CIF San Diego Section Softball Championships
When: Friday
Where: On campus at USD
Tickets: $17 for adults, $10 for students and seniors on Gofan.co
Division 4: (2) Grossmont (18-10-1) vs. (1) Madison (21-9-1), 4 p.m.
Preview: Madison is young and talented, led by freshman pitcher Aniyah Shelby (20-8). She’s also hitting .475 with 34 RBIs. Junior Hanna Rosas (.396) leads the Warhawks with 42 RBIs. Three freshmen are hitting .408 or higher. … Grossmont is led by sisters Saraya and Sahara Roope. Saraya is a junior, Sahara a freshman. They share the pitching load with a combined 18-9 record. Saraya is hitting .592 with 53 runs scored. Sahara is hitting .482 with a team-best 40 RBIs. Madison Busch is hitting .462. … Madison has won five section titles, the last in 2023 at Division 4. Grossmont has hung three CIF banners, the last in 2016 in Division 3.
Division 2 (10): Scripps Ranch (16-11-1) vs. (1) Carlsbad (20-6), 7 p.m.
Preview: Scripps Ranch is the playoffs’ Cinderella story. The 10th-seeded Falcons opened the postseason with an elimination-game victory and have proceeded to run off four straight wins, including 8-7 and 1-0 decisions the last two games against El Capitan. Kenzie Johnson is getting it done in the circle, posting a 9-4 record with 129 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings. She spun a 1-hitter in the semis. Sarah Cornelissen is batting .369 with 28 RBIs. … Carlsbad features two of the section’s best hitters. Catcher Chloe Hernandez (University of Nevada commit) is hitting .512 with 35 RBIs. Center fielder Gabby Nevarez (University of Arizona commit) is hitting .493 with 14 home runs, tied for the San Diego Section lead. Sophia Tillis is one of the section’s best pitchers. She’s 19-1 and has struck out 217 in 121 1/3 innings, allowing just 60 hits. … Scripps has won four section titles, the last in 2019 in Division 1. Carlsbad has hung four banners, the last in 2017 in Division 1.
— DON NORCROSS