California high school softball playoff action begins next week, but there’s an exciting individual competition going on that many might not know about.

On Wednesday, Tannon Snow, the senior infielder for Chino Hills (Calif.), hit two home runs in a 7-6 loss to Etiwanda which put her at 58 round-trippers for her career—just two ahead of another standout senior, Alyssa Palomino, the outfielder from Mission Viejo High which is currently ranked No. 1 nationally in the Full Count Softball FAB 50 rankings.

Both Snow and Palomino could be playing for a while longer so depending on how far their teams go in the playoffs so this state record race could get interesting over the next few weeks (although they wouldn’t face each other as Mission Viejo is Div. 2 while Chino Hills is Div. 1 in the CIF Southern Section).

What is an interesting side-note to the story is Tannon and Alyssa, teammates on the Batbusters, are good friends and have played on the same teams since the eighth grade.

“I’ve been communicating with Alyssa (about the home run record),” Tannon laughs, “and we’ve been texting each other and wishing each other nothing the best. We’re rooting for each other, not just for the record but to do well and win a championship.”

In the record-setting game two days ago, Tannon also accounted for three RBI to put her at a remarkable 80 for the season—also a state record—passing the mark of 77 set in 1998 by Lisa Estill from Grace Brethren in Simi Valley.

For this season, Snow has 26 homers, just one shy of the California record of 27 set in 2009 by Shannon Colquitt of Los Angeles King-Drew.

Impressively, she’s gone up in home runs each of her four years of varsity play: eight as a freshman, 10 as a sophomore, 14 as a junior and 26 so far this season and what’s remarkable about it this year is it’s been in just 30 games.

Think about it for a second: in the state that’s considered the most dominant in softball history and with all the great legendary players who’ve come from the Golden State, Tannon is the one who holds the career home run (so far) and RBI records and is one off from tying the state single season homer mark.

And it’s not like it came against inferior competition: the Baseline League is one of the most competitive in Southern Calif. and as a freshman Tannon and her Chino Hills High team won the CIF – Div. 3 title.

So what do the records mean to her? And which one means the most?

“I’d probably say the home runs means the most,” she says, “because it shows my hard work has paid off. Still, it makes me want to work harder and be even better.”

For her career, Tannon has 202 career hits, which puts her tied for 18^th in California history according to CalHiSports.com.

Interestingly, the top mark of 244 will likely be toppled this year too as Zoe Casas, a senior infielder from San Bernardino Aquinas and Florida State signee, sits just two hits away from tying the record.

Chino Hills won its league title and will find out Monday who will be its first round opponent in the CIF playoffs. The next game won’t be until Thursday so Tannon will have some time to collect her breath before pushing forward.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Tannon could have put these records beyond reach if not for a bad ankle injury that happened her sophomore year when she was cleated with a metal spike that cut down to the bone and forced her to miss nine games.

The injury was so damaging, it took the So Cal standout about a year to come back to full strength.

In that time, the initial Full Count Softball 2015 Hot 100 came out and she didn’t make the initial list as she was still getting her stroke and athletic abilities back. When the updated one came out last October, Tannon had entered in at No. 87 after a strong summer when she was part of the OC Batbuster 18U team that won PGF Nationals.

When the revised list came out last fall, Batbuster Head Coach Mike Stith just smiled and shook his head saying, “Tannon is the best third baseman in the country and you should have had her in the top 25.”

Looks like he was right.

The Husky signee did earn 2^nd Team Full Count Softball All-American honors after getting 61 hits last spring with 21 doubles and 14 home runs with 58 RBI, but she was just getting started.

This year’s she’s been in a groove all season.

“My injury took that season away, but I dedicated myself to finishing strong and getting ready for college. At bat, I’m seeing the ball really well.”

She attributes her hitting successes to her father, Craig, who she works with her after school every day.

“He and I just really connect,” she says. “My dad breaks hitting down so I understand it and I get it with him. We do a lot of drills, like tee work and front toss, together.”

Tannon says another reason for her amazing results this year is she’s in the best shape of her life.

“In December and January I ran two half marathons and have really improved my cardio which has also helped my ankles a lot. That training, hitting a lot and working on my infield with Coach Stith has helped it all kind of click.”

Softball success also seems to run in the Snow DNA.

Oldest sister Talee played at UCLA although shoulder injuries ultimately curtailed her career while younger sister, Taylon, is a Top 5 player in the 2017 class. She tied the all-time CIF-Southern Section record for hits last year with 72 and played on the same Batbuster team that won it all last summer. She wasn’t just a role player either—in the title game win, Taylon had a key RBI double.

The youngest of three girls, Taylon was one of only two sophomores who made the All-USA Today Preseason All-American team and has had another great year this spring, hitting .530 currently after batting .567 as a freshman with 14 doubles and 39 RBI so far in 2015.

She’s also headed to Washington and it was part of the plan all along that both would play together.

Initially, it was going to be at Arizona State, but when there was a coaching change, the sisters visited Seattle and the Univ. of Washington and verballed there in September, 2013.

So what makes the siblings such fantastic hitters?

“Both are naturally strong and they stay balanced and don’t overswing,” states Chino Hills Head Coach Mike Southworth. “Both also have a good understanding of the strike zone and the hitting situation. They study pitchers all the time and are patient.”

The Snows are also solid off the field too, according to their coach.

“Both have balance in their life and are well grounded,” Southworth believes. “Both have an unreal work ethic and work constantly to get better in every area of the game.

***

California State Softball Records (and where Tannon Snow ranks)
all lists compiled by CalHiSports.com

Most Home Runs (Career)


58 – Tannon Snow, Chino Hills, 2012-2015 (current)
56 – Alyssa Palomino, Mission Viejo, 2012-2015 (current)
53 – Alia Williams, Los Angeles Crenshaw, 2006-2009
53 – Baillie Kirker, La Crescenta Crescenta Valley, 2006-2009
53 – Darian Tautalafua, Carson, 2009-2012
50 – Shawna Wright, Lancaster, 2006-2009
47 – Lauren Chamberlain, Lake Forest El Toro, 2008-2011
47 – Breana Kostreba, Aptos, 2008-2011
46 – Dani Gilmore, Woodland Hills El Camino Real, 2008-2011
45 – Kaila Shull, Lodi Jim Elliot Christian, 2003-2006
45 – Perelini Koria, San Pedro, 2005-2008
45 – Sierra Romero, Murrieta Vista Murrieta, 2009-2012

Most Home Runs (Season)
27 – Shannon Colquitt, Los Angeles King-Drew, 2009 (24)
26 – Tannon Snow, Chino Hills, 2015 (30) (current)
21 – Heather Morales, Indio, 2012
21 – Sierra Romero, Murrieta Vista Murrieta, 2012
19 – Alia Williams, Los Angeles Crenshaw, 2008 (23) Jr.
19 – Briana Tautalafua, Carson, 2014 (Jr.)
18 – Baillie Kirker, La Crescenta Crescenta Valley, 2008 (30) Jr.
18 – Ashley Torres, Granada Hills Valley Academy, 2013
17 – Lisa Dodd, San Diego University City, 2003
17 – Kaila Shull, Lodi Jim Elliot Christian, 2006
17 – Perelini Koria, San Pedro, 2007 (Jr.)
17 – Trina Harrison, Oceanside, 2008 (26)
17 – Lauren Chamberlain, Lake Forest El Toro, 2010 (32) Jr.
17 – Darian Tautalafua, Carson, 2012
17 – Amanda Lorenz, Moorpark, 2013 (Soph.)

Most Career Hits
244 – Brenna Moss, Bakersfield North, 2008-2011
242 – Zoe Casas, San Bernardino Aquinas, 2012-2015 (current)
241 – Kelsey Kollen, Santa Ana Mater Dei, 1995-98
228 – Caitlyn Emberson, Taft, 2012-2015 (current)
227 – Shelby Cromer, Stockton Lincoln, 1990-93
225 – Lisa Dodd, San Diego Mira Mesa, 2000-02, San Diego Univ. City, 2003
218 – Taylor VanZee, Hemet, 2011-2014
217 – Nikki Schrey, Fresno Edison, 2002-2005 (141)
217 – Taylor Pack, Sutter, 2012-2015 (current)
210 – Kylie Reed, Norco, 2010-2013
209 – Danielle Vega, San Bernardino Aquinas, 2009-2012
208 – Monica Bagalayos, Stockton Lincoln, 1989-1992
206 – Julie Smith, Covina Royal Oak 1983-85 & Covina Charter Oak, 1986
206 – Andrea Duran, Selma, 1999-2002
206 – Amani Proctor, Clovis Buchanan, 2009-2012
206 – Stephanie Bergman, Hesperia Oak Hills, 2010-2013
204 – Jazmyn Jackson, San Jose Archbishop Mitty, 2011-2014 (120)
202 – Jamie Southern, Clovis, 1997-2000
202 – Dani Gilmore, Woodland Hills El Camino Real, 2008-2011
202 – Tannon Snow, Chino Hills, 2012-2015 (current)

Most Career RBIs
229 – Cassandra Williams, Apple Valley Academy for Academic Excellence, 2010-2013
225 – Caitlin Emberson, Taft, 2012-2015 (current)
211 – Kaila Shull, Lodi Jim Elliot Christian, 2003-06
206 – Dani Gilmore, Woodland Hills El Camino Real, 2008-2011
206 – Danielle Vega, San Bernardino Aquinas, 2009-2012
203 – Tannon Snow, Chino Hills, 2012-2015 (current)
197 – Alison Peckham, Pine Valley Mountain Empire 1989-90 & Holtville, 1991-92
176 – Katiyana Mauga, San Diego Mira Mesa, 2010-2013
174 – Hannah Cookson, La Crescenta Crescenta Valley, 2011-2014 (102)
171 – Jennifer Ackley, Stockton Lincoln, 1991-94