SBLive's California Softball Top 25 (3/20/2024): No. 1 Pacifica-Garden Grove off to blistering start

Pacifica (12-0) has looked the part of the preseason No. 1 team in the state – and country

Here are SBLive's California softball rankings for the week of Mar. 18-24.

CALIFORNIA SOFTBALL TOP 25:

1. Pacifica-Garden Grove (12-0)

The Mariners still haven't lost a game since last regular season. Exceedingly few teams can relate. Sometimes that's how it goes when you're the near-consensus top-ranked team in the nation. Pacifica has already beaten a litany of SoCal's best teams, including Orange Lutheran, Norco, Esperanza, JSerra, and Los Alamitos. And nobody has played Pacifica closer than three runs in over a month – not even when it won the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Arizona.

2. Hollister (7-0)

Another team that still hasn't lost since last regular season, although the streak did get put to the test last time out. After needing a late rally to beat Oakdale in its previous game, Hollister faced its closest test so far as red-hot Central took it to overtime. But it prevailed in the eighth to beat another strong foe early in the season. Hollister also beat Notre Dame (Salinas) and Clovis West via mercy rule earlier in the season.

3. Saint Francis-Mountain View (6-0)

Like last year, Hollister and Saint Francis appear to be two of the best teams in the state, with Archbishop Mitty also threatening to make a push. So, if last year was any indication, it should be another tremendous race in the CIF-Central Coast Section. Saint Francis has beaten five of its first six foes by 10 runs or more.

4. Murrieta Mesa (15-2)

Once again proving themselves as a national-caliber program, the Rams are scoring an average of 9.4 runs per game. They've beaten a laundry list of excellent teams such as Orange Lutheran, JSerra, West (Torrance), Hamilton (AZ), and La Cueva (NM), and are unbeaten in sophomore Lilly Hauser's 12 appearances. Only loss were 12-1 to Norco and 7-5 to Temescal Canyon.

5. Orange Lutheran (9-2)

In addition to possessing a handful of wins against very good teams, the Lancers have only two losses, and neither of them are worrying. One was 3-0 against national No. 1 Pacifica in a game that only went four innings, and the other was against Murrieta Mesa without ace Brianne Weiss. Speaking of the Notre Dame commit, Weiss tossed her first perfect game earlier in the month to beat Cajon, recording 16 strikeouts as well.

6. Huntington Beach (8-1)

The Oilers are yet to show what all they can do, but they're off to a strong start over a month removed from a loss to Millikan. They're 7-0 in games with an appearance from Zoe Prystajko, who's already racked up 70 K's in 37.2 innings.

7. Norco (10-3)

Despite falling to Pacifica (Garden Grove) in the finals, Norco had a fantastic run in Arizona at the Dave Pops TOC, where it defeated Verrado (AZ), Douglas (NV), Murrieta Valley, and Los Alamitos by a combined 29-2.

8. Los Alamitos (11-3)

Lots of good wins under Los Al's belt already, including JSerra, Millikan, La Cueva (NM), Valencia (Valencia), and most recently, league foe Marina. The Griffins' losses were against La Mirada, Pacifica (Garden Grove), and Norco.

9. Riverside Poly (18-1-1)

Since their sole non-wins, which came in the first three games of the season, the Bears have quickly reeled off 17 straight. Just how good are Cal-bound pitcher Miranda de Nava and Poly's defense? They've recorded shutouts in 15 of 20 games and seven of their last eight games, including their last five. 

10. Capital Christian (4-0)

Like top-ranked Pacifica and Hollister, Capital Christian hasn't lost a game since last regular season. It finished the season on an eight-game tear as a Division 4 champion in both the Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF Northern Region relying almost exclusively on underclassmen, including then-freshman sensation Ayla Tuua. And Capital Christian has been killer through just four games, beating Folsom 7-0, Oak Ridge 5-1, Rio Americano 20-0, and Vista del Lago (Folsom) 9-0.

11. Del Norte-San Diego (9-0)

The Nighthawks weren't ever on the top-25 radar last year, but that changed in a hurry in 2024. They're unbeaten through nine games with wins including Imperial, Cathedral Catholic, and otherwise-unbeaten Mater Dei Catholic. Keep an eye on two-way star Jessica Phelps, who might be breaking out as one of the premier players in the state after a stellar junior campaign.

12. West-Torrance (14-3)

The most improved team in California? After opening with a 2-1 loss to Palos Verdes, West is 14-3 after going 13-13 last season, with its only other losses coming against Pacifica (Garden Grove) and Murrieta Mesa. The resurgent Warriors have proven they can get it done in both high-scoring and low-scoring contest, with downed victims including Millikan, El Modena, Torrance, and most recently, previously-unbeaten Rio Mesa in shutout fashion.

13. Central-Fresno (10-2)

Central nearly handed Hollister its first loss since last regular season in its last game, but came up just short in eight innings. Nonetheless, it's been a great start for the Grizzlies, who'd previously won nine straight including St. Joseph, Stockdale, and Bullard.

14. Archbishop Mitty (6-1)

Despite missing star shortstop McKenna Woliczko due to basketball, Archbishop Mitty got off to a solid 5-1 start that included winning the Circle of Champions put on by Live Oak-Morgan Hill two weeks ago. In the championship, the Monarchs got a chance at revenge against Salinas – which had handed them their only loss four days prior via shutout – and returned the favor with a shutout of their own. Mitty also defeated Notre Dame (Salinas) on Monday in Woliczko's debut.

15. Casa Grande (4-0)

It's too early to really gauge the Gauchos, but they returned a litany of up-and-coming talent from last season's CIF-NCS D2 title team. So far so good in games against Justin-Siena, Cardinal Newman, Willow Glen, and Dixon.

16. JSerra (11-9)

While the Lions haven't been the pinnacle of consistency this season – they were below .500 less than a week ago – they are on absolute fire right now. And it may also be a sign of what's yet to come. JSerra has probably played the hardest schedule in the state so far, and one of the hardest schedules in the country. Of its nine losses, five are against top-10 teams in Pacifica, Orange Lutheran, Norco, Murrieta Mesa, and Orange Lutheran. Its other losses, coming against La Mirada, Millikan, Marina, and New Mexico powerhouse La Cueva, aren't exactly condemnations. And now JSerra has won seven of its last eight coming off back-to-wins against Norco and Mater Dei, with other wins including Tesoro, South Hills, Roosevelt-Eastvale, Hamilton (AZ), and Great Oak.

17. St. Joseph (8-1-1)

After making the Division 2 semifinals a year ago, the Knights look like a potential threat to contend for a title in Division 1 when the Central Section playoffs come around. They've beaten Clovis North, Centennial (Bakersfield), Bullard, and Stockdale, tied Buchanan (Clovis), and nearly beaten the section's top-ranked team, Central.

18. Clovis North (9-1)

Despite graduating the Gatorade Player of the Year and one of the most dominant players in section (if not state) history, Ryan Maddox (Arizona), Clovis North still looks like a threat to contend in the Central Section. It's lost only to St. Joseph, with wins including a Kingsburg team that took down Central in its season opener.

19. Mater Dei Catholic (9-1)

While it fell by one run to Del Norte in a battle of unbeatens, Mater Dei Catholic is clearly a threat to the throne in the San Diego Section through a tremendous 10-game start. Its biggest question rankings-wise is how high it'll be able to go before the playoffs without playing an elite regular season schedule.

20. Mission Viejo (10-2-1)

On fire after a slow start. The Diablos have won eight in a row since a draw against Marina, with Oaks Christian headlining a host of good teams they've beaten. 

21. La Mirada (12-4-2)

Up until a week ago, La Mirada was an arguable top-10 team in the state, with wins including Los Alamitos, JSerra, Millikan, Torrance, and Roosevelt (Eastvale), and its only losses coming from Huntington Beach and Orange Lutheran. Then it took back-to-back upsets at the hands of Tesoro and Yorba Linda, respectively. La Mirada did bounce back to shut out Downey in its league opener, so don't be surprised to see a long winning streak in the works.

22. Oaks Christian (8-2)

Oaks Christian hasn't built up much of a resume quite yet, but it's thrashed every foe in sight in its current five-game winning streak. Before that came a loss to Mission Viejo, wins against Reed (NV), Carson, and Valencia (Valencia), and a season-opening defeat against Granada Hills Charter. The Lions have a handful of star players who played big roles in their last couple of dominant seasons, so look for them to rise.

23. Rio Mesa (11-1)

Despite picking up its first loss last time out, 3-0 to West (Torrance), Rio Mesa is still off to a hot start. It faces more formidable non-league competition next week in Vista Murrieta and Orange Lutheran.

24. Marina (10-5-1)

The Vikings have played a brutal schedule thus far, and are narrowly inside the top 25 after losing 9-3 to Edison a couple weeks ago. But their other losses came against juggernauts, their draw came against Mission Viejo, and they've beaten the likes of Millikan, JSerra, and Valencia (Valencia).

25. Millikan (9-6)

One of many teams with a solid case for No. 25, Millikan has an impressive resume despite six losses. One came against an out-of-state heavyweight, four came against ranked in-state teams, and its only upset loss came in February to dangerous Gahr. It's been a while since the Rams notched their best win so far, 4-3 over Huntington Beach on Feb. 13, but they've since beaten JSerra, Fullerton, and South Hills.

ON THE BUBBLE:

Livermore, El Modena, Canyon-Anaheim, California-Whittier, Valencia-Valencia, Centennial-Bakersfield, Dublin, Foothill-Pleasanton, Granada Hills Charter, Esperanza, Tracy, Great Oak, Tesoro, Buchanan-Clovis, North-Torrance, Benicia, Oak Ridge, Kingsburg, Pleasant Grove, Aquinas