2020 high school softball preview: Rankings, players to watch, more
No doubt about No. 1 team, player
It was clear to the Bay Area Preps HQ staff that no team matches the résumé and returning talent of top-ranked Foothill, which is coming off a perfect 28-0 campaign. The Falcons are charged by the battery of ace Nicole May and catcher Courtney Beaudin, who are bound for Oklahoma and UCLA, respectively. Don’t forget about Boise State-commit Hailey Hayes, a middle infielder and table-setter in the lineup. But the headliner is May, a right-hander who as a junior went 24-0 with a 0.32 ERA, striking out 246 in 151 innings with only 13 walks. In the North Coast Section Division I championship game, she tossed a one-hit shutout, struck out 13 and slugged a two-run blast during a 2-0 victory over Heritage. May is not only the returning Bay Area News Group player of the year, but the 2019 Gatorade California player of the year.
WCAL rivals Open for business
Archbishop Mitty, the reigning Central Coast Section Open Division champion, opens it season on Tuesday at Foothill. Cal-bound center fielder Diamond Holland (.492, 21 steals) is back, but Utah-bound shortstop Savannah Whatley (.574, 25 RBIs, 9 steals) has transferred to Heritage. Still, Mitty should be right in the thick of another title chase. Unless someone intervenes, the Monarchs and St. Francis are likely to meet at P.A.L. Stadium in San Jose on May 30 with a CCS title on the line for a fourth-straight time. The West Catholic Athletic League rivals are the only finalists since the Open Division was instituted in 2017. Mitty took home the inaugural trophy, then St. Francis avenged its loss in 2018. A year ago, the Monarchs proved victorious, 6-0. If the see-saw structure is to continue, the Lancers will rely on junior ace Lauren Baker, slugger and Cal Poly commit Hailey Prahm, plus sophomore shortstop Jessica Oakland, the coach’s oldest daughter.
No consensus at bottom of rankings
Most of the Bay Area Preps HQ staff came to an understanding for the top-10 teams — even No. 11 Carlmont. It proved tougher to sort out the rest of the best. No. 12 Notre Dame-Salinas, No. 13 Carondelet, No. 14 Bishop O’Dowd, No. 15 Acalanes along with California and Northgate were separated by a total of five points. Let’s just say there’s plenty of talent spread out across the Bay Area. Over the next three months, it will all play out.
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Players to watch
(alphabetical order)
Lauren Baker, St. Francis, Jr.
Co-pitcher of the year in the West Catholic Athletic League finished 18-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 154 strikeouts.
Courtney Beaudin, Foothill, Sr.
UCLA-bound catcher hit .493 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs and 18 walks out of the cleanup spot.
Tianna Bell, Heritage, Soph.
Her varsity debut included a .479 average, seven home runs and 14 doubles to produce 46 RBIs and 38 runs with eight steals.
Adele Braun, Santa Teresa, Sr.
The Mercer-bound corner infielder hit .500 with seven home runs, 11 doubles to produce 28 RBIs and 30 runs.
Olivia DiNardo, Aragon, Soph.
A nightmare for pitchers, the first-year varsity player hit .557 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs.
Ashley Donaldson, Branham, Sr.
The BVAL Mt. Hamilton MVP crushed it at the plate with a .595 average — 4 HR, 5 triples, 16 doubles.
Megan Grant, Aragon, Soph.
The UCLA commit led CCS with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs, helping Aragon claim its first section title.
Sage Hager, San Mateo, Jr.
The pitcher of the year in the PAL Bay went 11-6 with a 1.66 ERA over 143.2 innings, scattering 104 hits and 18 walks while fanning 145.
Hailey Hayes, Foothill, Sr.
A table-setter for a perfect 28-0 squad, this Boise State commit hit .458 with 10 doubles and crossed the plate 25 times.
Katie Hicks, Northgate, Sr.
DAL Foothill MVP hit .508 with eight home runs and 22 extra-base hits, resulting in 37 RBIs, 20 runs and nine steals.
Diamond Holland, Mitty, Sr.
The Cal commit not only roamed center field in Gold Glove fashion, she owned the top of the lineup with a .492 average and scored 31 runs with 21 steals.
Jesse Juinio, Carondelet, Jr.
The St. Mary’s commit his hitting .493 with 11 home runs, eight doubles, 27 RBIs and scored 20 runs.
Nicole May, Foothill, Sr.
The Oklahoma-bound ace anchored a perfect season for the Falcons, as she went 24-0 with a 0.32 ERA, striking out 246 in 151 innings with only 13 walks. The 2019 Gatorade California player of the year also hit .463 with five home runs, 27 RBIs.
Jessica Oakland, St. Francis, Soph.
Thrust into the No. 3 spot in the lineup as a freshman, she hit .422 with three home runs and 10 doubles for 35 RBIs, 32 runs and nine steals.
Kaylee Pond, Acalanes, Sr.
The Iowa State commit and DAL Valley MVP hit .680 with seven home runs, 32 RBIs, 47 runs and 25 steals.
Hailey Prahm, St. Francis, Sr.
A cleanup hitter, the Cal Poly commit his .424 with eight home runs, 30 RBI’s, 30 runs and seven steals.
Bailee Reed, Antioch, Sr.
Finished 18-7 in the circle with a 1.62 ERA and seven shutouts over 164 innings, in which she struck out 252.
Morgan Salmon, Acalanes, Jr.
Annihilated pitchers to the tune of .676, six home runs, 13 doubles, 37 RBIs, 29 runs — plus, 10 steals.
Valeria Torres-Colon, Amador Valley, Sr.
The University of the Pacific commit and dynamic outfielder is a game-changer with her bat and speed.
Savannah Whatley, Heritage, Sr.
The Utah commit and WCAL co-MVP has transferred from Mitty to Heritage for her senior season. Last spring, she electrified the top of the Mitty order with .574 average, 25 RBIs, 22 runs and nine steals before claiming a CCS Open Division title
Gabriela Williams, Carondelet, Sr.
The UC San Diego commit went 12-10 with a 2.32 ERA and five shutouts, striking out 178 over 145 innings. She also hit .400 with four home runs.
Kaleena Yra, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, Jr.
As a sophomore, she hit .639 with three home runs, five triples and 13 doubles to deliver 36 RBIs, 29 runs and 11 steals.
Bay Area Preps HQ preseason Top 15
(votes submitted by BAPrepsHQ staff)
No. 1 Foothill
Voting points: 60
Ranking at end of last season: 1
No. 2 Archbishop Mitty
Voting points: 55
Ranking at end of last season: 3
No. 3 St. Francis
Voting points: 53
Ranking at end of last season: 4
No. 4 Aragon
Voting points: 46
Ranking at end of last season: 6
No. 5 Heritage
Voting points: 44
Ranking at end of last season: 2
No. 6 Amador Valley
Voting points: 32
Ranking at end of last season: 7
No. 7 San Mateo
Voting points: 26*
Ranking at end of last season: 9
No. 8 Marin Catholic
Voting points: 26*
Ranking at end of last season: Not ranked
No. 9 Presentation
Voting points: 23
Ranking at end of last season: 5
No. 10 Santa Teresa
Voting points: 17*
Ranking at end of last season: 8
No. 11 Carlmont
Voting points: 17*
Ranking at end of last season: 13
No. 12 Notre Dame-Salinas
Voting points: 13
Ranking at end of last season: Not ranked
No. 13 Carondelet
Voting points: 12*
Ranking at end of last season: Not ranked
No. 14 Bishop O’Dowd
Voting points: 12*
Ranking at end of last season: 11
No. 15 Acalanes
Voting points: 11
Ranking at end of last season: Not ranked
Also received voting points: California 9, Northgate 8, Antioch 5, Hillsdale 3, Watsonville 3, Berkeley 2, Silver Creek 2, Los Gatos 1
*Tiebreaker determined by each team’s highest and lowest vote totals.