SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: CIF-SS Softball Finals Team
We highlight some of the top players from the CIF-SS Softball Finals over the weekend at Deanna Manning Stadium.
Eight games over the weekend at Deanna Manning, about 100 players hit the dirt and many players shined on softball’s biggest stages. Here are the best players from the weekend.
PITCHERS
Alyssa Galindo – Etiwanda: Galindo was the best player on the field in the Division 3 final. In the circle, she allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out six in a complete-game effort. Her fastball ranged from 60-62 MPH throughout the weekend. She was one of the fastest pitchers of the weekend. At the plate, she hit a solo home run that helped the Eagles capture the D-3 title. She is a UTEP commit.
Kalena Lemus – Ganesha: The junior showed that she deserved these accolades after striking out 15 hitters in a complete effort. Her only blemish was giving up a run in the first inning.
Brynne Nally - Garden Grove Pacifica: What can be said about her that has not been said? She neutralized one of the most explosive offenses in Southern California. She tossed a three-hitter and struck out 11 with a fastball ranging between 59-62 with a 63 TOP. A Long Beach State commit.
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Jamie Sencion – Paraclete: Her performance in the Div. 4 final was as good as anyone on the weekend. She tossed a two-hitter and struck out 11 with her fastball ranging from 56-58 with good movement.
CATCHERS
Hailey Chavolla – California: One of the top players in what was arguably the best game of the weekend. She had a single and scored the game’s first run. But it was in the seventh inning that she delivered the play of the weekend when she caught a bunt in the area from Vivan Tanera’s bat and threw to first to double up Jackie Gacheupin. It was the play of the tournament.
Hollyn Genrty – Ganesha: Gentry was sensational at the plate as she went 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs. One of the top performances of the weekend.
Peyton Kingery - Valley Christian: The sophomore more than delivered on the hype as she went 4 for 5 with two RBIS while hitting pitches ranging from 61 to 62 MPH.
Carly Nelson, Viewpoint: One of the few bright spots for Viewpoint as she went 2 for 3 and scored their only run of the game. Good player.
INFIELDERS
Kaniya Bragg, Garden Grove Pacifica: UCLA is in good shape with this elite shortstop as she flashed her leather nicely plus delivered one of only a few home runs over the weekend. The homer came on a 63 MPH pitch from University of Notre Dame commit Brianne Weiss.
Marley Cortez, Gahr: The hero of the weekend for the Gladiators as her single drove in Larissa Robles and Natalia Hill with the winning runs for a 5-4 win over Cal High for a D-2 title.
Xochiti Frias, JW North: A sophomore who made this team with the way she played in the dirt with several big plays that helped keep their game against Paraclete close. She also walked twice. She’s poised to have a big club season this summer.
Brianna Gutierrez, Etiwanda: Another elite shortstop who flashed her glove nicely and reached on bases all three times at the plate. Another player that we are looking forward to seeing in 2025 is one of the more competitive leagues in the Inland Empire.
Hailey Hoffman, Hesperia: Hoffman was one of only a few shortstops that were perfect at the plate as she went 3 for 3 and drove in a run. She more than deserves to be on this list.
April Medrano, Eastside: She played a huge role for Eastside to win their sectional title with three hits, including a double, and drove in four runs. Big performance.
Isabella Salas – California: The best player on the field in Saturday night’s final and it’s not even close. She went 3 for 4 at the plate, and despite one inaccurate throw that allowed a run to score, the best second baseman of the weekend. She is a junior and figures to have a busy summer.
Eden Skinner – Hesperia: Another shortstop that had a perfect day at the plate as she went 3 for 3 and drove in a run in their 8-7 win over Jurupa Valley.
OUTFIELDERS
Audrina Camacho, JW North: This game could have been worse without her defensive performance against Paraclete. She made several very nice plays in centerfield and also contributed a single in her three appearances at the plate.
Choyce Chambers, Valley Christian: She makes the list based on one of the most spectacular catches over the weekend to rob Liberty’s Haley Kitzerow of a home run. It was just as good as Kai Minor’s was the day before. She also had a hit and scored a run.
Taylor Day, Paraclete: Even though she was seventh in the lineup, her contributions to their 8-0 win over JW North was huge. She had two doubles in the game and drove in two runs.
Natalia Hill, Gahr: The Nebraska signee showed why she is one of the elite outfielders in Southern California. Her at-bat in the seventh inning against Cal’s Alexis Salas will be one of the greatest at-bats in program history. She also made several nice plays on the defensive end.
Kai Minor, Orange Lutheran: The Oklahoma signee proved once again that she was the best outfielder of the weekend with her spectacular catch in the second inning that caught viral on X. She also made several other impressive plays and reached base safely twice.
Mo Rojas, Oxford Academy: One of the few bright spots for Oxford Academy in their loss to Eastside. The leadoff hitter went 1 for 3, scored a run, and drove in a run.
Jayden Tamura, Ganesha: Another leadoff hitter who had a huge weekend at the plate for the Giants. She had three hits (including a triple) and drove in four runs.
Attiana Thompson, Liberty: The leadoff hitter for one of the more explosive offenses that we saw over the weekend went 2 for 4 at the plate with a huge 2-run double in the second inning. She did her part in keeping her team in the game. She is a junior that is committed to Weber State.
DESIGNATED PLAYERS (HITTERS)
Shirley Acevedo, California: The sophomore has established herself as the “Ballistic Bomber” as she delivered the most dramatic home run of the weekend with a solo shot over the left field fence in the seventh inning of the Condor’s game against Gahr for a 4-3 lead.
Sophia McCoy, Ganesha: Another player from the lethal Ganesha attack had two hits in four at-bats with an RBI.
Shylee Scripther, Paraclete: What an offensive performance she turned in their win over JW North. The sophomore went 3 for 3 with an RBI and showed off her running skills as she scored on a wild pitch.