Softball’s Super 7

  By MARK TENNIS | Cal-Hi Sports

  In last issue’s column for SportStars, we reflected back on the top teams in CIF North Coast Section history in baseball due to this year’s team at College Park of Pleasant Hill ending at No. 1 overall in the state.

  For this one, we’ll be fair and switch to softball, but instead of just the NCS we’ll do the greatest in NorCal history (including the CIF Central Coast Section and CIF Sac-Joaquin Section as well).

  Here is a look at seven of them:

  AMADOR VALLEY-PLEASANTON 2014 (26-0)
  Although we had Mission Viejo of Southern California higher in the final state rankings, we consider both that team and the Dons to be among the best in state history. With Ms. Softball State Player of the Year Johanna Grauer leading the way, Amador Valley not only won the NCS Div. 1 title but also took on a top field at the Michelle Carew Classic in Southern California and came home with a title.

  ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE 2009 (32-0)
  If doing rankings of these teams, this one would be No. 1. Not only were the Monarchs unbeaten and led by future NCAA Player of the Year Keilani Ricketts (she did that at Oklahoma), they had plenty of depth throughout the lineup. And as with any all-time great team, Mitty had the advantage of playing a significant opponent and winning. In its case, the opponent was Sheldon-Sacramento coming off a title triumph at a prestigious tourney in Southern California and led by two All-Americans (pitcher Jolene Henderson and catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt). Mitty beat Sheldon 5-3 in the finals of the Livermore Stampede and went on to complete a perfect season.

  FREEDOM-OAKLEY 2006 (25-0)
  In a matchup of unbeaten teams in the NCS Class 3A final, pitcher Amanda Williams tossed a one-hitter and struck out 15 in a 6-0 romp past Newark Memorial-Newark. Williams was then later named as the Ms. Softball State Player of the Year. Her final pitching stats for the season were hard to believe: 23-0, 0.07 ERA, 365 strikeouts, six walks, 10 hits allowed. She also had a streak of three straight perfect games. Freedom head coach Michele Moore obviously had a solid defense to go with its pitcher, too.

  LINCOLN-STOCKTON 1987 (30-0)
  Going unbeaten would be a criteria to be on this list. So would representing an era of outstanding teams, which the Trojans clearly were in the 1980s and into the early 1990s. Lincoln softball, in fact, ended No. 1 in the state four times during those years “” 1992, 1991, 1987 and 1984. The ’87 team was the only unbeaten team of the four and was led by pitcher Kim Regpala, who went 80-5 in her prep career. Kim’s father, Bob Regpala, coached the Trojans from 1987-1998 and also for two seasons (2001-02) at Brookside Christian-Stockton. He ended with a 410-55 career record.

  MONTGOMERY-SANTA ROSA 1979 (26-1)
  The Vikings won their second straight NCS Class 3A title, which also were the first two NCS softball playoffs ever held. They were later listed as the 1979 State Team of the Year.

  ROSEVILLE 1990 (37-2)
  The Tigers won the SJS Div. 1 title, ended 37-2 and were selected State Team of the Year. They had one of the top pitchers in SJS history as well in Karen Jackson. She later went to be an All-American for three years at the University of Iowa and is currently as assistant coach at the University of Louisville.

  SHELDON-SACRAMENTO 2008 (32-2)
  When the Huskies and head coach Mary Jo Truesdale had both Jolene Henderson and Lindsey Ziegenhirt at the same time, they won the SJS Div. 1 title as juniors in 2008 but were upset as seniors in 2009 by Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove. The 2008 team was dominating in all facets and ended No. 1 in the final state rankings.  J

  Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.