The Inland Empire has been one of the nation’s softball hotbeds for nearly four decades, so it should not come as a surprise to see many local players starring for elite college programs around the nation.
There are two dozen Inland players currently listed on the rosters of Division I colleges in the Top 25 of the most recent ESPN/USA Softball rankings (April 22). Several of those players are starters who are leading their respective teams in statistical categories, and a few are making strong cases for All-American honors.
Chino Hills, Great Oak, Norco and Roosevelt lead the way, each with three players on those teams.
Here are the players on Top 25 teams. The listed ranking is from the ESPN/USA Softball poll on April 22.
TEXAS A&M (No. 2, 41-8)
Mya Perez (Norco High School) has been the team’s primary first baseman, and she leads the squad with a .433 average, 13 home runs and 59 RBI. Perez, a sophomore, has drawn 32 walks this season and has on OPS of 1.398. Amari Harper (Santiago High School) is a junior who can play second base, right field or first base. Harper is second on the team with a .413 average and 38 runs. She also has five homers and 30 RBI. Senior pitcher Emily Leavitt (Ayala High School) is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 35 innings.
TEXAS (No. 3, 42-9)
Cambria Salmon (Beaumont High School) has made an impact in her freshman season. She has a 6-1 record with a 2.09 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 47 innings.
OKLAHOMA (No. 4, 42-5)
Abby Dayton (Norco High School) has played all three outfield positions in her first season with the Sooners. The junior who transferred from Utah is hitting .320 with 43 runs scored and also leads the team with 12 stolen bases.
OREGON (No. 5, 44-5)
Kaylynn Jones graduated from Guyer High School in Denton, Texas, but she played her first two seasons at Roosevelt High School in Eastvale. The freshman second baseman is batting .318 with 31 runs, 26 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Taylour Spencer (Vista Murrieta High School) is a sophomore pitcher who is 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 36 innings.
FLORIDA (No. 6, 41-11)
Sophomore Alyssa Hovermale (Norco High School) is redshirting after suffering an injury early in the season.
UCLA (No. 8, 44-7)
Jada Cecil (Temecula Valley High School) is a senior pitcher with a 3-0 record, a 1.48 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. Junior Ramsey Suarez (Great Oak High School) has not appeared in a game this season.
SOUTH CAROLINA (No. 11, 36-13)
Quincee Lilio (Great Oak High School) has thrived in her first year since transferring from Oklahoma to South Carolina. The junior center fielder bats leadoff and leads the team with a .389 average and also ranks second with 41 runs and third with 37 RBI.
ARIZONA (No. 13. 40-10)
Regan Shockey (Chino Hills High School) is a sophomore center fielder who leads the team with a .400 average, 48 runs and 17 stolen bases.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (No. 17, 35-15)
Xiane Romero (Temescal Canyon High School) is a freshman infielder who has played in 29 games (eight starts) and is batting .250 with five runs.
CLEMSON (No. 19, 41-12)
Madi Lardizabal (Murrieta Mesa High School) is a freshman infielder. She has only one hit this year, but it was a two-run homer.
OLE MISS (No. 20, 34-14)
Persy Llamas (Roosevelt High School) is a freshman first baseman who ranks second on the team with a .376 average, six homers and 43 RBI. Lair Beautae (North High School) is a senior outfielder who is batting .373 with 19 RBI. Freshman Miali Guachino (Great Oak High School) and senior Brianna Lopez (Ramona High School) are the team’s top pitchers. Guachino is 14-9 with a 3.16 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings. Lopez is 10-3 with a team-low 2.50 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 89 2/3 innings. Alexa Rosales (Chino Hills High School) is a sophomore outfielder who has scored three runs.
NEBRASKA (No. 21, 35-12)
Samantha Bland (Chino Hills High School) is a sophomore third baseman who is batting .294 with nine homers, 40 runs and 37 RBIs. Dakota Carter (Roosevelt High School) is a junior outfielder who has scored three runs.
OHIO STATE (No. 22, 41-10-1)
Jasmyn Burns (Murrieta Mesa High School) is a sophomore catcher who should earn All-American honors for her breakthrough season. Burns ranks high among national leaders with a .476 average, 22 homers and 69 RBI. She is slugging 1.041 and has an OPS of 1.602.
OKLAHOMA STATE (No. 23, 29-17)
Megan Delgadillo (Riverside Poly High School) is a graduate student who previously starred at Cal State Fullerton. The center fielder and leadoff hitter is batting .333, tops the team with 26 steals and is tied for the team lead with 31 runs.
GRAND CANYON (No. 25, 40-6)
Emily Gonzalez (Yucaipa High School) is a junior first baseman who has made an impact in her first season after transferring from Southern Utah. Gonzalez is batting .392 with nine homers and 32 RBI.
Originally Published:
