Update: Merced High softball completes perfect CCC season, awaits playoffs
Update:
The Merced High softball team completed a perfect Central California Conference season on Thursday, defeating El Capitan 4-1. The Bears finished 10-0 in league play and are 19-3 overall.
Merced scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to blow open a tie game to beat El Capitan. Senior pitcher Annalise Ramirez allowed just three hits in seven innings and struck out 14.
Original story:
The Merced High softball team is the champion of the Central California Conference and one win away from completing a perfect CCC season.
The Bears defeated Buhach Colony 12-2 on Tuesday to improve to 9-0 in the CCC and clinch an outright CCC title. Second-place Atwater (6-3) was upset by last-place Golden Valley 4-3 on Tuesday.
Merced (18-3 overall) plays fifth-place El Capitan (3-6 CCC) in the regular season finale at home on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Freshman Macey Saucedo and junior Mariah Higareda each drove in three runs for the Bears against Buhach Colony.
Merced starting pitcher Annalise Ramirez allowed one earned run and struck out seven in three innings. Sophomore Abigail Rosa allowed no earned runs in two innings.
After Thursday’s game, Merced will focus on the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
The postseason tournament begins Monday with play-in games. The brackets will be announced Friday after 2 p.m. The section champion and runner-up advance to the NorCal Regional tournament.
Here’s a look at the CCC softball standings heading into the final game of the season:
- Merced 9-0
- Atwater 6-3
- Buhach Colony 5-4
- Los Banos 3-6
- El Capitan 3-6
- Golden Valley 1-8
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 11:35 AM.
