Chino Hills is undoubtedly the area’s No. 1 softball team if junior pitcher Patricia Parks returns. She wasn’t with Chino Hills during winter round-robin games this week and there is speculation that she might transfer. I’m trying to track this down, but you know how hard that can be. Parks, a junior who I consider the best player returning, helped lead Chino Hills to a CIF-SS divisional title with her bat and speed on the bases last season. She was mostly an everyday outfielder, but also pitched too. And anyone fortunate enough to have seen her pitch knows she might be the most dominant pitcher we’ve seen in a while, which is why she’s already committed to Pac-12 power Azizona. So here’s the deal, if Parks is at Chino Hills, no doubt they’re the No. 1 team to start this season. If she winds up with another area team, say Ayala, then that team is probably No. 1. If she leaves the area, then No. 1 is up for debate. The “other” contenders are Bishop Amat, San Dimas, Northview, Bonita, Los Altos, and Ayala, to name a few. Any questions?

Below: Parks sliding home for a run last season against St. Lucy’s. As a 5-foot-9 sophomore Parks batted .479 with 18 RBIs and three homers. As a part-time pitcher she finished 10-1 with a 1.07 ERA in 65 innings.