2025 CIF San Diego Section high school softball preview
San Diego continues to produce top-notch softball players and teams. Here’s a look at who to watch this year:
Dates to know
Section finals: May 23-25
Defending champions
Open Division: Poway
Division 1: Otay Ranch
Division 2: Imperial
Division 3: Oceanside
Division 4: Coastal Academy
Division 5: Francis Parker
Division 5-AA: Chula Vista Learning Community Center
2024 Player of the Year: Sophia Burmeister, Poway
2024 Pitcher of the Year: Jayden Rutledge, Imperial
Preseason Top 10
1. Poway
2. Mater Dei Catholic
3. Del Norte
4. Cathedral Catholic
5. Imperial
6. Rancho Bernardo
7. Steele Canyon
8. Torrey Pines
9. Otay Ranch
10. La Costa Canyon
Players to Watch
Name, School, Class, Comment
Danica Aboytes, Bonita Vista, Sr., Control specialist and dangerous with the bat.
Sophia Aquino, Olympian, Sr., Control pitcher is bound for St. Olaf.
Ava Barrios, Christian, Jr., Long Beach State commit was 16-5 with a 2.30 ERA last season.
Kaleigh Baugher, Granite Hills, Sr., Was 6-1 with 1.40 ERA in ’24.
Torin Bennett, Santa Fe Christian, Sr., Four-year varsity pitcher.
Ciara Bernardini, El Capitan Jr., Infielder hit .456 as a freshman and .481 as a sophomore.
Melissa Botticelli, Cathedral Catholic, Jr., Was 14-2 with 2.11 ERA in ’24.
Addison Brown, La Costa Canyon, So., Was 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA in ’24.
Sophia Burmeister, Poway, Sr., Clemson commit and reigning CIF Player of the Year.
Makenna Burton, El Capitan, Jr., Was 8-0 with a 1.64 ERA as a freshman.
Lola Carson, Jr., Sage Creek, UC Santa Barbara commit batted .366 in ’24.
Addison Clark, Imperial, Jr., Hit .398 last season.
Brooklynn Clark, San Pasqual, Sr., Committed to Northwest Nazarene.
Sophia Clark, Cathedral Catholic, Sr., UC Santa Barbara commit.
Kaimana Coleman, Sage Creek, So., Catcher batted .480 with 29 RBIs in ’24.
Aleya Colon, Westview, Sr., Has hit .417., 388 and .357 in first three years.
Cayla Contreras, Coastal Academy, Sr., Batted .452 with 20 RBIs last season.
Norah Coulsell, La Costa Canyon, Sr., Committed to San Jose State.
Mina Crouch, Torrey Pines, Jr., Catcher batted .379 with 22 RBIs in ’24.
Reagan Cullivan, Torrey Pines, Jr., Shortstop will see time in the circle.
Riley Cullivan, Torrey Pines, Jr., Like her twin sister, a threat with the glove/bat/arm.
Ashlyn Darrow, Santana, So., Batted .379, posted a 2.91 ERA in circle last season.
Kristina Deal, West Hills, Sr., Shortstop hit .404, knocked in 27 in ’24.
Natalya DeBus, Canyon Hills Sr. Hit .431 and was 6-0 with a 1.15 ERA as a junior.
Jacqueline De Murguia, Olympian, Sr., Fleet runner has strong arm in infield.
Rachel Del Busto, Eastlake, Sr., Catcher signed with Michigan State.
Su’la Devers, Valley Center, Jr., Batted .300, knocked in 15 runs in ’24.
Kennedy Dimmick, Mission Hills, Sr., Catcher batted .300 in ’24.
Mia Downes, Granite Hills, So., Third baseman hit .288 with 22 RBIs in ’24.
Aubrey Early, San Dieguito Academy, Jr., Power-hitting center fielder.
Izzy Ervin, Patrick Henry, Sr., Committed to Colgate.
Lauren Farace, Helix Sr., Four-year starter.
Seaven Fuimaono, Oceanside, So., Infielder hit .398 with 29 RBIs in ’24.
Ava Giaime, Del Norte, So., Posted a 1.24 ERA last season.
Brooklyn Giaime, Del Norte, Jr., Had a 1.43 ERA in ’24.
Analesse Garcia, Mater Dei Catholic, Sr., USD-bound pitcher.
Samantha Gehler, Our Lady of Peace, Jr., Catcher batted .340 in ’24.
Kayla Gibson, Ramona, Sr., Four-year starting catcher batted .310 last season.
Liliana Gonzales, Mission Vista, Jr., Catcher is a power threat.
Marina Gonzalez, Steele Canyon, Jr., Hit .370 with 34 RBIs and was 16-6 in circle in ’24.
Ava Goodman, West Hills, Sr., Pitcher/hitter committed to Valparaiso.
Bella Harris, Mater Dei Catholic, Jr., Infielder hit .349 with 24 RBIs in ’24.
Kamryn Harris, Valley Center, Sr., Batted .437 with 4 HR, 18 RBIs in ’24.
Chloe Hernandez, Carlsbad, So., Catcher batted over .400 in league play last year.
Rian Hickman, Mission Vista, Jr., Ace pitcher the past two seasons.
Ellery Housand, Rancho Bernardo, Jr,. Hit .476, stole 23 bases in ’24.
Avery Hughes, San Marcos, Sr., Was 6-2 in the circle last season.
Emerson Jarrard, Carlsbad, Sr., Committed to Caldwell University.
Hannah Johnson, Imperial, Sr., Batted .386 with 27 RBIs in ’24.
Kassidy King, Sage Creek, So., Struck out 195 in 110 innings last season.
Karissa Knapp, Poway, Jr., Started 31 games at SS last year.
Alexis “Lulu” Kyles, Del Norte, Jr., Committed to Colorado State.
Leah Letuli, Bonita Vista, Jr., Slick infielder who can hit for power.
Emily Lew, San Marcos, Jr., Batted .333 with 12 extra-base hits last year.
Lainey Llamas, Del Norte Jr., Committed to LMU.
Leah Llamas, Mission Hills, Jr., Went 6-1 with a 2.01 ERA in ’24.
Evelyn Luo, Francis Parker, So., Hit .455 with a 3.35 ERA last season.
Alayna Ma’ake, Our Lady of Peace, Sr., Committed to Southern Utah.
Avery Maherson, Point Loma Jr., Signed with Towson State.
Ariana Magdaleno, Bonita Vista, Jr., Hits for power.
Kaili Martha, Mt. Carmel, So., Hit .418 with 24 RBIs as a freshman.
Charlize Masingal, Mater Dei Catholic, So., Catcher who can hit.
Maya Matthies, Mater Dei Catholic, So., Batted .311 as a freshman.
Mya McGowan, Poway Sr., Cal commit is one of the best pitchers in the state.
Ally McKinley, San Pasqual, Sr., Committed to Cal State San Bernardino.
A.J. McNamee, Canyon Crest, Sr., Led Ravens in hits past two years.
Zoey Meadows, Rancho Bernardo, Jr., Will be Broncos’ dominant starter.
Alyssa Menges, Poway, Jr., Swift CF started all 32 games as a sophomore.
Kaitlyn Moody, Christian, Sr., Manhattan commit.
Oloa Motas, Mission Hills, Jr., Fanned 112 in 93 innings and batted .321 in ’24.
Mackenzie Olshenske, Eastlake, Sr., Signed with Santa Clara.
Danica Nielsen, Rancho Buena Vista, Sr., Had 1.73 ERA in ’24.
Kaylin Phillips, Otay Ranch, Sr., Bound for UC Davis.
Aria Phruksukarn, Mira Mesa, Sr., A .328 career hitter.
McKenzie Price, Holtville, Jr., Third-year starter.
Addison Raphael, Mission Vista, So., Center fielder tracks down everything in gaps.
Torii Ramirez, Sage Creek, Sr., Committed to Brown.
Mia Reynoso, La Costa Canyon, Jr., Hit .300.
Tiaira Richardson, Rancho Buena Vista, Sr., Hit .308 with 10 extra-base hits in ’24.
Arri Romero, Mater Dei Catholic, So., Went 12-3 in circle, batted .435 in ’24.
Riley Ronald, Mt. Carmel, So., Defensive gem in center field.
Ashleigh Ronsse, Poway, Jr., Third-year starter.
Zoe Rutherford, Patrick Henry, Sr., Committed to UCSD.
Jayden Rutledge, Imperial, Sr., Had 1.37 ERA and hit .451 with 38 RBIs in ’24.
Ryoko Schroth, Point Loma, Jr., Won 13 games and hit .340 last season.
Lucy Sherburne, Christian, Sr., Chico State commit.
Itzel Soto, Otay Ranch, Sr., Hit .316 and is golden with the glove.
Katy Spargo, West Hills, Jr., Catcher hit .570 with 40 RBIs last season.
Jayla Stafford, Bishop’s, Sr., Duke signee batted .524 in ’24.
Sinalei Talataina, Cathedral Catholic, Sr., Batted .461 with 30 RBIs last season.
Sophia Tillis, Coastal Academy, So., Was 6-2 with 1.63 ERA in ’24.
Hailey Trujillo, Steele Canyon, Sr., Hit .421 with 45 hits in ’24.
Malia Whitehouse, La Costa Canyon, Jr., Batted .308, knocked in 16 in ’24.
Belle Will, Steele Canyon, Jr., Henry transfer hit .326, was 11-4 in circle as a sophomore.
Hana Winton, Fallbrook, Sr., Cal State Fullerton commit has 547 career Ks.
Ta’Tiannah Wright, Helix, Sr., Cal State Northridge commit.
Willow Wright, San Dieguito Academy, Jr., Hits with power.
Isabella Yescas, Brawley, Sr., Batted .490 with 22 RBIs in ’24.
Coaching clinic
Few schools offer more qualified coaching than Cathedral Catholic. Assistant Rachel Garcia was a four-time All-American pitcher at UCLA and won a silver medal on the 2021 U.S. Olympic team. Volunteer assistant Ali Aguilar was a two-time All-American at Washington and won a silver medal on the 2021 Olympic team. Both play professionally. Assistant Kendall Kates played at Michigan State. Volunteer assistant Tracey Priest played at Cal State Fullerton. First-year head coach Jennifer Marnin played at Portland State.
Titans chase history
Poway will try to become the first program to win three straight Open Division titles. The Titans are led by catcher Sophia Burmeister, the 2024 Player of the Year, and pitcher Mya McGowan. Burmeister has committed to Clemson, McGowan to Cal. The dynamic duo first played together when they were 8 in rec softball.
Five-peat straight for Otay Ranch?
Otay Ranch has won four straight CIF titles, spread across Division 2, Open Division and Division 1 championships the past two years.
Double-double Steele trouble
Being a two-sport standout in today’s age of specialization is distinct. Starring in two sports in the same season is incredibly rare. Ily Barclay will bat leadoff and play center field for Steele Canyon. The junior is also one of the section’s top sprinters. Barclay clocked bests of 12.04 in the 100 meters last year and 24.43 in the 200. She won the Division 1 championships in both events.
— DON NORCROSS
