GAME FACE: Northview’s Sarina Jaramillo throws out San Dimas’ Kennedy Anderson in last week’s 4-3 loss to San Dimas.

This week’s softball rankings:
1. Bishop Amat (16-4) – A 3-1 loss to Vista Murrieta followed by an 8-6 win over Etiwanda during the Corona Santiago tournament. Amat is dominating the Del Rey so thoroughly it’s only test before the Division 3 playoffs comes in tournaments or non-league games. Lancers ranked third in D-3.
2. Chino Hills (18-6) – Undefeated in league but not the dominating Huskies we remember. They had to rally to beat Charter Oak 14-12 and snuck past St. Lucy’s 1-0. They also had a 4-2 win over Ayala so while they deserve the No. 2 spot, maybe the best is yet to come.
3. Ayala (13-4) – Bulldogs pitcher Morgan Ettinger has carried them. She’s 12-4 with a 1.36 ERA and 99 strikeouts. However, run support has been the difference. The Bulldogs have allowed the fewest runs (35) among Sierra League teams, but only has scored 73. Compare that to Chino Hills’ 159 runs scored, and there’s your difference.
4. South Hills (13-5) – Huskies are hanging tough, getting a split last week to go to 2-2 in the Sierra, but they have Chino Hills, Claremont and Charter Oak up next. Safe to say, playoff fate riding on next three.
5. Charter Oak (16-5) – After blowing a lead and the game to Chino Hills 14-12, the Chargers answered with a 3-1 win over South Hills. But they took a huge step back last week, losing to Ayala (1-0) and Claremont (4-0), and now suddenly are in a three-way tie for last at 1-3.
6. San Dimas (14-8) – The Saints remained undefeated in the Valle Vista with a 4-3 win over Northview and will probably run the table until they meet Northview again in the league finale the final week.
7. Bonita (16-6) – The Bearcats knocked West Covina out of league contention with a sweep over the Bulldogs last week to go 6-0 in the Hacienda, and they should continue to dominate the next two weeks with home-and-away games vs. Los Altos and Walnut. It will likely all come down to the final week, when it finishes the season with two against Diamond Bar, one game back at 5-1.
8. Northview (14-5) – The Vikings are 6-1 in the Valle Vista in what is a two-team race with San Dimas. Northview and San Dimas should cruise until they meet again, and when they do, I’ve got Northview in the rematch.
9. Duarte (13-3) – Some have wondered why a team on a 12-game win streak and 8-0 in the Montview is only ranked eighth? Schedule, schedule, schedule. Just remember this, Duarte lost 10-0 to Covina in its own tournament. Safe to say, the Montview isn’t extremely difficult this season.
10. South El Monte (11-4) – Same questions asked of Duarte asked about South El Monte too. And while they’re undefeated and dominating the Mission Valley, can’t forget an 11-5 loss to Nogales and 10-2 loss to San Dimas. Again, schedule, schedule, schedule.