- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 460,829
- Reaction score
- 44
Two of the area’s top high school softball programs, coming off league races that pushed them to the brink, have received an imposing new obstacle.
Each other.
Camarillo (20-4) will visit Oaks Christian (20-4) in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs later this week.
That was the marquee all-local matchup when 17 local teams were included the CIF-SS softball playoff field on Monday, May 12. All first-round games are set for Thursday, May 15.
It will be the third time in the past decade the powers have faced each other in the postseason. Oaks Christian eliminated Camarillo in 2016 (6-1) and 2019 (10-4).
“It is what it is,” Camarillo coach Nichole Pinedo said.
More: The one-of-a-kind freshman year of Newbury Park potential five-sport star London Lefler
The Scorpions are powered by a lineup that has slugged 52 home runs, including a team-high nine each by sophomore Jadyn Claycamp and freshman Khloie Hartman.
“We’re just solid all the way around,” Pinedo said. “I think we’re solid in the circle. We’re pretty good defensively. We have a pretty good hitting lineup.”
Camarillo is also 4-0 in one-run games, including several walk-offs.
“We’ve been able to clutch up at the end,” Pinedo said.
It will need it against an Oaks Christian program that survived a real challenge to share the Marmonte League title with Agoura.
“There was some learning challenges early in the year,” said Oaks Christian coach Cheyenne Coyle. “Right now, we’re playing some really good softball. They’ve gotten in a groove at the right time and hopefully we can continue that in the postseason.”
More: Simi Valley vs. Ventura highlights local games in CIF-SS baseball playoffs
Junior Terrianna Kelley is hitting .443 with four home runs, 34 runs scored and 26 RBIs for the Lions. Junior Giabella Otani is hitting .450 with five home runs and 27 RBIs.
This is the first season CIF-SS is using in-season ratings to seed its postseason divisions. Both Pinedo and Coyle were surprised Division 1 included 30 teams, rather than the traditional 16.
That means the winner will be hit the road to face top-seeded Norco in the second round.
“I don’t understand the system,” Pinedo said.
Said Coyle: “I never know how any of it works.”
The CIF-SS included 252 teams across eight divisions. All are vying for a chance to play for sectional titles at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on May 30 or 31.
Agoura was the lone local team to earn a top-4 seed. The Marmonte League co-champion is seeded third in Division 2.
Westlake (15-12) and Royal (12-11), both in Division 2 as well, were the two local teams to earn at-large berths.
More: Local swimmers make a big splash at CIF-Southern Section championships
Coastal Canyon League champion Moorpark (16-5) will host Millikan (19-8), Thousand Oaks (19-7-1) will host Capistrano Valley (17-10), Agoura (16-11) will host Ganesha (21-5-1), and Simi Valley (17-8-1) will visit Vista Murrieta (17-11) in Division 2.
In Division 3, Channel League champion Oxnard (17-9-1) will visit San Clemente (20-7-1), Royal (12-11) will visit Citrus Valley (17-10), Rio Mesa (16-9) will visit Aquinas (17-10), and Westlake (15-13) will host Schurr (21-5-1).
Ventura (17-5) will host Quartz Hill (17-7) in Division 4.
Tri-Valley co-champions St. Bonaventure (13-11) and Grace (13-4) will host Riverside Prep (16-9) and University Prep (18-5), respectively, in Division 5.
More: Area athletes earn their spots in the CIF-Southern Section track and field finals
Citrus Coast League co-champion Santa Paula (10-11) will visit Katella (12-13) and Santa Clara (8-5) will visit San Jacinto (10-12) in Division 6.
Citrus Coast League co-champion Fillmore (11-8) will host Santa Ana (17-4-2) in Division 7.
Hueneme (6-15) will host Pomona Catholic (5-9) in Division 8.
Joe Curley covers softball for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo vs. Oaks Christian highlights local games in softball playoffs
Continue reading...
Each other.
Camarillo (20-4) will visit Oaks Christian (20-4) in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs later this week.
That was the marquee all-local matchup when 17 local teams were included the CIF-SS softball playoff field on Monday, May 12. All first-round games are set for Thursday, May 15.
It will be the third time in the past decade the powers have faced each other in the postseason. Oaks Christian eliminated Camarillo in 2016 (6-1) and 2019 (10-4).
“It is what it is,” Camarillo coach Nichole Pinedo said.
More: The one-of-a-kind freshman year of Newbury Park potential five-sport star London Lefler
The Scorpions are powered by a lineup that has slugged 52 home runs, including a team-high nine each by sophomore Jadyn Claycamp and freshman Khloie Hartman.
“We’re just solid all the way around,” Pinedo said. “I think we’re solid in the circle. We’re pretty good defensively. We have a pretty good hitting lineup.”
Camarillo is also 4-0 in one-run games, including several walk-offs.
“We’ve been able to clutch up at the end,” Pinedo said.
It will need it against an Oaks Christian program that survived a real challenge to share the Marmonte League title with Agoura.
“There was some learning challenges early in the year,” said Oaks Christian coach Cheyenne Coyle. “Right now, we’re playing some really good softball. They’ve gotten in a groove at the right time and hopefully we can continue that in the postseason.”
More: Simi Valley vs. Ventura highlights local games in CIF-SS baseball playoffs
Junior Terrianna Kelley is hitting .443 with four home runs, 34 runs scored and 26 RBIs for the Lions. Junior Giabella Otani is hitting .450 with five home runs and 27 RBIs.
You must be registered for see images attach
This is the first season CIF-SS is using in-season ratings to seed its postseason divisions. Both Pinedo and Coyle were surprised Division 1 included 30 teams, rather than the traditional 16.
That means the winner will be hit the road to face top-seeded Norco in the second round.
“I don’t understand the system,” Pinedo said.
Said Coyle: “I never know how any of it works.”
The CIF-SS included 252 teams across eight divisions. All are vying for a chance to play for sectional titles at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on May 30 or 31.
Agoura was the lone local team to earn a top-4 seed. The Marmonte League co-champion is seeded third in Division 2.
Westlake (15-12) and Royal (12-11), both in Division 2 as well, were the two local teams to earn at-large berths.
More: Local swimmers make a big splash at CIF-Southern Section championships
Coastal Canyon League champion Moorpark (16-5) will host Millikan (19-8), Thousand Oaks (19-7-1) will host Capistrano Valley (17-10), Agoura (16-11) will host Ganesha (21-5-1), and Simi Valley (17-8-1) will visit Vista Murrieta (17-11) in Division 2.
In Division 3, Channel League champion Oxnard (17-9-1) will visit San Clemente (20-7-1), Royal (12-11) will visit Citrus Valley (17-10), Rio Mesa (16-9) will visit Aquinas (17-10), and Westlake (15-13) will host Schurr (21-5-1).
Ventura (17-5) will host Quartz Hill (17-7) in Division 4.
Tri-Valley co-champions St. Bonaventure (13-11) and Grace (13-4) will host Riverside Prep (16-9) and University Prep (18-5), respectively, in Division 5.
More: Area athletes earn their spots in the CIF-Southern Section track and field finals
Citrus Coast League co-champion Santa Paula (10-11) will visit Katella (12-13) and Santa Clara (8-5) will visit San Jacinto (10-12) in Division 6.
Citrus Coast League co-champion Fillmore (11-8) will host Santa Ana (17-4-2) in Division 7.
Hueneme (6-15) will host Pomona Catholic (5-9) in Division 8.
Joe Curley covers softball for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo vs. Oaks Christian highlights local games in softball playoffs
Continue reading...
