PRESS-TELEGRAM SOFTBALL FINAL TOP 10
1. La Mirada (20-6-2)
Junior pitcher Montserrat Reyes-Cardenas, the Gateway League’s most valuable pitcher, and senior catcher Rebecca Eckart, the Gateway League’s most valuable player, led the Matadores to the league title. La Mirada beat No. 2 Gahr twice in the regular season but lost in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
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2. Gahr (19-10)
Senior outfielder Natalia Hill, who hit .549 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs and 15 stolen bases this season, led the Gladiators to CIF-SS Division 2 title with a 5-4 win against California on Saturday. Seniors Marley Cortez and Rio Mendez were also constant clutch contributors. Gahr finished second in the Gateway League.
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3. Los Alamitos (20-6)
The Griffins went undefeated in the Sunset League and lost in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs.
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4. Millikan (20-9)
Senior Ava Schaffel was named the Moore League’s pitcher of the year after leading the Rams to the program’s fourth straight Moore League title. Millikan lost in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.
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5. Valley Christian (18-6)
Sophom*ore catcher Peyton Kingery hit .684 and led the Defenders to the CIF-SS Division 5 title with an 8-7 win against Liberty on Saturday. Junior Britton Brown, sophom*ores Kayla Martin and Choyce Chambers and freshmen Rachel Zhang and Tallulah Ireland will be key returners for Valley Christian next season. The Defenders finished second in the Olympic League.
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Cerritos Valley Christian’s Rachel Zhang celebrates after scoring a run against Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian’s Tallulah Ireland scores a run in the top of the third inning against Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian’s Brianna Ramirez connects for a basehit against Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian starting pitcher Rachel Zhang fires off a pitch against Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian player dogpile onto shortstop Britton Brown after her catch of a foul ball that ended the game against Liberty for the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian center fielder Choyce Chambers catches a long fly ball to rob a Liberty batter of a homerun in the top of the sixth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian players celebrate after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship against Liberty in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian players celebrate beating Liberty 8-7 for the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian center fielder Choyce Chambers catches a long fly ball from a Liberty batter in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian Shortstop Britton Brown, left, Celebrates after catching a foul ball to end the game against Liberty for the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Liberty’s Attiana Thompson slides safely into third base in the bottom of the second inning against Cerritos Valley Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian shortstop Britton Brown can’t handle a hot grounder from Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian’s Brianna Ramirez slides into home safe to score a run against Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos Valley Christian’s Peyton Kingery stops her foot and shouts after scoring a run against Liberty in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 softball championship in Irvine on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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6. St. Joseph (19-5)
Junior shortstop Breanna Ochoa led the Jesters with a team-high .544 batting average with 24 RBIs. Sophom*ore outfielder Morgan Mora hit .474 with 32 RBIs and seven home runs. Sophom*ore pitcher Eris Garcia went 15-2 with a 3.22 ERA. The Jesters won the Camino Real League and made a run to the semifinals of the Division 6 playoffs.
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7. Lakewood (15-11)
Senior shortstop Catherine Calzada led the Lancers to a second-place finish in the Moore League. Lakewood lost in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs.
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8. Long Beach Poly (16-8)
Sophom*ore Kiele Ho-Ching was Long Beach Poly’s MVP. The Jackrabbits finished third in the Moore League and lost in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs.
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9. Downey (14-12-1)
Sophom*ore Isabella Corral hit .384 with 20 RBIs and six home runs. The Vikings finished third in the Gateway League and lost in the second round of the Division 4 playoffs.
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10. Cerritos (15-4)
The Dons won the 605 League and lost in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs.
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Also considered:St. Anthony (11-12-1), Wilson (15-11), Mayfair (10-13), Paramount (15-8), Norwalk (19-9), Artesia (13-8-1).
Press-Telegram softball Top 10 rankings: Gahr and Valley Christian rise after CIF-SS playoff wins, May 14
Press-Telegram softball Top 10 rankings during CIF-SS playoffs, May 6
Press-Telegram softball Top 10 rankings before start of CIF-SS playoffs, April 29
