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The final Orange County softball rankings for 2024.
Notable this week: Pacifica, the top-ranked team in Orange County entering the season, finishes No. 1 after defeating Orange Lutheran 3-0 in the CIF-SS Division 1 final. … It was the Mariners’ second Division 1 title in a row and their record ninth title overall … Orange Lutheran, which moved to No. 1 after the Carew Classic, slips one spot to No. 2. … The season will continue for some teams next week in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs.
ORANGE COUNTY SOFTBALL FINAL TOP 25
1. Pacifica (27-2): The Mariners finish the season in the No. 1 spot after defeating Orange Lutheran 3-0 in the CIF Southern Division 1 championship game. They have won back-to-back Division 1 titles. Shortstop Kaniya Bragg and ace Brynne Nally were selected MVP and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, in the Empire League. The Mariners have opted not to play in the SoCal regional.
Previous ranking: 2
2. Orange Lutheran (21-4): The Lancers came up short in their bid to win their first Division 1 title, losing to Pacifica 3-0 in the final. Center fielder Kai Minor and ace Brianne Weiss were named Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, in the Trinity League. The Lancers are also skipping the regional playoffs.
Previous ranking: 1
Orange Lutheran starting pitcher Brianne Weiss throws a pitch against Pacifica in the championship game of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
3. Canyon (24-5): The Division 1 quarterfinalists are among several O.C. teams to decline a bid to play in the CIF SoCal Regional playoffs.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Los Alamitos (20-6): Third baseman Gabby Terrones and ace Cari Ferguson were picked MVP player and MVP pitcher, respectively, in the Sunset League.
Previous ranking: 4
5. JSerra (18-14): Shortstop Kaylee Layfield, second baseman Reese Ferrel and pitcher Abby Ford earned first-team All-Trinity League honors.
Previous ranking: 5
6. El Modena (20-9): Junior second baseman Kaitlyn Galasso hit .490 with 14 doubles and 20 RBIs for the Vanguards.
Previous ranking: 6
7. Huntington Beach (18-8): Freshman catcher Emma Johnson claimed the Rookie of the Year award in the Sunset League.
Previous ranking: 7
8. Tesoro (17-5): Junior pitcher Loula-Rae McNamara, who also batted third in the lineup, earned MVP honors in the South Coast League.
Previous ranking: 8
Capistrano Valley’s Quinn Southerland celebrates after hitting a double in the top of the sixth inning against Pacifica in a non-league softball game at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
9. Capistrano Valley (21-7): Boise State-bound shortstop Quinn Southerland was selected Sea View League MVP.
Previous ranking: 9
10. Fullerton (23-8): Sophomore ace and top hitter Malaya Majam-Finch earned Freeway League MVP.
Previous ranking: 10
11. Rosary (19-10): Freshmen Jenna Caldera (shortstop), K’lene Gutierrez (first base) and Hayden Huerta (center fielder) made first-team All-Trinity League.
Previous ranking: 11
12. Mater Dei (14-12): Junior shortstop Elle McCloskey shared the Gold Glove award in the Trinity League with Orange Lutheran sophomore shortstop Madelyn Armendariz.
Previous ranking: 12
13. Whittier Christian (22-8): UCLA-bound shortstop Aleena Garcia hit .570 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs for the Heralds.
Previous ranking: 13
Mission Viejo’s Sofia Elliott came into the game to record the last outs in a game between Esperanza vs. Mission Viejo in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim Hills. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
14. Mission Viejo (19-7-1): Catcher Hailey Gald and pitchers Sofia Elliott and Reece Uehara earned first-team South Coast League honors.
Previous ranking: 14
15. Esperanza (15-12): Junior pitcher Charley Duran will be a key returner for the Aztecs next season.
Previous ranking: 15
16. Aliso Niguel (15-7-2): Stanford-bound shortstop Taylor Nelson and Penn-bound center fielder Gigi Ganje received first-team all-league honors in the South Coast.
Previous ranking: 16
17. Fountain Valley (12-13): Seniors Makenzie Butt, Samantha Estrada and Taylor Reynolds made first-team All-Sunset League.
Previous ranking: 17
18. Marina (17-10-1): Catcher Gabby DiBenedetto, pitcher Mia Valbuena and first baseman Rylee Gonzalez were selected first-team all-league.
Previous ranking: 18
19. El Toro (16-8): Seniors Kylie Loertscher and Ariana Gamino, junior Camryn Bradshaw and sophomore Sadie Mitchell earned first-team honors in the Sea View League.
Previous ranking: 19
20. Santa Margarita (16-11): Junior pitchers Payton Kennedy and Sawyer Denser both made first-team All-Trinity League.
Previous ranking: 20
21. Cypress (20-10): Seniors Madeline Granados, Brianna Holguin and Taylor Monteleone were the Centurions’ first-team All-Empire League selections.
Previous ranking: 21
22. Sunny Hills (11-10): Seniors Olivia Pedraza and Maddie Moreno and sophomore Elayna Marquez were first-team all-league in the Freeway.
Previous ranking: 22
23. Sonora (12-11): Juniors Bayle Hunnicutt, Brooke Piwowar and Anela Quinones made first-team all-league in the Freeway.
Previous ranking: 23
24. Villa Park (12-16): Junior Auddrey Lira hit .404 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs and pitched for the Spartans.
Previous ranking: 24
25. Foothill (11-13): Senior Darian Rycroft hit .410 with 23 RBIs to lead the North Hills League champion.
Previous ranking: 25
Please send feedback to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on X and Instagram
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