Huskies, Monarchs stay 1-2 in this week's state softball rankings after turning back Pleasant Grove and Presentation. Will they be there in the same spots at the Livermore Stampede? This week's rankings also feature a major move for unbeaten Tesoro, the new No. 1 team in Orange County.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Steve Brand, Harold Abend

 (After games of Saturday, April 4)
(Preseason ranking in parentheses)

1.  (1)  Sheldon (Sacramento) 12-0
Head coach Mary Jo Truesdale closed the week by taking the team to a local ice cream parlor. The Huskies certainly deserved the treat as they headed into their spring break as the nation's No. 1 team. And while the second game of the week was a 14-1 breather over Monterey Trail, the first game went 13 innings against fellow state-ranked Pleasant Grove before Sheldon won it, 1-0, on an RBI by Kristen Gray. Jolene Henderson was again dominant in the circle with 18 strikeouts. Sheldon's next big games will be played at the Livermore Stampede.

2.  (4)  Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 10-0
The Monarchs' lost four college-level players from last year's WCAL and CCS Div. II champions (three D1, one NAIA) but haven't lost a beat. So far this season their dominance hasn't been tested as of yet, and according to Coach Sarah Thomas the team's big star, Oklahoma-bound pitcher and slugger Keilani Rickets, is just getting into softball shape. Even so, Ricketts' numbers are phenomenal. In the circle, she is 6-0 with a 0.00 ERA and has only given up three hits while striking out 78 batters. With aluminum in hand, she is batting .625. Junior second-sacker Miyuki Navarrete is hitting over .500. The girls were busy last week with five games. They started with two WCAL wins, 5-0 and 4-0 over Notre Dame of Belmont and Presentation of San Jose. Both teams, particularly Presentation, were to be their toughest league opponents this season. They finished up on the weekend with three victories in the first week of the two-week Steinbeck Classic in Salinas. Next up is a Wednesday showdown on the road at Freedom (Oakley) in a game CalHiSports.com will attend.

3.  (3)  Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga) 14-0
After collecting five shutouts in the first six games, the Eagles have managed to continue their winning streak despite being scored on in every game since. Etiwanda scored its second one-run victory of the season but it took eight innings to down upset-minded Alta Loma, 5-4, in Baseline League play as junior Natalee Pulver allowed a season-high 10 hits and but was gold when it counted. It was a completely different story for freshman Melissa Taukeiaho, who got plenty of support while not allowing an earned run in a 15-1 victory over Claremont. Taukeisho leads Etiwanda  with a .533 batting average. Pulver and Taukeiaho both have ERAs under 1.00 and will have to be sharp against 10-4 Upland and Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) this week.

4.  (4)    Freedom (Oakley) 10-2
Despite three wins to open Bay Valley League play over Antioch, Deer Valley (Antioch) and Liberty of Brentwood by 2-1, 3-0 and 8-0 respectively, the Falcons have no place to move up. That would most certainly change if they can win the big showdown with Mitty on April 8 at home. The flip side is a loss would probably mean a drop. So far, the only losses are a pair of 1-0 setbacks to top-ranked Sheldon and Camarillo. As has been the case all season, the team is led by Fresno State-bound pitcher and slugger Hannah Williams. Last week offensively in the three games she was 6 for 10 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored. In the circle, she gave up no earned runs on 12 hits with 29 strikeouts.

5.  (5)    Norco 12-2
Once again it was the Teagan Gerhart Show as the future Stanford Cardinal tossed two shutouts while the Cougars dismantled a pair of Big VIII opponents to remain a game behind Poly (Riverside) and hold their No, 5 ranking. Gerhart recorded a 6-0 win over J.W. North (Riverside) where she collected a double before shutting down Roosevelt (Eastvale) 8-0, amassing 11 strikeouts while scattering three hits. She also went 2-for-4 with a double at the plate. Norco is participating in the Michelle Carew Classic, named after the daughter of Hall of Famer Rod Carew, before returning to league action next week.

6.  (15)  Tesoro (Las Flores) 14-0
The Titans remained undefeated with a pair of impressive wins over Ayala of Chino Hills to jump up nine spots in the rankings from last week. Beating Ayala twice, a team that has been state-ranked this season, also pushed Tesoro to No. 1 this week in Orange County. Kristin Omori knocked in a run as part of a three-run fourth inning and picked up the win as the Titans were victorious by a 3-1 final score. Samantha Pappas then pitched a complete-gaem shutout in the rematch later that day as she allowed just two hits in a 3-0 win.

7.  (7)   Centennial (Bakersfield) 13-1-1
The Golden Hawks have now won six in a row and haven't allowed a run in five straight games after a pair of football like final score wins over South and North of Bakersfield last week. Ensley Gammel and Leah Munden combined for a five-inning perfect game while also doing damage at the plate in a 14-0 win over South. Gammel tossed three perfect innings with seven strikeouts and at the plate had a RBI triple. Munden finished the final two innings with perfect pitching while also knocking in a team-high four runs at the plate. Gammel then pitched the entire game against North and just missed a no-hitter as she allowed one hit while striking out 11 in a 10-0 victory. This week, Centennial has the week free of games and will be sure to rest up for next week when it will head to the Best of the West tournament in Santa Maria.

8.  (8)   Poly (Riverside) 12-3
Desi Ybarra was on her game, which meant two more wins for the Bears who continue to prove their 1-0 win over Norco was no fluke. Ybarra sent 11 Corona batters back to the dugout after striking out and took full advantage of a near-cycle at the plate by Britney Butler, who homered, tripled and doubled. Ybarra then allowed just two hits and whiffed another 11 batters in a 7-0 win over Centennial (Corona) as Poly remained the only unbeaten team in the league. The Bears take this week off before returning to Big VIII action next week.

9.  (9)   Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 12-1
Sophomore pitcher Kasey Stanchek tossed a no-hitter and struck out 14 in five innings as the Trojans ended an easy week with a 14-0 triumph over Cordova of Rancho Cordova. She also had a one-hitter in a 6-0 win at Christian Brothers of the Sacramento. Against Cordova, Jodie Richards and Jenessa Jeppesen led the offense as both hit homers. Like many other teams, the Trojans have this week off from games and will be back on the field next week against Vista del Lago of Folsom.

10.  (11)  Hart (Newhall) 12-2
Coach Steve Calendo's team has not played since going 3-2 at the Nike Faster to First tournament. The Indians, who won their own Hart Classic and remain a popular choice to go far in this year's CIF Southern Section playoffs, will get to play Valencia twice in the Foothill League and also will be in the Thousand Oaks tournament.

11.  (12)  Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 14-4
After losing a tough 1-0 game in extra-innings to No. 1 Sheldon, the Eagles showed no lingering effects and bounced back with a 1-0 win over St. Francis of Sacramento. Ally Carda doubled to drive in the game's only run and also pitched a one-hitter with 17 strikeouts. One of Pleasant Grove's other losses is to No. 9 Oak Ridge and the team has a win over No. 12 Valencia.

12.  (13)  Valencia 12-3
The first Foothill League game against Hart will be on April 23. This week, Valencia is playing against top competition at the Michelle Carew Classic in Orange County. The team's last reported action was a 5-1 win over El Modena of Orange at the Nike Faster to First Classic. That game capped a 4-2 showing in that event.

13.  (16)  Santiago (Corona) 11-2
A four-win week probably has Santiago wishing it wasn't taking off this week. The Sharks remained a game behind Poly (Riverside) in what promises to be an exciting Big VIII League battle by crushing Roosevelt (Eastvale) 14-1 before handing Martin Luther King (Riverside) its first league loss, 2-0, in 12 innings. Jackie Sweet crushed a two-run triple en route to going 3-for-6 to lift the Sharks over MLK. Kamerin May only allowed three hits and struck out 19 batters in the extra-inning affair. Sarah Beeman's home run highlighted a 3-for-3 day at the plate against Roosevelt.  Santiago also swept Torrance in a non-league doubleheader last Saturday, 5-2 and 10-0.

14.  (14)  Canyon (Anaheim) 11-5
Behind the arm of sophomore pitcher Cheyanne Tarango, the Comanches bounced back from their loss to Sheldon of Sacramento in the Nike Faster to First title game with wins last week against Diamond Bar and El Dorado of Placentia. Tarango allowed just two hits and struck out 13 while Lauren Young had a two-run RBI double in the second inning on the way to a 4-0 win over the Brahmas. Tarango once again reached double figures in strikeouts against El Dorado as she struck out 11 and allowed just one unearned run while giving herself run support with a two-run homer in their 5-1 road win over the Golden Hawks. Canyon opens the Michelle Carew Classic this week against Sonora of La Habra.

15.  (6)   Buchanan (Clovis) 14-1-1
This team's 13-0-1 start was cooled off last week by a 1-0 loss to Clovis West of Fresno. Last Saturday, the Bears then opened up play in the Clovis Easter Classic and posted wins over El Diamante of Visalia (3-2) and Redwood of Visalia (8-3). They have already dropped a game early this week to Hanford West, a result that will be reflected in next week's rankings.

16.  (10)  Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 12-2-1
The Monarchs seemed to be well on their way to opening last week's play with a win over Rosary of Fullerton with five runs in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead. Rosary, however, outscored Mater Dei by 5-0 the rest of the way for a 7-5 win. Amber Freeman and Caila Chirichigno each had their lone hits of the game result in two RBI in the five-run third inning. In the next game, Mater Dei trailed JSerra Catholic 1-0 after the first inning but the Monarchs' offense exploded for the game's next 10 runs on the way to a 15-5 win. Karina Cervantes was one of six Monarchs to knock in multiple runs as she went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI.

17.  (18)  San Benito (Hollister) 15-2
The only blemishes the Tri-County League leaders have on their record is a 1-0 loss to Notre Dame of Salinas and a 4-1 loss to Piedmont Hills (San Jose) in the Charlie Miguel tournament where four starters were out for testing, including star pitcher Marissa Ybarra. Ybarra is currently 15-1 with nine shutouts. Leadoff batter J.C. Clayton leads the Haybaler girls with a .630 batting average. Other standouts include sophomore Jessica Steigelman who leads the team in home runs and RBIs with four and 17, respectively. Another girl playing well, according to Coach Scott Smith (who also missed the Piedmont Hills game), is sophomore shortstop Jessica Vest, last year's catcher. She is hitting .389 with a .550 on base percentage.

18.  (nr)  Los Alamitos 13-3
Former Pacifica of Garden Grove coach Rob Weil is now directing the Griffins and guess which team they are opening up with at this week's Michelle Carew Classic? Los Al avenged one of its losses last week with a 7-2 win in a Sunset League game against Esperanza of Anaheim. The team's two other losses are to Norco and Mater Dei and it has a win over state-ranked Riverside Poly.

19.  (17)  Presentation (San Jose) 17-3-1
The Panthers took their second loss after Loyola Marymount-bound Molly Medeiros was outdueled by Mitty's Keilani Ricketts in a 4-0 defeat. They then took a 7-0 loss to Live Oak (Morgan Hill) before winning two games in the three they played in the Mission City Tournament this past weekend. With the tournament games reported late, the Panthers will take the loss in next week's rankings, which will probably drop them out.

20.  (20)  M.L. King (Riverside) 12-3
Losing a 12-inning game to higher-ranked Santiago is no disgrace and certainly no reason to drop the Wolves out of this week's top 20. Amanda Baun lost her duel with Santiago's Kamerin May but it was the quiet Wolves bats that could not push across a run. Earlier in the week, Baun no-hit Centennial (Corona) for four innings before resting up for the Saniago showdown as MLK went on to easily win, 12-2. Baun and the rest of the Wolves will take a week off from games, currently standing just one game out of first, with a showdown with Norco coming on April 16.

Dropped Out:
Previous No. 19 Vista Murrieta (Murrieta).

On the Bubble:
Ayala (Chino Hills) 11-5, Camarillo 8-8, Clovis West (Fresno) 12-9-1, Foothill (Pleasanton) 7-2, Rodriguez (Fairfield) 5-4, Simi Valley 8-5, Torrey Pines (San Diego) 12-2, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 9-3, Westmont (Campbell) 12-4-1.

For corrections or comments or to send in information about a team for the next installment of the state top 20, email mark@studentsports.com. Be sure to leave a comment as well so others can check out what you have to say about these rankings.