Softball roundup: Title hopefuls set to take the field Saturday. Here’s what to know

Quinton Hamilton
·4 min read

The best eight softball teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section take the field Saturday in the Divisions I through IV section title games. The section hosted championships for Divisions V through VII Saturday, May 18.

Teams playing for titles this weekend picked up key wins in Tuesday’s section semifinals.

Two Stanislaus District teams will compete for blue banners in Divisions III and IV and they are both from the same league. Valley Oak League rivals Oakdale and Central Catholic will play in their respective division’s championships at 1 and 4 p.m., at Cosumnes River College. Championships in Divisions I and II will be at Sacramento State.

The Mustangs and Raiders look to join Big Valley Christian as the only Stanislaus District softball section champions. The Lions won the D-VII title last week, beating Buckingham Charter in five innings.

Gregori hoped to extend the best season in program history and reach its first-ever softball section title but fell in Tuesday’s Division I semifinal to Whitney.

Here’s how each title team reached the section’s biggest stage as well as a look at how the Jaguars’ record season came to an end.

No. 2 Oakdale in Division III section championship

Record: 21-6

Championship Opponent: No. 1 Capital Christian (23-2-1)

When and Where: May 25 at Cosumnes River College, 1 p.m.

How they got here: Oakdale and coach Larry Loger believe they have the best pitcher in the area in Raegen Everett and the UC Riverside-bound senior has propelled the Mustangs to their first section title appearance since they went 29-1-1 and captured the D-III title in 2019. They didn’t reach their first title game in five years without drama in the semifinals against league rival Manteca Tuesday. After a scoreless five innings, the Buffaloes scored the game’s first run in the top of the sixth. Senior Bailey Peterson was the hero for Oakdale, driving in both of the runs in the 2-1 win. She drove in Reese Donaldson in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the game and Audrey Romiti in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off. Everett, Peterson and University of the Pacific signee and catcher Presley Barnes will take on defending D-IV champ Capital Christian, led by the Tuua sisters, Ayla and Alanna, and versatile senior Hailey Alkire. It will be a top 10 SJS matchup as the Cougars are the No. 4 ranked team and the Mustangs are No. 6, according to MaxPreps.

No. 2 Central Catholic in Division IV section championship

Record: 20-7

Championship Opponent: No. 1 Dixon (19-4)

When and Where: May 25 at Cosumnes River College, 4 p.m.

How they got here: The Raiders reached their third straight section championship game with Tuesday’s 11-0 six-inning semifinal win over Ripon. The freshmen stepped up big for the Raiders as pitcher Stephanie Garcia threw a no-hitter with seven strikeouts and Samantha Nichols went 4-for-4 with two home runs. Sophomores Madison Harrison and Emry Couch also added home runs. After reaching the title game in Division III the last two seasons, Central Catholic is in the D-IV title game this year. They will face top-seed Dixon which won the D-IV title in 2022. The Rams are led by four seniors who are hitting above .400 on the season. Though they’re young with just two seniors in the starting lineup, the Raiders have a number of players who were on the roster for at least one of their prior title game runs. Those players are hoping Saturday they will be able to claim their first blue banner after losing in 2022 and 2023.

Central Catholic pitcher Stephanie Garcia delivers a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Ripon at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Central Catholic pitcher Stephanie Garcia delivers a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Ripon at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

No. 4 Gregori falls in D-I semifinals

Record: 24-5

Last Opponent: No. 1 Whitney (21-2)

Recap: The Jaguars saw their season end Tuesday with a 10-0 loss in the Division I semifinals against top-seeded Whitney. The Wildcats are the top team in D-I and the No. 1 ranked team in the Sac-Joaquin Section and No. 4 in California, according to MaxPreps. The Jaguars were ranked No. 13 in the section. Gabby Castro recorded a double and Kailey Estes and Mikayla Lancaster added a single apiece. Estes struck out six batters. The Jaguars reached the semifinals for the first time since 2016 and set a new school record for most wins in a season.

No. 1 Big Valley Christian claims D-VII title

Record: 21-6-1

Last Opponent: No. 3 Buckingham Charter (12-4)

Recap: The Lions claimed their second Division VII section title in three seasons Saturday, May 18 at Cosumnes River College, winning 11-0 in five innings. Morgan Merzon, Breese Johnson and Emily Avila each recorded a triple. Macie Stevens finished with a game-high three RBI. Johnson and Cecily Fontana drove in a pair of runs. Ava Hernandez pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts. The Lions await their seeding for the CIF Northern California Regional Championships. They are also looking to claim their second NorCal title in three seasons after becoming the first Stanislaus District softball team to win the title in 2022, the year softball NorCal regional championships were introduced.

Big Valley Christian players and coaches take a picture after winning the 2024 Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship at Cosumnes River College on May 18, 2024. It is their second title in three years.
Big Valley Christian players and coaches take a picture after winning the 2024 Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship at Cosumnes River College on May 18, 2024. It is their second title in three years.
Central Catholic’s Samantha Nichols runs the bases after hitting a home run during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Ripon at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Central Catholic’s Samantha Nichols runs the bases after hitting a home run during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Ripon at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ripon pitcher Kharime Caratachea delivers a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Central Catholic at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ripon pitcher Kharime Caratachea delivers a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Central Catholic at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ripon’s Jaycee Wilmshurst makes contact with a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Central Catholic at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ripon’s Jaycee Wilmshurst makes contact with a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Central Catholic at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ripon’s Addison Naranjo makes contact with a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Central Catholic at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ripon’s Addison Naranjo makes contact with a pitch during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals against Central Catholic at Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.