California High School Roundup: Mission Viejo Surges
California High School Roundup: Mission Viejo Surges
The 2016 Michelle Carew Classic was supposed to clear up who the top dog in the state was a couple of weeks ago, but the final two days got washed away by r
The 2016 Michelle Carew Classic was supposed to clear up who the top dog in the state was a couple of weeks ago, but the final two days got washed away by rain.
Before the rain out, Orange Lutheran's Maddy Dwyer threw a perfect game and hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Lancers a 2-0 win over Pleasanton Amador Valley. Pleasanton Amador Valley pitcher Danielle Williams threw a one-hitter and a no-hitter striking out 34 in the Dons' first two wins.
Mission Viejo, who lost two of the top players in Orange County history --- Taylor McQuillin and Alyssa Palomino --- to graduation, has emerged as the clear cut top team in the state. The Diablos avenged both of their losses with dominating victories over Los Alamitos, 6-2, and Santa Ana Mater Dei, 14-4, to claim the Best of the West title on March 19.
Mission Viejo met Los Al for the third time in the quarterfinals of the Carew Classic on April 8. That game got rained out with the Diablos leading 5-1 in the third.
Instead of trying to finish that game, Los Al decided to bow out rather than re-arrange its schedule now that league play has begun. So Mission Viejo will play Orange Lutheran on April 29 at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. The winner will play Huntington Beach for the Carew title on April 30 at 11 a.m. at Anaheim Canyon High.
See the Latest FAB 50 National High School Rankings
Huntington Beach has been on fire in recent weeks. Stanford-bound Alyssa Horeczko and Arizona-commit Ivy Davis have been taking care of business in the circle. Future Stanford Cardinal shortstop Kristina Inouye has been leading the offense for the Oilers.
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See the Firecrackers Signing Party with Kristina Inouye
Valencia of Valencia pulled off an 11-1 upset over Valencia West Ranch in a Foothill League game earlier this week, then proceeded to lose to Saugus, 6-1, on Thursday.
Saugus features Oklahoma-bound Mariah Lopez in the circle who continues to keep the Centurions competitive.
West Ranch came back with a 5-4 win over Newhall Hart on Thursday. Expect more Foothill League mayhem in the coming weeks.
La Habra has been a team to keep an eye on ever since the Highlanders beat Santa Ana Mater Dei, 6-5, to capture the Alan Dugard Classic on April 2. The Highlanders feature Cal State Fullerton-committed pitcher Janelle Rodriguez. She should handle the Freeway League with no problem and be a legit contender to Mission Viejo in CIF-SS Division 2.
Martinez Alhambra was a top 10 team in the state heading into this past week before an 11-1 loss to Sacramento Sheldon.
After an embarrassing 9-7 loss to La Palma Kennedy in the first round of the Carew Classic, Norco has bounced back with Big VIII wins over Eastvale Roosevelt, 3-0, and Corona, 8-1, this past week. The defending Division 1 champions have the talent, but something seems to be off with the chemistry of the team. Norco has a showdown at Corona Santiago on Friday.
Westlake Village Oaks Christian remains unbeaten at 19-0-1, but the Lions are untested. All of the top teams in So Cal have been battling each other at Best of the West, Tournament of Champions and the Carew Classic, while Oaks Christian has stayed out of the fray. It's hard to imagine Oaks Christian giving battle-tested Mission Viejo a challenge in CIF-SS Division 2.
Manteca East Union remained unbeaten with wins over Oakdale, 5-3, and Stockton West Ranch, 12-0.
Lakewood bounced back from its 10-2 loss to Mission Viejo at the Carew Classic with Moore League wins over Long Beach Poly, 16-0,and Long Beach Millikan, 6-2.
Cerritos Gahr and La Puente Bishop Amat look like the teams to beat in CIF-SS Division 3 this year. New Mexico State-bound pitcher Samaria Diaz gives Bishop Amat the inside track.
San Diego Cathedral Catholic is still looking like the team to beat from the San Diego area. Cathedral Catholic features UCLA-committed pitcher Megan Faraimo, hasn't lost since a 3-0 defeat to Garden Grove Pacifica in the consolation finals of the Best of the West Tournament on March 19.
Written by Carlos Arias
Before the rain out, Orange Lutheran's Maddy Dwyer threw a perfect game and hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Lancers a 2-0 win over Pleasanton Amador Valley. Pleasanton Amador Valley pitcher Danielle Williams threw a one-hitter and a no-hitter striking out 34 in the Dons' first two wins.
Mission Viejo, who lost two of the top players in Orange County history --- Taylor McQuillin and Alyssa Palomino --- to graduation, has emerged as the clear cut top team in the state. The Diablos avenged both of their losses with dominating victories over Los Alamitos, 6-2, and Santa Ana Mater Dei, 14-4, to claim the Best of the West title on March 19.
Mission Viejo met Los Al for the third time in the quarterfinals of the Carew Classic on April 8. That game got rained out with the Diablos leading 5-1 in the third.
Instead of trying to finish that game, Los Al decided to bow out rather than re-arrange its schedule now that league play has begun. So Mission Viejo will play Orange Lutheran on April 29 at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. The winner will play Huntington Beach for the Carew title on April 30 at 11 a.m. at Anaheim Canyon High.
See the Latest FAB 50 National High School Rankings
Huntington Beach has been on fire in recent weeks. Stanford-bound Alyssa Horeczko and Arizona-commit Ivy Davis have been taking care of business in the circle. Future Stanford Cardinal shortstop Kristina Inouye has been leading the offense for the Oilers.
---
See the Firecrackers Signing Party with Kristina Inouye
Valencia of Valencia pulled off an 11-1 upset over Valencia West Ranch in a Foothill League game earlier this week, then proceeded to lose to Saugus, 6-1, on Thursday.
Saugus features Oklahoma-bound Mariah Lopez in the circle who continues to keep the Centurions competitive.
West Ranch came back with a 5-4 win over Newhall Hart on Thursday. Expect more Foothill League mayhem in the coming weeks.
La Habra has been a team to keep an eye on ever since the Highlanders beat Santa Ana Mater Dei, 6-5, to capture the Alan Dugard Classic on April 2. The Highlanders feature Cal State Fullerton-committed pitcher Janelle Rodriguez. She should handle the Freeway League with no problem and be a legit contender to Mission Viejo in CIF-SS Division 2.
Martinez Alhambra was a top 10 team in the state heading into this past week before an 11-1 loss to Sacramento Sheldon.
After an embarrassing 9-7 loss to La Palma Kennedy in the first round of the Carew Classic, Norco has bounced back with Big VIII wins over Eastvale Roosevelt, 3-0, and Corona, 8-1, this past week. The defending Division 1 champions have the talent, but something seems to be off with the chemistry of the team. Norco has a showdown at Corona Santiago on Friday.
Westlake Village Oaks Christian remains unbeaten at 19-0-1, but the Lions are untested. All of the top teams in So Cal have been battling each other at Best of the West, Tournament of Champions and the Carew Classic, while Oaks Christian has stayed out of the fray. It's hard to imagine Oaks Christian giving battle-tested Mission Viejo a challenge in CIF-SS Division 2.
Manteca East Union remained unbeaten with wins over Oakdale, 5-3, and Stockton West Ranch, 12-0.
Lakewood bounced back from its 10-2 loss to Mission Viejo at the Carew Classic with Moore League wins over Long Beach Poly, 16-0,and Long Beach Millikan, 6-2.
Cerritos Gahr and La Puente Bishop Amat look like the teams to beat in CIF-SS Division 3 this year. New Mexico State-bound pitcher Samaria Diaz gives Bishop Amat the inside track.
San Diego Cathedral Catholic is still looking like the team to beat from the San Diego area. Cathedral Catholic features UCLA-committed pitcher Megan Faraimo, hasn't lost since a 3-0 defeat to Garden Grove Pacifica in the consolation finals of the Best of the West Tournament on March 19.
Written by Carlos Arias