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.