Bay Area News Group softball Top 20 (season finale)
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 ST. FRANCIS (28-4)
Previous ranking: 1
How it finished: Won CCS Open Division championship, lost in NorCal Division I semifinal.
No. 2 WILLOW GLEN (28-2)
Previous ranking: 2
How it finished: Lost in CCS Open Division final, first round of NorCal Division I regional
No. 3 CAPUCHINO (21-8)
Previous ranking: 3
How it finished: Lost in CCS Open Division semifinal, first round of NorCal Division I regional
No. 4 LIBERTY (25-5)
Previous ranking: 4
How it finished: Won NCS Division I championship, lost in NorCal Division II final
No. 5 THE KING’S ACADEMY (22-8)
Previous ranking: 16
How it finished: Won CCS Division I championship, lost in NorCal Division II semifinal
No. 6 HILLSDALE (21-9-1)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
How it finished: Won CCS Division II, NorCal Division III championship
No. 7 FOOTHILL (16-10-1)
Previous ranking: 15
How it finished: Won NCS Division I third-place game, lost in first round of NorCal Division II playoffs
No. 8 GILROY (20-8)
Previous ranking: 11
How it finished: Lost in CCS Division I final
No. 9 LIVERMORE (19-10)
Previous ranking: 18
How it finished: Lost in NCS Division I third–place game.
No. 10 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (21-7)
Previous ranking: 6
How it finished: Lost in first round of CCS Open Division playoffs
No. 11 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (14-8-1)
Previous ranking: 9
How it finished: Lost in first round of CCS Open Division playoffs
No. 12 LIVE OAK (21-3)
Previous ranking: 8
How it finished: Lost in CCS Division I semifinal
No. 13 CALIFORNIA (19-9)
Previous ranking: 12
How it finished: Lost in NCS Division I quarterfinal
No. 14 SAN RAMON VALLEY (16-8-2)
Previous ranking: 14
How it finished: Lost in NCS Division I quarterfinal
No. 15 SARATOGA (20-3)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
How it finished: Lost in CCS Division I semifinal
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No. 16 NOTRE DAME-BELMONT (20-5-1)
Previous ranking: 10
How it finished: Lost in CCS Division II semifinal
No. 17 MILLS (21-4-1)
Previous ranking: 7
How it finished: Lost in first round of CCS Division I playoffs
No. 18 ALAMEDA (17-10-1)
Previous ranking: 13
How it finished: Lost in NCS Division I quarterfinal
No. 19 CARONDELET (15-14)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
How it finished: Lost in NCS Division II final
No. 20 CASTRO VALLEY (17-5)
Previous ranking: 5
How it finished: Lost in first round of NCS Division I playoffs
WAY-TOO-EARLY TOP 5 FOR 2026
No. 1 ST. FRANCIS
Early word: With Jaime Oakland and Peyton Tsao back in the mix, the Lancers will have plenty of offense to defend their CCS Open Division title.
No. 2 WILLOW GLEN
Early word: Pitcher Alanna Clincy will be a senior next season, which means Willow Glen should challenge St. Francis for the top spot in CCS and perhaps contend in NorCal, too.
No. 3 LIBERTY
Early word: The Lions’ top hitter was a sophomore. Their next six-best hitters were juniors. In other words, the reigning NCS Division I champions and NorCal Division II runners-up will be tough to beat in 2026.
No. 4 THE KING’S ACADEMY
Early word: Star pitcher Katia Nesper was a junior this season. Given that she averaged nearly two strikeouts per inning and had a 0.33 ERA, she will be a problem for TKA opponents next year.
No. 5 CAPUCHINO
Early word: Star Gutierrez lived up to her name in her first high school season, hitting a team-leading six home runs. If she provides similar power as a sophomore in 2026, Capuchino should have another strong season.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.