Foothill League Softball Has Become a Real Catchall

Of the 13 players selected to The Times’ All-Valley softball team last season, four were catchers.

This season, the meat of many lineups is again behind the dish.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Foothill League.

A look at the league’s catchers:

Valencia (14-2, 3-0 in league play entering Tuesday) is off to its best start and Lauren Watson has played a lead role.

The Brigham Young-bound senior, an All-Valley selection last season, leads the Vikings with a .462 average, four home runs, 16 runs batted in and seven stolen bases.

Hart (14-2, 3-0), ranked third nationally in one poll, is loaded at almost every position, including catcher.

Auburn-bound Sara Dean, also a returning All-Valley pick, leads the Indians with a .659 slugging percentage, five doubles and three triples, and her .390 average and nine RBIs rank among the league leaders.

Saugus (9-7, 2-1) started slowly, but Jaclyn Holden helped the Centurions reach the San Fernando Valley tournament final and climb into contention in the league race.

Converted from shortstop earlier this season, the junior leads the Centurions with a .558 average, three home runs and a 1.070 slugging percentage.

Kristin Carr leads Burbank (9-6-2, 0-3) with 12 RBIs and six extra-base hits and is second on the team with a .313 average.

Sara Larquier, an all-league basketball player, leads Burroughs (10-8, 1-4) with 13 runs and is second on the Indians with .308 average.

Nikki Lepine leads Canyon (8-10, 1-2) with seven RBIs.

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Nordhoff is on pace to finish above .500 for the first time in several seasons.

The Rangers, who were 22-79 from 1995-99 before going 11-11 last season, took a 9-4 record into Tuesday’s Frontier League game against first-place Santa Paula.

Whitney Jenks, Angelin Pisciota and Jenni Benson have combined for a 2.30 earned-run average and Nordhoff is batting .319 and averaging seven runs.

Senior shortstop Lacey Albrent leads the Rangers with a .525 average and senior catcher Colleen Cain is batting .400 and leads the team with four home runs and 12 RBIs.

Nordhoff has stolen 54 bases.

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Quartz Hill travels to Highland for a key Golden League game Thursday.

Kellie Cox, a two-time All-Valley outfielder, has led surging Quartz Hill (8-9, 2-1). The senior, headed to Cal State Fullerton on a soccer scholarship, is 5-1 since moving to pitcher and is batting .590.

A good effort against defending league champion Highland (9-5, 3-0) would put the Rebels in position to claim a share of their fifth title in six seasons.

Sisters Nichole and Natalie Rawson are leading Highland in most offensive categories.