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Softball: Simi Valley shoots up in my regional top-10 rankings

By Austin KnoblauchSenior Editor, Sports 
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The story of the week has to be the two tournament championships Simi Valley won during its Central Coast getaway over spring break.

On Wednesday, the Pioneers beat Marmonte League rival Thousand Oaks, 7-6, to earn the Best of the West tournament title before beating a talented Sutter squad, 5-1, in the Arroyo Grande tournament championship game.

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The undefeated Pioneers could be the best team in the S.F. Valley/North region, but it’s difficult to say since Thousand Oaks, Valencia and Hart are all loaded with talent. In fact, there seems to be a chasm forming between these four teams and the rest of the region’s bests, with Camarillo stuck in limbo. We’ll see if that changes in the weeks ahead.

(By the way, that’s UCLA-bound Hart pitcher Destiny Rodino in the photo.)

Here’s how I see it:

  1. Valencia (13-2, 1-0) -- Don’t be surprise if the Vikings win the Michelle Carew Classic, hosted by Anaheim Canyon High, for a second-consecutive year this weekend.
  2. Simi Valley (15-0, 2-0) -- Pioneers have outscored opponents, 114-17, and pitchers Amanda Oliveto and Kelli-Jo Killingsworth have combined for 10 shutouts.
  3. Thousand Oaks (10-2, 2-0) -- I’m planning on attending the Lancers’ revenge game against Simi Valley on Tuesday, and so should you.
  4. Hart (11-3, 1-0) -- Doubleheader sweep of Agoura proves the Indians are among SoCal’s finest.
  5. Camarillo (7-5, 2-0) -- Sophomore Jennifer Manuel is a star in the making.
  6. Agoura (6-3, 1-1) -- Tuesday’s showdown with Royal will say a lot about the Chargers.
  7. Oxnard (10-4, 2-0) -- No shame in hard-fought tourney losses to Thousand Oaks and Madera.
  8. Alemany (7-5) -- Carlie Lucas and Lindsey Webster are getting it done for the Warriors.
  9. Moorpark (7-4, 1-1) -- Coming off an encouraging performance in the Arroyo Grande tournament.
  10. Royal (7-4, 2-0) -- I’m showing the Highlanders some mercy because their Arroyo Grande tournament losses came against decent squads from El Segundo and Morro Bay.

Close, but not quite: Quartz Hill, Morro Bay, Burbank, Rio Mesa, Paso Robles.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Varsity Times Insider
Austin Knoblauch

Austin Knoblauch is a senior editor in Sports at the Los Angeles Times, overseeing NFL coverage and digital initiatives. He previously worked as an editor and writer at NFL.com. He initially joined The Times in 2005, serving in various web editing and reporting roles. Knoblauch’s favorite sports are football, hockey and auto racing. He is a native of Southern California and graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles.

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