NorCal Softball Preview 2012

SOFTBALL PRESEASON TOP 20

NorCal rankings only. Records are from 2011

1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (28-3)

Power, speed and pitching are all present for a Monarchs team which began the year as the state’s No. 1 team.

2. Sheldon-Sacramento (27-6)

Huskies lose power-bat Danielle Henderson, but retain star hurler in Alexis Cooper

3. Amador Valley-Pleasanton (20-5)

Won last season’s NCS Div. I final while starting five freshmen.

4. Johansen-Modesto (27-4)

All-State talent Gabrielle Maurice leads a Vikings team that lost just four to graduation.

5. Sierra-Manteca (26-2-1)

Returning pitcher Allison Walljasper went 18-1 with 252 strikeouts and just 15 walks last year.

6. James Logan-Union City (23-4)

RaeAnn Garza returns for her third year in the circle for last season’s NCS Div. I runners-up.

7. San Benito-Hollister (29-1)

Haybalers lost a dynamite senior class, but still have firepower in Samantha Puentes and Megan Sabbatini.

8. Casa Roble-Orangevale (20-7)

Rams look to improve upon an SJS Div. II crown fueled by freshmen and sophomores a year ago.

9. Alhambra-Martinez (21-6)

Sophomore SS Kylee Perez had video game-like numbers last season (.692, 9 HR, 41 R, 29 RBI).

10. Heritage-Brentwood (16-8)

Coach Ron Rivers graduated just two seniors from last year’s Div. I semifinalist.

11. Freedom-Oakley (17-8)

12. Rodriguez-Fairfield (28-3)

13. St. Mary’s-Stockton(19-10)

14. Petaluma (21-4)

15. Del Oro-Loomis (17-9-1)

16. West-Tracy (24-6)

17. Newark Memorial (22-4)

18. San Marin-Novato (17-8)

19. Westmont-Campbell (23-5)

20. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (18-10)

NorCal’s 15 Players To Watch 

VANESSA ALVAREZ / P / Archbishop Mitty-San Jose / Sr.

KRYSTAL AUBERT / IF / Casa Roble-Orangevale / So.

TAYLOR BRINK / SS / St. Mary’s-Stockton / Sr.

KAYLA BUFARDECI (pictured below) / SS / Castro Valley / Sr.

ALEXIS COOPER / P / Sheldon-Sacramento / Sr.

JORDAN COURAGE / P/2B / Del Oro-Loomis / Sr.

MARISSA ESCALANTE / C/1B / Rodriguez-Fairfield / Sr.

RAEANN GARZA / P / James Logan-Union City / Jr.

JOHANNA GRAUER / P/1B / Amador Valley-Pleasanton / So.

JAZMYN JACKSON / OF/C / Archbishop Mitty / So.

GABRIELLE MAURICE / SS / Johansen-Modesto / Jr.

KYLEE PEREZ / SS / Alhambra-Martinez / So.

SAMANTHA PUENTES / 2B / San Benito-Hollister / Jr.

MALIA RIVERS / C/SS / Heritage-Brentwood / Jr.

ALLISON WALLJASPER / P / Sierra-Manteca / So.