Softball: Another batch of SF Valley/North rankings
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I had a difficult time trying to figure out which team would grace the top of my weekly rankings this morning. Would it be Marmonte League darlings Simi Valley or punishment gluttons Valencia?
I couldn’t decide, so I strapped on the headphones and listened to some Joe Satriani as I poured over the stats and records in an attempt to sort this thing out.
In the end, I decided to go with Simi Valley based on its two consecutive victories over rival Thousand Oaks and because it is the only top-tier team in the region to remain undefeated. (That’s Simi Valley sophomore Amanda Oliveto in the photo.)
Still, it was tough pushing Valencia down into the No. 2 slot for tough losses to talented teams from Oceanside El Camino and Yucaipa in last week’s competitive Michelle Carew Classic. The defending Division I champions have played the region‘s toughest schedule and it would be easy to argue that the Vikings should still be the No. 1 team. Too bad the Pioneers and Vikings haven’t played any of the same opponents.
Here’s how I see it:
- Simi Valley (17-0, 4-0) -- Loyola Marymount-bound shortstop Sam Fischer is batting .455 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs.
- Valencia (17-4, 2-0) -- Sophomore Madison Shipman is batting .431 with 17 RBIs, three homers and 14 stolen bases.
- Thousand Oaks (11-3, 3-1) -- Lead-off ace Tiffany Messerschmidt is batting .479 and has 19 stolen bases.
- Hart (13-3, 3-0) -- Future Volunteer Melissa Brown is riding a 16-game hitting streak into the 12-day break.
- Camarillo (8-5, 3-0) -- Scorpions can’t afford to overlook Rio Mesa on Friday.
- Oxnard (11-4, 3-0) -- Sabrina Ferguson might be the Pacific View League‘s best hitter: .642 BA, 24 RBIs and six homers.
- Moorpark (9-4, 3-1) -- Tuesday’s contest with Agoura could give us a better picture of how the Marmonte League race might turn out.
- Royal (7-5, 3-1) -- This week’s double-whammy against Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks could cause a Royal headache.
- Agoura (7-4, 2-2) -- Desiree Beltran is batting a team-best .435, but has been left stranded on base 12 times.
- Alemany (8-5) -- One-run victory over West Ranch has me a little paranoid about my Warrior ranking.
Close, but not quite: Rio Mesa, Burbank, Saugus, Westlake.
And if you don’t know who Satriani is, here’s the virtuoso in all of his guitar-shredding glory. I’ve always remembered him having a lot more hair, though -- kind of like that guy he’s performing with.
