Del Oro, Rocklin, Oak Ridge, Whitney among top seeds in softball playoffs
The Sierra Foothill League has towered over the greater Sacramento region as a super league for high school athletics.
Football has been king in that league for years, and it has been the best collection of teams locally in girls and boys basketball in recent seasons. And of course, there is softball.
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs start at home sites next Tuesday for Division VII, the smallest enrollment schools, and on Wednesday for Divisions I through VI. SFL teams are dotted across the top divisions.
SFL members earned the No. 1 seeds in Division I (Del Oro) and Division II (Rocklin), with Oak Ridge named the No. 2 seed in D-I and Whitney the No. 2 seed in D-II.
A two-time defending section champion in different divisions, Destiny Christian Academy of Sacramento is the top seed in D-IV. The school formerly known as Capital Christian is led by prep All-American and two-time Sacramento Bee Player of the Year Ayla Tuua, a national recruit headed to LSU. She is among several area players in the postseason who are in the running for Bee Player of the Year honors.
The junior leads the Lions (19-2) in batting average (.500), slugging percentage (0.914) and RBIs (22) and with an 0.24 ERA as the ace pitcher, sporting a 9-0 record.
State-ranked 10th, DCA only played 21 games, mostly because of early-season rain outs that could not be rescheduled. Oak Ridge chose to forfeit a nonleague game this week against the Lions, citing a need to rest and prepare for the playoffs.
Oak Ridge won section D-I banners in 2023 and 2024 and 12 overall, and the Trojans of El Dorado Hills started this season Bee-ranked No. 1. The team is state-ranked No. 5 by Cal-Hi Sports and is led by junior Washington Huskies commit Brooklyn Paratore (.500 average); senior ace Ellison Schroeder, who is 14-3 with a 1.02 ERA; and North Carolina commit Carly Short, a star infielder. Sophomore pitching star Kennedi Freeland has missed most of the season due to injury.
Del Oro of Loomis entered the playoffs as the top-ranked team in the section and in the state, according to Cal-Hi Sports. A nine-time section champion over the decades, Del Oro is state-ranked No. 1 for the first time, rolling along at 24-1. A close-knit team, the Golden Eagles went on a team-wide, 30-day cellphone digital detox in an effort to improve and raise awareness for mental health.
The Golden Eagles won the SFL and are riding a 14-game winning streak heading into a playoff opener against No. 16 Turlock. The lone Del Oro loss was a 5-1 decision at Oak Ridge in SFL play on March 21. Del Oro won the rematch 4-2 on April 23.
The Golden Eagles can pitch, play defense and smash the ball. Del Oro has one of the top 1-2 pitching combinations in the state with sophomore Mikayla Finn (15-1, 1,01 ERA) and senior Ava Messina (10-0, 1.59). They have combined for 204 strikeouts.
Chloe Champas and Abby Davidson lead Del Oro in batting average at .479 and .440, respectively. Committed to Utah Tech, Davidson has 13 home runs and 39 RBI. Del Oro has clubbed a section-leading 38 home runs.
Rocklin, the top seed in D-II and ranked 15th in the state, is led by Nevada-Reno commit Katie Wetteland (.500 average, 11 home runs, 37 RBI, 30 runs) and ace Payton Prior, who is 17-3 with a 1.52 ERA.
Second-seeded Whitney is ranked 19th in the state. The Wildcats could meet Rocklin in an all-Placer County finale of in-town rivals. Section champions in 2019 and 2023, Whitney is led by San Diego State commit Tylie Kitchen (.467 average, five home runs, 25 RBI).
Kitchen has won section titles in basketball and softball, and is her school's all-time career rebounding leader.
▪ Complete softball brackets and ticket information are available on the CIF section website.
Divisions I-VI games on Wednesday, May 14. Division VII games on Tuesday, May 13.
Division I
No. 16 Turlock at No. 1 Del Oro
No. 9 Davis at No. 8 Mountain House
No. 12 McClatchy at No. 5 Sheldon
No. 13 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 4 Pleasant Grove
No. 14 Gregori at No. 3 Tracy
No. 11 Enochs at No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 Monterey Trail at No. 7 Folsom
No. 15 Stagg at No. 2 Oak Ridge
Division II
No. 16 Golden Valley at No. 1 Rocklin
No. 9 Laguna Creek at No. 8 Inderkum
No. 12 Bella Vista at No. 5 Elk Grove
No. 14 Rodriguez at No. 3 Woodcreek
No. 11 Atwater at No. 6 Lodi
No. 10 Kimball at No. 7 Granite Bay
No. 15 Cosumnes Oaks at No. 2 Whitney
Division III
No. 16 Johnson at No. 1 Central Catholic
No. 9 Dixon at No. 8 Vista del Lago
No. 12 Bear Creek at No. 5 Oakdale
No. 13 Armijo at No. 4 Manteca
No. 14 Antelope at No. 3 Ponderosa
No. 11 Patterson at No. 6 Merced
No. 10 West Park at No. 7 Roseville
No. 15 Christian Brothers at No. 2 Vanden
Division IV
No. 16 Nevada Union at No. 1 Destiny Christian
No. 9 Rio Linda at No. 8 River Valley
No. 12 Oakmont at No. 5 Placer
No. 13 Los Banos at No. 4 Ceres
No. 14 Lathrop at No. 3 Yuba City
No. 11 Wood at No. 6 East Union
No. 10 Twelve Bridges at No. 7 Beyer
No. 15 Del Campo at No. 2 Pioneer
Division V
No. 16 Union Mine at No. 1 Casa Roble
No. 9 Ben Holt at No. 8 Hughson
No. 12 Sutter at No. 5 Wheatland
No. 13 West Campus at No. 4 Liberty Ranch
No. 14 Venture Academy at No. 3 Livingston
No. 11 Woodland Christian at No. 6 Ripon
No. 10 Orestimba at No. 7 Calaveras
No. 15 Lindhurst at No. 2 Linden
Division VI
No. 9 Bret Harte at No. 8 Bear River
No. 12 Summerville at No. 5 Hilmar
No. 13 Colfax at No. 4 Amador
No. 14 Golden Sierra at No. 3 Buckingham Charter
No. 11 Stone Ridge Christian at Big Valley Christian
No. 10 Mariposa County at No. 7 Millennium
No. 15 Bradshaw Christian at No. 2 Le Grand
Bye: No. 1 Argonaut
Division VII
No. 8 Esparto at No. 1 Foresthill
No. 5 Valley Christian at No. 4 Leroy Greene
No. 6 Vacaville Christian at No. 3 Delta Charter
No. 7 Elliot Christian at No. 2 Denair
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