Softball: Here are my weekly Valley/North regional rankings

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I’ve decided to put out SF Valley/North softball regional rankings every week and I want to know what you think. Feel free to use the comment board, and please, don’t show me any mercy if you disagree with how I see things.

Personally, Nos. 1-6 we’re pretty easy to figure out, but it was tough coming up with 7-10. I’m not sure Paso Robles and Rio Mesa belong in the top 10, but I felt the two coastal region schools had a slight advantage over Moorpark, Burbank and Alemany.

1. Valencia (12-2) -- Defending Division I champions start Foothill League play vs. Canyon on Thursday.
2. Thousand Oaks (6-1, 2-0) -- I’m sure Tiffany Messerschmidt & Co. are looking forward to that April Fool’s Day showdown with Simi Valley.
   
3. Agoura (6-1, 1-1) -- Kimberly Green has a .492 ERA and 34 strikeouts through 42 2/3 innings.
   
4. Hart (8-3) -- Like Valencia, the Indians made minced meat out of Chaminade last week.
5. Simi Valley (6-0, 2-0) -- Pitchers Kelli-Jo Killingsworth and Amanda Oliveto have surrendered only five runs in six games.
   
6. Camarillo (7-5, 2-0) -- A killer nonleague schedule gives this team a deceiving record.
7. Royal (4-2, 2-0) -- Colleen Nilles batting a team-best .526 with seven RBIs and six runs.
8. Oxnard (7-2, 2-0) -- Riding a five-game winning streak going into Righetti tournament.
   
9. Paso Robles (13-0, 2-0) -- Fresno State-bound Michelle Moses is getting it done: She has 60 strikeouts and a .241 ERA over 29 innings and is batting .412.
10. Rio Mesa (5-4, 2-0) -- Can this team challenge Camarillo and Oxnard?
    

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image from www.doubleazone.com