South Coast Conference Softball Stronger Across The Board In 2023

Last year, four South Coast Conference teams finished with below .500 records. But this season so far in the 2023 SCC softball standings, seven of the nine teams have winning records, six at .600 and above.

The strength of the SCC can be seen in the current Southern California RPI power ratings that help determine postseason playoff spots.

Seven conference teams are in the top 20 beginning with perennial power Mt. San Antonio, winners of five straight SCC crowns. Ranked #5 in the 3CFCA state rankings, the Mounties are #2 in RPI, followed by state 12th-ranked El Camino at #6, then 16th-rated Cerritos at #9.

The rest of the South Coast teams in the upper RPI group are unranked in the state poll, but represent well in Long Beach City at #10, surprising LA Harbor at #13 after finishing last in the conference in 2022, a rebounding Pasadena City team at #17, and Rio Hondo #18. 

PCC, seventh last year in conference, already has more wins in SCC play this year than all of 2022 and have a percentage points lead over Mt. SAC (3-0) early in league games with a perfect 4-0 mark as of March 15. It's the program's best conference start in 19 years.

The Lancers, sporting a heavy sophomore veteran group, already have big victories over Cerritos, 3-2, and at El Camino, 5-3. Pasadena (10-6 overall) is led by third baseman Jaimie Harris, who is first among South Coast players in home runs with five, third in RBI with 18, and tied for fourth in doubles with five while batting .345.

Kiley Kraft has become one of the state's top aces with a 7-2 record and 1.27 ERA in a conference-high 55 innings.

Mt. SAC (11-3) outscored opponents, 27-4, in their first three conference wins. The Mounties are paced by another state-leading pitcher in Aleyna Urbina, who is 7-0 in the circle with a 1.29 ERA. Urbina, like PCC's Kraft, are pitch to contact hurlers.

Centerfielder Mia Mendoza is a top Mt. San Antonio hitter (.429, four HR, 15 RBI) as is shortstop Janis Espinoza (.433, 12 RBI, eight stolen bases).

Cerritos (8-6) are 3-1 in SCC play as the Falcons also flex a big offense, outscoring teams, 31-9, in their last three league victories. Second baseman Alyssa Sotelo (.431, 11 RBI, seven SB) currently rides a 9-game hitting streak. Rightfielder Jazmine Ramirez (.378, two HR, 11 RBI) is another key player.

Long Beach (9-6) started conference 3-0 before suffering setbacks v. Mt. SAC and Pasadena, a game the Vikings led 3-1 and one out away from a win only to lose 6-3 in eight innings.

Vikings centerfielder Alia Marquez leads the SCC in batting with a .525 average (plus eight steals) while pitching ace Olivia Martinez is the conference's strikeouts leader with 64 in 45.2 innings to go with a 5-2 record and 1.84 ERA.

El Camino (10-5) is 2-2 in league play after starting the season with a 6-game winning streak. Pitcher-hitter Skylar Sanchez is a two-way threat as she is batting .421 with two homers and 11 RBI while compiling a brilliant 5-0 record and 0.30 ERA in 23.1 innings in the circle. Leftfielder Alyssa Lujan is hitting .447 with 11 RBI (and nine SB's).

Rio Hondo (9-6) has five team shutouts to its credit and after a tough 0-3 opening to SCC play, now stand at 2-3. Roadrunners leftfielder Nadia Landeros is SCC's RBI leader thus far with 20 (batting .380) while centerfielder Angelina Aldrete (.490) tops the conference in both stolen bases (12) and runs scored (18). 

LA Harbor (8-4) has a solid hitting third baseman in Dajhay Norton (.500, two home runs) and also are led by catcher Asia Bryant (.405, two HR, 12 RBI). The Seahawks are 1-3 in SCC play, but showed spark in a 14-8 slugfest loss to El Camino in a game they led 7-4 at one point. 

East Los Angeles (4-11) is trying to get back on track after its offense was shut down in three conference defeats. The Huskies have a strong second baseman in Priscilla Hernandez, batting a team-best .326. 

Finally, Compton (0-5 overall and SCC play) has returned to the conference after a one-year hiatus. The Tartars have a small roster with pitcher-hitter Destiny Vega showing some pop with two doubles and a home run in the team's five games played.