Faster To First Classic: CALIF. State Rankings

Click on the above heading to access Cal Hi Sports.com.......Teams listed below in RED are in the NIKE Fastest to First...

1. (2) Santiago (Corona, Calif.) 28-5
Prior to their dramatic win over Canyon of Anaheim in the CIF Southern Section Division I final, the Sharks kept their win streak going with playoff triumphs over Valencia of Placentia, West Ranch of Valencia, Marina of Huntington Beach and El Modena of Orange. Most of head coach John Perez’s team will be returning, although seniors Lauren Sweet (catcher), Carissa Turang (infield) and Brenda Lee (infield) will be hard to replace.

2. (3) San Benito (Hollister, Calif.) 29-1
All head coach Scott Smith and his girls could do was watch the happenings in the CIFSS Div. I playoffs to see if they might snag the top spot should there be a major upset. It didn’t happen, but finishing No. 2 and with the overall best record in a state as big as California for a team and a group of girls from a one-school community in the southeastern most part of the Bay Area Metro region is quite an accomplishment. “If we had run the table there would be no doubt, but I completely understand,” Smith told Cal-Hi Sports two weeks ago, when informed after his team had won its sixth straight CCS D1 title that unless a team like Canyon won down south that his girls would probably be no higher than second in the final rankings.

3. (6) Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) 23-8

Since the Comanches came within one swing of winning perhaps the toughest playoff division in the country, we will place them third in the state for the final state rankings. While eight losses is a lot, most came in league competition against the likes of Esperanza and El Modena, two other top 10 teams. After winning their regular season finale against Esperanza (which was No. 1 in the state at the time), head coach Dan Hay’s club went on a run of playoff wins against Fountain Valley, Saugus, Lutheran of Orange, Kennedy of La Palma (team that upset Esperanza) and Los Alamitos (which also was No. 1 in the state at the time).

4. (4) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) 27-3
Head coach Brian Yocke inherited a team that was pretty good, but as the top seed in last year’s CIF Central Coast Section Div. II playoffs Mitty had suffered a loss in the opening round. This year’s top-seeded team didn’t disappoint the first-year skipper, delivering a 10th CCS title and sixth in seven years. “This team took me on an unbelievable ride,” Yocke said after the CCS title-game victory two weeks ago. It was a ride that saw the Monarchs come from unranked to begin April all the way to a top five finish. If all the underclass players come back healthy, next year’s team is a contender for the state’s preseason No. 1 ranking.

5. (1) Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) 27-4-1
Heading into the final week of the season, the Griffins were sitting at No. 1 in the state, but still needed to get through the CIFSS Div. I semifinals and finals. However, it just was not to be with the Griffins falling 13-5 to Canyon in the semifinal. After all is said and done, it’s still a top five finish for head coach Rob Weil and his girls. With four of its top sluggers, sophomores Megan Geer and Alexandria Finie, and freshman Infinity Laufou and Rachel Sellers, returning, and with a freshman, Andie Formby, as the top pitcher, look for this team to be competing for a CIFSS title once again next season.

6. (5) Bonita Vista (San Diego, Calif.) 34-2
The Barons have to drop a spot in the final rankings to make room for a Canyon of Anaheim team that nearly pulled off an upset over the state’s top team in the CIFSS Div. I final. The upset two weeks ago in the CIFSDS D2 final to West Hills of Santee that continues the school’s playoff misery hurts a lot more to San Diego State-bound Kayla Jordan and her teammates than losing a spot in these rankings. Bonita Vista also beat West Hills in the playoffs so that is why the team didn’t fall farther in the rankings.

7. (7) Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) 22-3
After going 17-0 to start the season, the Aztecs were in contention to be No. 1 in the nation. That start included wins against league rivals Canyon and El Modena plus those against Sheldon of Sacramento and Orange Lutheran. They ended the season, however, on a downer. First came a league loss to Canyon and then a stunning first-round upset loss in the CIFSS Div. I playoffs to Kennedy of La Palma. Senior slugger Kelsea Roth is the team’s leading honors candidate.

8. (12) Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) 27-6
Long time head coach Mary Jo Truesdale could not have had a much better final week of the high school season as the Huskies captured the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship with a win over Elk Grove with Danielle Henderson leading the way. Truesdale was then off to see Jolene Henderson lead the Cal Bears at the Women’s College World Series. Despite the loss of Danielle (also going to Cal), the Huskies should still be tough once again next year as junior pitcher Alexis Cooper will be back. She has verballed to Texas A&M and according to Truesdale got stronger and stronger as the playoffs went on.

9. (8) El Modena (Orange, Calif.) 20-8-1
Head coach Steve Harrington has already been named the Orange County Register’s Coach of the Year. As long as Harrington has had standout pitcher Haylie Wagner going, his team has been capable of beating anyone. Wagner, a senior, will be missed next year. El Modena made it to the CIFSS Div. I semifinals this season until a loss to eventual champion Corona Santiago. Previous playoff wins were against defending champion Santa Margarita, Etiwanda and Valencia.

10. (9) Etiwanda (Etiwanda, Calif.) 23-4
Just two weeks ago, the Eagles were ranked second in the state and in prime position to possibly end the season as the team of the year but all that came to an end with a 12-11 loss to El Modena in the CIFSS Division I second round. On the year, Etiwanda grabbed the Baseline League championship and opened with a 12-game winning streak that included three wins at the Faster to First tourney. The Eagles also avenged three of their four losses during the year. They were led by junior Melissa Taukeiaho, who hit 12 homers with 50 RBIs and also was the staff pitching ace.

11. (10) Marina (Huntington Beach, Calif.) 20-7-1
Considering that the Vikings gave top dog Santiago of Corona all it could handle before falling in an eight-inning 4-3 CIFSS D1 quarterfinal loss, it’s a solid season for the Marina girls who finish with only a one spot drop in the final rankings. Team leader Jaime Sullivan and four other seniors depart, but 10 girls return next season for head coach Shelly Luth.

12. (11) Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) 24-3
With a second-round loss in the CIFSS Division I playoffs to Marina of Huntington Beach, the Mariners fell out of the top five and end the season just outside of the top 10. Led by freshman pitcher Kaylee Carlson, who went 21-2 with a 0.78 ERA, the Mariners should be a tough team to beat the next several years. Among the teams big wins were those against Elk Grove, Lutheran of Orange and nationally ranked Sunrise Mountain of Peoria, Ariz.

13. (13) Rodriguez (Fairfield, Calif.) 28-3
The Mustangs were led by no-brainer all-state and All-American Cheyenne Cordes, who drove in 66 runs and batted .652 while playing flawless shortstop. Cordes led the team to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III title. The Mustangs also had key head-to-head wins early in the season against Elk Grove and Pleasant Grove. Another factor in the drive to the title was the improved pitching as the season went along by freshman Brenna Mitchell.

14. (15) Poly (Riverside, Calif.) 21-8
The Bears may have more losses than many of the teams behind them in the rankings but that’s in large part due to playing a challenging schedule that includes the Big VIII League with Santiago of Corona, Norco and M.L. King of Riverside, who all won at least 20 games this season. During the playoffs, the Bears defeated Simi Valley in the second round before losing to Los Alamitos in the quarterfinals.

15. (16) Simi Valley (Simi Valley, Calif.) 23-3
Despite Lauren Soles and Sophia Perez combining to throw a no-hitter, the Pioneers’ season came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Poly of Riverside in the CIFSS Division I second round. Their only other losses were to Etiwanda and Buchanan as they went undefeated in Marmonte League play. Junior Jenn Soria led the offense with nine home runs and 42 RBIs.

16. (17) Valencia (Valencia, Calif.) 23-7
Coach Donna Lee’s Vikings had an up and down year but with junior standout Carly Mortensen in the circle they were capable of beating anyone. Opening the season with 11 straight wins, they defeated Chino Hills on the way to capturing the Stu Penter Classic Tournament and then they defeated Los Alamitos and El Modena of Orange on the way to winning the Tournament of Champions in Arizona. Finishing third in the Foothill League behind Saugus and West Ranch, they defeated Edison of Huntington Beach and Vista Murrieta in the CIFSS Div. I playoffs before losing to El Modena in the quarterfinals.

17. (18) Elk Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.) 28-6
Led by senior standout Shelby Wisdom, Elk Grove forced a second game in the finals of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I playoffs but was unable to defeat Sheldon a second time. Although the Thundering Herd were No. 1 to start the season and didn’t live up to that, it still was not a bad season. They toppled Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove three times and took out 27-4 Johansen of Modesto earlier in the playoffs.

18. (19) El Diamante (Visalia, Calif.) 28-5
The CIF Central Section’s top team ends up as the Division I No. 3-seeded Miners, who struck gold with a 1-0 victory over Stockdale in the section’s D1 title game two weeks ago. They even get a one-spot bump for the final rankings. This team should be very competitive next year with standout sophomore pitcher Sierra Hyland and five other starters returning.

19. (NR) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) 30-5
Ava Jensen and Kelly Spear both hit home runs as the Lions won their third CIFSS title by spanking South Hills of Covina, 10-1, in the Division III championship last Friday night. Oaks Christian’s leading player throughout the season was senior Keana Quolas, who pitched a five-hitter in the final and had a 0.49 ERA for the season combined with a .477 batting average. The Lions were in the top 20 earlier in the season after they beat Santa Margarita and Marina at the Michelle Carew Classic. They dropped out after losing a pair to Redlands, but are now back for the final rankings.

20. (NR) Carson (Carson, Calif.) 27-3
For the first time in school history, the Colts captured the CIF L.A. City Section championship as they scored six runs in the final three innings for a 6-3 win over El Camino Real of Woodland Hills in a battle of the top two seeds. All three of Carson’s losses were against solid squads as they lost to Pleasant Grove, San Pedro and Marina of Huntington Beach before winning their final 13 games of the season. Returning next season will be a talented pair of junior sluggers as Brittany Moeai hit 12 home runs and drove in 65 runs while Long Beach State verbal Darian Tautalaua hit 15 home runs and drove in 47 runs.

21. (20) Frontier (Bakersfield, Calif.) 35-3
The CIF Central Section Div. II champions finish just outside the top 20 in the final rankings. Still, rankings aside, it was a great season for head coach Lisa Moore and her senior-laden Titans. Moore will have a lot of work to do with newcomers and underclass players next season to stay near the top of the Bakersfield area.

22. (NA) Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.) 24-7
Head coach Kendra Rosales’ team went out in the opening round of the CIFSS Division I playoffs, but that loss was to higher ranked Valencia. Quality wins during the season included those against El Modena, Lutheran of Orange, Marina of Huntington Beach and CIFSS Div. II champ Camarillo. The Chargers also won a tournament in Las Vegas where they lost to San Benito but beat El Camino Real and won the event on criteria. Catcher Jessica Plaza led the way before she heads to Stanford in the fall.

23. (NA) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.) 24-5
Led by senior outfielder Dani Gilmore and junior pitcher Karyn Wright, the Conquistadors were three innings away from capturing their 14th L.A. City section title before six errors led to six runs and a 6-3 loss to Carson in the finals. They started the season just 4-3 after splitting a pair of games against Oaks Christian but they responded with 14 straight wins and were winners of 20 of 21 heading into the final with the lone loss coming against Edison of Huntington Beach. Another highlight was handing No. 2 San Benito the only loss of its season.

24. (NA) Stockdale (Bakersfield, Calif.) 26-5-1
After being ranked most of the season and then dropping out last week, the UC Davis-bound Justine Vela-led Mustangs get to come back into the expanded final top 25. The Mustangs lose 11 seniors from the corral and will be a question mark for next season.

25. (NA) Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.) 25-6
The fifth pitch of the CCS D2 title game 4-2 loss to Archbishop Mitty was lined off the ankle of Warriors’ star pitcher Janell Laront, forcing her out of the game. When she came back taped up and limping five batters later, the score was 2-0 and the starch was temporarily out of the team’s game. Still, they hung tough and the third Bay Area Metro team in the rankings snags the final expanded spot. The Warriors showed their strength by beating Mitty once in the West Catholic Athletic League.

Dropped Out
Previous No. 14 Bishop Amat (La Puente).

Next 15 Teams Ranked In Order

26. Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) 23-7
27. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.) 18-10
28. Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.) 22-5
29. Gilroy (Gilroy, Calif.) 25-5
30. Saugus (Saugus, Calif.) 23-6
31. Ridgeview (Bakersfield, Calif.) 30-5
32. Camarillo (Camarillo, Calif.) 25-7
33. Sierra (Manteca, Calif.) 24-2
34. Johansen (Modesto, Calif.) 27-4
35. Grossmont (La Mesa, Calif.) 23-10-1
36. Poway (Poway, Calif.) 26-6
37. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) 20-8
38. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.) 22-10
39. James Logan (Union City, Calif.) 23-4
40. Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.) 33-6-1