Merced, Atwater softball teams battle for first place in CCC
The Merced and Atwater high school softball teams will play for first place in the Central California Conference when they face off Tuesday.
Both teams are 2-0 in the CCC heading into their matchup at 4 p.m. at Merced High.
Merced (11-3 overall) couldn’t have gotten off to a hotter start to the CCC schedule.
The Bears have outscored two opponents 19-0 behind dominant pitching by Annalise Ramirez, the Cal State Monterey Bay-bound senior. Ramirez struck out 16 Los Banos batters in their CCC opener, a dramatic 1-0 win in eight innings.
“She’s a once-in-a-generation talent,” Merced coach Jennifer Moreno told Merced Union High School District’s Shawn Jansen. “I don’t have any worry when she’s on the mound. I trust everything that she’s going to do.”
Atwater (9-5 overall), meanwhile, comes off an impressive 13-0 win over Los Banos on April 1. Atwater senior Riley Leonardo leads the Falcons’ offense, batting .510 with 14 stolen bases and 18 runs scored.
Here’s a look at the CCC softball standings heading into the final month of the season:
- Merced 2-0
- Atwater 2-0
- Buhach Colony 2-1
- Los Banos 1-2
- El Capitan 0-2
- Golden Valley 0-2
El Capitan baseball has one-game lead on Atwater, Los Banos
After taking a break for spring tournament play, the CCC baseball race is back in full swing this week.
El Capitan stands in first place at 5-1, one game ahead of Atwater and Los Banos.
El Capitan (12-7 overall) takes on Buhach Colony in a three-game series this week, starting Monday at home at 4 p.m.
Atwater and Los Banos play a three-game series this week that could have serious CCC title and playoff implications.
Here’s a look at the CCC baseball standings heading into the final weeks of the season:
- El Capitan 5-1
- Atwater 4-2
- Los Banos 4-2
- Buhach Colony 3-3
- Golden Valley 1-5
- Merced 1-5
