Which softball teams have the best rivalry in the Southland?

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Top-ranked Corona Santiago’s 3-0 victory over No. 4 Norco on Tuesday may have been more one-sided than anticipated, but the rivalry certainly lived up to the hype. A controversial play at third base that prevented Norco from scoring the game’s first run was crucial to the outcome. There’s always something to talk about.

There’s more about the game on our Web site and the Press-Enterprise, giving you a chance to read about this battle between teams atop The Times’ top 25. The pictures are from last year, though.

Norco, which has now lost twice to Santiago, can take hope from a team that won last year’s Division II title. ‘We’ll just try to do what [Garden Grove] Pacifica did last year,’ Norco Coach Rick Robinson said. ‘They lost to Kennedy in the regular season and beat them in the championship.’

If Norco-Santiago is not the Southland’s best rivalry in softball, then what is? San Pedro-Carson? Valencia-Hart?

To me, this one ranks among the best rivalries in any sport.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.cnusd.k12.ca.us