports Insider Blog
Quick-hitting, behind-the-scenes news and notes from the CalHiSports.com staff, including previews of upcoming content and events.
NCAA Softball MOPs from California
More Softball State Teams of Year
In addition to overall No. 1 Los Alamitos, others that can claim they are mythical state champions for 2017 are Camarillo (Division II), Buena of Ventura (D3), South of Torrance (D4) and Village Christian of Sun Valley (D5). We do try to look for teams outside of the CIF Southern Section, but couldn’t choose one again this season.
For State Team of the Year announcement recognizing state’s No. 1 overall team for season, CLICK HERE.
Division I
Los Alamitos
Last year, the No. 1 overall team in the state actually came from Division II since Mission Viejo was classified as D2 both for the CIFSS and for our state divisions. This is the first time Los Al has been No. 1 in the state and nation in softball, but the school did it once before in girls soccer in 2005. Griffin girls also won CIF D1 state titles in volleyball in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Division II
Camarillo
Like the CIFSS D1 battle between Los Al and Norco, the D2 title game between the Scorpions and Riverside Poly also was a winner-take-all affair for this division. Camarillo won 4-0 behind the pitching of freshman Eryka Gonzales. The only non-CIFSS team before the playoffs that looked like it had a shot was Elk Grove (won NorCal Classic tourney) but the Thundering Herd lost in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D2 playoffs. Camarillo is finishing No. 1 in a state division for the first time, although in 1991 the Scorpions won the CIFSS D1 title and in that season were third overall in the final state rankings behind Lincoln of Stockton and an Irvine team that won the CIFSS D2 title but was second overall.
“We have a great tradition and it’s been great to represent that,” said head coach Nichole Pinedo, who took over for longtime former coach Jack Willard in 2014. “We have a great feeder system and great alumni. It’s nice to have a luxury like that.”
Division III
Buena (Ventura)
For the fourth time this season, the Bulldogs took on their Channel League rival San Marcos of Santa Barbara but last Saturday it was for a section championship as they ended the season undefeated with a 5-0 win in the CIFSS D4 finals. Before the offense broke through with a five-run sixth inning, it was a pitcher’s duel with Bulldogs’ pitcher Brooke Yanez leading the way in the circle. Headed to UC Davis, Yanez arrived to the ballpark without her glove and cleats and had to use new ones bought right before the game but it didn’t slow her down as she pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts. It was Buena’s first CIF Final in 27 years and first section championship since 1989. Buena wasn’t considered strongly for a final No. 1 ranking despite ending 26-0-1, but the Bulldogs needed to be that strong. If they had even one loss, it’s likely that CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D3 champ Benicia (28-2-1) would be getting this honor.
Division IV
South (Torrance)
It was a history-making season for the Spartans (23-7-1) as they captured their first section championship in program history with a 6-2 win over Heritage Christian of Northridge in the CIFSS Division V championship game. Maddy Stockslager allowed just three hits and two unearned runs while striking out 14, including the final batter of the game who represented the tying run. Maisie Weishoff also hit a three-run home run in the third inning to make it 5-0. This also is South’s first No. 1 state ranking finish. The girls moved up to No. 1 in D4 when Fortuna was upset in an early-round game in the CIF North Coast Section.
Division V
Village Christian (Sun Valley)
If the Crusaders had not won the CIFSS D7 title and instead a bigger school like Century of Santa Ana or Santa Ynez did, we’re not sure what we were going to do. Village Christian (20-10) got it done, though, by topping Santa Ynez 7-4 to capture the championship. Despite having a roster with just 10 players, the Crusaders captured their first section title since 2003. They also may not have to wait too long for another as they started six freshmen and one sophomore, making them a team to beat for years to come although moving up in class is a definite possibility. Village Christian hit two of its three home runs in the first inning to take a 3-2 lead as Kaylani Miller and pitcher Ally Melgar hit back-to-back home runs. Melgar would give up four runs in the first two innings before pitching five scoreless innings to get the win.
State Softball No. 1 Scenarios
Since we did our second set of divisional state softball rankings just over previous weekend, we don’t have new rankings this week but do have a rundown of which teams are line to be No. 1 in this year’s final divisional state rankings. Here’s how each division stacks up entering the final weekend of the 2017 season:
Division I – State and national No. 1 Norco (34-0) plays Los Alamitos (27-3) for the CIF Southern Section Division I title. The winner will end No. 1 in the state and No. 1 in the FloSoftball national rankings.
Division II — Right before Norco and Los Al play on Saturday, it will be Camarillo (25-3) vs. Riverside Poly (27-6) for the CIFSS D2 title. Results around the state also have favored both of those teams and like the D1 final it will be a winner-take-all matchup for final No. 1 D2 state ranking.
Division III — It more complicated for the final No. 1 spot among these teams. Buena of Ventura (26-0-1) may be D4 in the CIFSS playoffs, but would be ahead of even the CIFSS D2 champ (no matter which team wins) in the final rankings. If the Bulldogs are upset by San Marcos of Santa Barbara, the final No. 1 ranking for our D3 goes to Benicia of the Sac-Joaquin Section. Benicia’s season is complete. In the CIFSS D3 final, it will be Murrieta Mesa (23-10) playing Hart of Newhall (20-12).
Division IV — South of Torrance was No. 1 heading into the week and got past West of Torrance in Tuesday’s semifinal to improve to 23-7-1. The Spartans play Heritage Christian of Northridge (24-4) in the CIFSS D5 final. If they lose, the No. 1 ranking may go to Heritage, but could also go to Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth (25-5-2), which is playing St. Anthony of Long Beach (23-8) for CIFSS D6 title.
Division V — The CIFSS D7 final is between Village Christian of Sun Valley (19-10) and Santa Ynez (21-7). If Village Christian wins, it would be No. 1 in this state division. Santa Ynez, however, is ineligible for our D5 (school size too large and is D4) so if it wins the final No. 1 ranking becomes an evaluation that involves Northern Section champion Colusa, perhaps the CIF North Coast Section D5 champ or even a team that lost earlier in the CIFSS D7 or D6 playoffs that is eligible for our D5.
Why no Cali girls on U.S. U16 bb team?
After four days of trials that began on May 25 with 133 hopefuls at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, two California girls were among the 18 finalists, but when the 12-member 2017 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team was announced on Wednesday there were no girls from the Golden State on the roster.
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Super 8 Baseball State Ranks Update
After one of the craziest two days of upsets we’ve ever encountered in our more than 35 years of doing California prep baseball rankings, Eastlake of Chula Vista goes to No. 1, but staying there based on history of teams having to win multiple elimination games in a section playoff may not be likely. Winner of Tuesday game between St. John Bosco and Etiwanda may be more likely final No. 1 finisher.
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Super 8 Softball State Ranks Update
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.
NOTE: Our updated State Top 20 with lists of many other teams on the bubble will be posted each week but will require Gold Club membership to see for the rest of the season. Our breakdowns and analysis of what’s coming up and what’s already happened can’t be matched anywhere else because we’ve been following the statewide scene years and years longer than any other media source. For sign up info, CLICK HERE.
(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.
Super 8 Baseball State Ranks Update
Harvard-Westlake has to drop all the way out after playoff loss, which creates room for La Costa Canyon and Stockdale of Bakersfield to go up into this week’s Super 8. Too bad LCC has to play No. 2 Rancho Bernardo right away in San Diego Open Division.
NOTE: Our updated State Top 20 with lists of many other teams on the bubble will be posted each week but will require Gold Club membership to see for the rest of the season. Our breakdowns and analysis of what’s coming up and what’s already happened can’t be matched anywhere else because we’ve been following the statewide scene years and years longer than any other media source. For sign up info, CLICK HERE.
(Through games of Saturday, May 20; Results from Monday, May 22 not included; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Huntington Beach 27-4
It was an impressive first playoff game for the Oilers when they beat Redondo 11-1 to start their quest for the CIF Southern Section D1 title. Hagen Danner pitched five innings to go to 11-0 and also had two hits and three RBI.
La Costa Canyon has done very well this season even though the Mavericks no longer have No. 1 MLB Draft pick Mickey Moniak. Photo: CSNPhilly.com.
2. (2) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 28-3
After blanking Poway 6-0 to end regular season, the Broncos only got a No. 4 seed in the CIF San Diego Open Division (don’t get us started on their goofy power rankings) and have very tough first playoff game Wednesday vs. state-ranked La Costa Canyon.
3. (3) Eastlake (Chula Vista) 27-3
This is is the top seeded team in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division. Whether it was the Titans or Rancho Bernardo, no problem with that. They could face an ace in Madison’s Kevin Abel in first game on Wednesday who is similar to the ace from Dana Hills (Hans Crouse) who basically knocked out previous state No. 5 Harvard-westlake last week.
4. (4) Buchanan (Clovis) 27-3
Brady Hormel got the go-ahead RBI and then added an RBI single to lead the Bears past Centennial of Bakersfield 6-2 in the CIF Central Section Division I quarterfinals.
5. (7) St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 25-7-1
For this week’s rankings, we decided to match to CIFSS D2 seedings and flipped Bosco into the No. 5 position instead of moving up Moorpark. The Braves won their first playoff game 3-2 vs. M.L. King of Riverside.
6. (6) Moorpark 25-3
There were six one-run games in the opening round of the CIFSS Division II playoffs and the Musketeers also were involved in one of them as they defeated Oaks Christian of Westlake Village 3-2.
7. (9) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 24-5
Big 6-5 win over Torrey Pines (which was No. 10 in last week’s state rankings) gives Mavericks some momentum in CIF San Diego Open Division. And they’ll need it since their first game has to be against state No. 2 Rancho Bernardo.
8. (11) Stockdale (Bakersfield) 26-3
This is the No. 2 seed behind Buchanan in the CIF Central Section Division I playoffs and advanced to this week’s semifinals vs. Clovis after pounding Bullard of Fresno 10-1.
Super 8 Softball State Ranks Update
With Amador Valley of Pleasanton taking a loss, Mission Viejo gets bumped up to No. 5 in this week’s state rankings. Sheldon of Sacramento also gets to move from No. 9 to No. 8.
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All-Time Best NY Yanks from California
With Aaron Judge of Linden making such a huge splash this season hitting homers and captivating the national media in New York by how he’s been playing for the New York Yankees, we thought we’d come up with a list of the 10 greatest Yankees who are from California high schools. Will Aaron one day be on this list?
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