Softball supremacy in San Mateo County will come into focus by the end of this week.
Hillsdale, the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division’s defending champion and current leader at 6-0, can pad its lead when it faces its closest competitors on Wednesday and Thursday. But Carlmont (6-1) and Capuchino (5-2) could turn the Bay race into a two- or three-team deadlock by downing the Jordan Richwood-led Knights.
Meanwhile, San Mateo and Woodside are set to square off on Friday in Redwood City, with first place in the PAL Ocean on the line.
Heading into an important week in the league season, here are Patch’s San Mateo County softball rankings. The top-10 weekly rankings are drawn from all schools in the county.
Records are based on reported games played through Friday, April 22.
SOFTBALL
1. Hillsdale 13-3 (Last week: 1) Back-to-back set against Carlmont and Cap to loom large in race to defend PAL Bay title.
2. Capuchino 11-3 (2) Contender or pretender? Plenty rides on whether Cap can atone for losses to Aragon and Hillsdale this week.
3. Carlmont 15-4 (3) Scuffled in first big Bay game (4-0 loss at Cap); can’t afford similar showing vs. Hillsdale.
4. Notre Dame 10-7 (4) Tigers have plenty of pop: Bowie, McCann and Henry have combined for eight long balls.
5. Half Moon Bay 4-12 (7) Hopes to maintain rhythm after long Bay layoff; has winnable games at Terra Nova and Burlingame.
6. Aragon 9-11 (8) Little margin for error in CCS chase; needs to beat Cap again and top rival Carlmont for first time this week.
7. Terra Nova 8-7 (6) .500 finish in Bay would be a good feat; Tigers stand 3-3 in league but have lost five of six overall.
8. Burlingame 6-12 (5) Soph Ailand’s stout pitching vs. Hillsdale a great sign for Panthers despite 3-0 loss.
9. San Mateo 9-3 (9) Eager to solidify spot atop PAL Ocean by winning road battle at Woodside on Friday.
10. Woodside 14-3 (10) ‘Cats will head into San Mateo showdown having played just once in previous two weeks.
