RPI Suggests South Coast Softball At High Level In 2022
The Rating Percentage Index or RPI has become the ultimate measuring stick in rating a team's strength in comparison to others in so many college sports. In softball in 2022, the South Coast Conference appears as strong as ever.
Despite the past two years all but taken away due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two-time defending state champion (2018-19) Mt. San Antonio College hasn't missed a beat thus far this season. The Mounties were off to an 8-0 start overall and were 5-0 in SCC games through Feb. 21. Mt. SAC also tops SoCal's RPI with a .674 rating while fellow SCC foe Long Beach City College (7-2 record, 4-1 in conference) is #2 at .617.
Four South Coast teams are part of the RPI top 10 and six among the top 15 in the region. In order, Cerritos (9-4, 1-2) is #5, El Camino (8-4, 3-2) #8, Rio Hondo (6-3 and 1-3) #13, and East Los Angeles (5-6, 2-1) #15. Even a difficult start by Pasadena (2-9, 0-3) v. a tough pre-conference teams has the Lancers as high as #17. Thus far, there have been no other official state rankings or polls released.
Mt. SAC's top hitter thus far is state slugging percentage leader (1.296) and first baseman Brianna Goris, who is batting .630 with seven doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI. Grace Pieson is the team's pitching ace, currently 6-0 in the circle with a 1.89 ERA and 51 strikeouts in only 33.1 innings. Cerritos is paced by hurler Samantha Islas who is 5-1 with two saves, a 1.77 ERA and was third in the state in strikeouts with 62 in 51.1 innings. Falcons' infielder-pitcher Richere Leduc (.375) is tied for the conference lead in RBI with 14.
Long Beach returns 2019 conference batting champion and shortstop Jade Wittman, who is hitting .519 for the Vikings this year while Vikings ace Daisy Torres is 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 48 innings of work. El Camino leftfielder Leah Madden leads the SCC so far in RBI (tied 14), stolen bases (11), and triples (three) whle Warriors shortstop Kayla Inzunza is batting .469 and is the current conference leader in hits (23), runs scored (17) and doubles (eight). ECC's ace is 2019 All-SCC First Team selection Liz Cortez (5-2, 2.53 ERA).
Rio Hondo shortstop Heaven Wolf is hitting .545 to help the Roadrunners to their outstanding '22 start and ELAC's power-hitting third baseman Lily Stell (.370) had three HRs and nine RBI while Chasity Martinez is batting .500 with two HR and nine RBI in the Huskies' equally solid beginning this year.
PCC's top hitter in the early going was leftfielder Jaimie Harris (.316, eight RBI) and LA Harbor outfielder Angelina Barrios was batting .500 with one home run and 12 RBI for the Seahawks, who are 3-9 overall and 0-4 in SCC play.
Release by Robert Lewis, SCC SID