The Top 10

1. Foothill. The Knights are fielding their fastest team ever, and given their history, that’s saying something. There’s power in the lineup, and pitchers Courtney Fossatti and Lauren Schwendimann return. If a catcher emerges to effectively handle the pitchers, the Knights have no worries.

*

2. Mater Dei. Every discussion of softball starts with pitching, and the Monarchs have the county’s best in Marissa Young and Tia Bollinger, who should offset having only four returning starters. Coach Ed Ulloa is in his first year, but he’s used to talent and winning, after years at Upland.

*

3. Pacifica. The loss of Amanda Freed doesn’t mean the end of the world when everyone else on the team returns and a respectable backup is at hand. Remember, the Mariners were 4-1 last season at the Tournament of Champions with Jessica Soto pitching, and they’re a year better.

*

4. Woodbridge. The Warriors are in a similar position to Pacifica, having lost the county’s all-time winningest pitcher, Christy Robitaille, but Woodbridge returns the overshadowed Tracey Alcaraz, lots of speed in the lineup, and the county’s best leadoff hitter, shortstop Natasha Watley.

*

5. Fountain Valley. The Barons have been underachievers in the past--they lost twice to Edison last season--but everyone loves their potential. They have the Sunset League’s best pitchers in Natalie King and Colleen Burdick, and one of the county’s best catchers, Rocky Staniorski.

*

6. Los Alamitos. The Griffins’ eight returning starters include two of the county’s best at their positions, center fielder Kristin Farber and catcher Sara Kahler. The Griffins had more all-league players than Sunset League rivals Marina and Fountain Valley, and all of them return.

*

7. Marina. The interchangeable Sunset League bloc continues. The Vikings don’t have the hitting of Los Alamitos or the pitching of Fountain Valley, but might be more balanced than both. They’ll miss pitcher Heather Hagen, but they always find a way to challenge for the league title.

*

8. El Toro. Susan Churchwell provides the Chargers with solid pitching and some pop in the cleanup spot, and the return of speedy outfielder Laura Joiner after a year off should create plenty of scoring opportunities for a team that gave Mater Dei more than it wanted in the playoffs.

*

9. Kennedy. The Fighting Irish always find a way into the Top 10, and this season should be no different despite not knowing who will solve their questions about pitching. Solid defense and hitting should net Kennedy a ninth league championship in 11 years.

10. El Modena. Foothill won the Century League title, but El Modena had the league’s most valuable player, pitcher Erin Norton, who lifted the Vanguards to 22 victories before losing to Pacifica in the quarterfinals. Norton and catcher Dustin Vulcan return for the repeat.