2014 Softball predictions - what teams look good in your league.

[CVSoftballFan]

I am kind of out of the HS loop but I am hearing good thiings about Central HS in the TRAC..  They have some good talent and excellent coaching... I see them as the early favorite .... Thoughts?

[knightsrule04]

Central should be very good this year. They only lost one senior from last year. I've heard differing information on their future; some say they have some good young pitching behind Rodriguez, but some say they'll be average the next few years after she (and some other good seniors) graduates. Really, we'll see how they play in tournaments when they give Rodriguez a rest.

Clovis sounds pretty good this year. They were a pretty young team last season and still got hot late to make the semis. They also got a transfer from Buchanan (Blankenburg) who had played varsity for the Bears for two years, and I've heard she likes it a lot. She will have to sit out the 30 days because of the transfer rules, so no one outside of the TRAC will see her. Interestingly, all of the pitchers listed on Clovis' roster on Maxpreps are seniors (including the aforementioned transfer).

Buchanan seems to be average this year, according to someone connected with the program. The loss of the transfer may be big in the circle, as I've heard they won't be great in that area. They always seem to be able to hit, though, so we'll see.

I don't know much about CW, but it seems like they returned most players. It looks like their big-bat catcher graduated, as did a few outfielders off the semifinal team. But all of their pitching was underclass last year, so unless there was a transfer they should be back. CW always produces good hitters, and I assume this year will be no different.

The only other program I know about is Bullard (obviously). They lost a few good players to graduation, so there will be a couple of big holes in the defense that will need to be filled. It sounds, however, as though Stucker is fully healthy, so she and Puente should dominate as one of the top staffs in the section. They are both rumored to be throwing harder that the past few years. Bullard has some promising bats, but they'll need someone to step up and be consistent to make sure Stucker doesn't get intentionally walked every plate appearance (or to make sure she doesn't reach out and bunt an intentional ball out of frustration - yes, she got a base hit that way last year).

Outside of D-1, Sanger should be good (they usually are) and SJM had some younger players who impressed me last year, so they might surprise.

[Softball]

Sunnyside high school should have a good team this year for the north Yosemite league. Keep an eye out for them

[Tstark]

The top teams IMHO are Central and Clovis West but look out for Clovis and Bullard two teams that are always competitive. Dark horse picks are Golden West and Frontier two teams that return a lot of starters.

1. Central
2. Clovis West
3. Clovis
4. Bullard
5. Golden West
6. Frontier
7. El Diamante
8. Buchanan
9. Kingsburg
10. Clovis North

[GrizzFan]

Any top 10 list that doesn't include Hanford West in the top end of it is incomplete! Very strong team!

[GrizzFan]

I don't think that you want to leave Stockdale or Madera off that list either!

[BuddyLee]

Don't sleep on Hanford West!!  They will be back in the hunt for Valley....again.

[OldSoftballfan]

The top teams IMHO are Central and Clovis West but look out for Clovis and Bullard two teams that are always competitive. Dark horse picks are Golden West and Frontier two teams that return a lot of starters.

1. Central
2. Clovis West
3. Clovis
4. Bullard
5. Golden West
6. Frontier
7. El Diamante
8. Buchanan
9. Kingsburg
10. Clovis North

The latest from the BEE

OVERALL TOP 10

** 1. Central (10-4)

** 2. Clovis (9-0)

** 3. Clovis West (11-4)

** 4. Madera (9-4)

** 5. Redwood (10-3)

** 6. Hanford West (10-5)

** 7. Bullard (5-5)

** 8. Buchanan (7-8)

** 9. Kingsburg (8-3)

** 10. Golden West (7-3)

DIVISIONAL

** D-I: 1. Central; 2. Clovis; 3. Clovis West

** D-II: 1. Hanford West; 2. Memorial 9-3; 3. Ridgeview 7-2

** D-III: 1. Redwood; 2. Kingsburg; 3. Hanford 7-8

** D-IV: 1. Taft 15-0; 2. Liberty-Madera Ranchos 12-1; 3. Mission Oak 9-3

** Division V: 1. Caruthers 9-2; 2. Exeter 6-3; 3. Selma 5-4

** Division VI: 1. McFarland 7-4; 2. Sierra Pacific 3-4; 3. Minarets 3-4

[cvfl fan]

Hanford West(26-8)just won another Valley Championship, that's 5 in the last 6 years. And out of the starting 9 on the field I believe only 2 are seniors and the 4 reserves in the Doug out are freshmans and sophomores. With the ACE pitcher #28 is a freshman.

[cvfl fan]