Who is the top team?
Because the North Coast Section isn’t switching to a competitive-based format for its playoffs until next school year, its top teams are still sprinkled across numerous divisions. Livermore, the second-best NCS team in the latest Bay Area News Group rankings, is the No. 2 seed in Division II. Benicia, which is ranked two spots ahead of Livermore in the BANG rankings, is seeded third in Division II. … Livermore has Minnesota commit Jae Cosgriff leading a potent offense that has four regulars hitting over .400. Laine Macosky and Payten Williams each hit six home runs, too. … Benicia went 21-1 in the regular season and won its last 13 games. Junior pitcher Sinead Maas went 12-1 with a miniscule 1.13 ERA, and the Panthers offense also put up runs in wins against Division I top seed California, as well as victories over D-I squads Amador Valley, College Park and Clayton Valley Charter. … That isn’t to say reigning Division I champion California, the top seed in the highest division, is some slouch after going 16-8 through a gauntlet of a schedule. Jayda Crosby and Hailey King are both skilled hitters with batting averages over .350 and pitcher Kaitlyn Le has a 2.28 ERA.
What are some top storylines?
James Logan believes it is ready to add a sixth NCS Division I title to the program’s trophy case. But it won’t have an easy road to the championship. If seeds hold, the Colts will be taking a trip to Amador Valley in the second round, another program with a storied softball history. If Logan wins that one, then its semifinal opponent could be battle-tested California, which returns many key contributors from last year’s title team. … Can Alameda get over the Bishop O’Dowd hump in Division II? Assuming the No. 5 seed Hornets beat No. 12 Rancho Cotate, Alameda will have a shot at revenge against O’Dowd. The No. 4 Dragons handed their WACC Foothill rivals their only two league losses, both by one run. O’Dowd’s Zoe Bolick and Alameda’s Jasmine Whorley have had two great pitchers’ duels already, and they might have a third … Alameda isn’t the only team on the island with championship aspirations. Crosstown rival Encinal reached last season’s Division III title game. Now seeded No. 2 in D-III, the Jets continue to rely on slugging duo Lola Whalen and Jazzy Alcantar, who both hit over .400. … In Division IV, No. 9 Hercules will bring a lot of offense but might have to outscore the opposition. The Titans average 15 runs per game while allowing 11. They went 10-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League Stone Division and face a test in Round 1 against eighth-seeded St. Mary’s-Berkeley from the stronger TCAL Rock Division. … Few teams enter the playoffs on more of a roll than Liberty, which has spent the past two weeks run-ruling Bay Valley Athletic League opponents en route to a regular-season and league tournament title. Freshman Jewel Cooper has been a revelation, hitting 10 home runs with a .537 batting average. The Lions will try to maintain their torrid hitting as the No. 7 seed in Division I.
What team could make a surprise run?
Hard to imagine any Division I team wanting to see No. 6 Granada, who have a deceptive 12-9 record. The Matadors started the season 3-7 before going on a break in late March. Since returning to the field on April 9, the Livermore school has gone 9-2, with victories over playoff teams Liberty, Livermore, Carondelet and Foothill. The Matadors have more power than perhaps any team in the section, with seniors Saskia Rabb (8 HRs), Sarah Deplitch (7 HRs) and Delaney Aumua (9 HRs) all threats to go deep at any time. Freshman pitcher Kamryn Brannon has turned into a reliable option in the circle for Granada, too. The Matadors have EBAL rival Foothill in the first round, and then No. 3 College Park in the second should the seeds hold.
