Cougar Softball Headed to the Playoffs

The Rancho Cotate softball team is champion of the North Bay League and figure to be awarded one of the top seedings in the weekend's North Coast Section Division 2 playoff selections, but the Cougars still feel there is some unfinished business to address.

Rancho, which finishes their season 13-1 in league and 19-4 overall, repeated as league champs and hope to repeat its trek through the playoffs last season, with one exception — trying to win a section championship after losing to Concord in the title game a year ago.

"I think we can win it if we play together," said junior Katy Kibbe, who along with senior Shonna Christianson share pitching duties for the Cougars. "That game [against Concord] wasn't our best game."

Playing softball at Rancho Cotate is akin to ascending the throne. It's filling the shoes of some very impressive past players and assuming the roles of consistent winners through the years.

Mention girls' high school softball around these parts and Rancho Cotate is right at the top.

Dave Johnson has coached the Cougars for eight years and in that time Rancho has won five NBL championships (and finished second the other three years) and has advanced to four NCS championship games in the past seven seasons, winning back-to-back titles in 2005-2006 (led by Jenny Johnson, D.J. Guinn and Jenny Merrill).

This Cougars team has been fueled by pitching and hitting. While at times the Cougars struggled defensively, the gloves have improved dramatically at just the right time.

"We've seemed to have tightened up the defense and we can hit and pitch," Johnson said.

Try a .349 team batting average and pitchers earned run averages under 1.50.

The Cougars' lineup features some definite pop starting with leadoff hitter and second baseman Morgan Taylor (.485 with 21 runs scored), who last week went 7-for-9 in two games and also has 25 steal in 26 attempts.

Pitching around Taylor only means having to face Kaykay Fronda, probably the top sophomore in Sonoma County. Fronda recently hit two home runs in a game at Rancho, has excellent speed and patrols center field. Fronda is batting .403 with a team-high 27 runs scored and 17 RBIs from the No. 2 batting spot.

Christianson, who plays left field when she's not pitching and Kibbe, who is the designated hitter when not throwing, follow in the lineup. Christianson is batting .387 with 23 runs scored and 17 RBIs and Kibbe is hitting .347.

Other top hitters for the Cougars include senior outfielder Robin Skelton (.458 with 22 RBIs and first baseman Orianna Poueu (.339).

Freshman Christine Ricossa has settled in at shortstop and Johnson said her confidence is increasing as the season has progressed.

Sophomore catcher Amanda Maheras has also shown improvement defensively and his hitting .293.

"When you come to play softball at Rancho it can be overwhelming," said Johnson, "because you know the history (of the program)."

Pitching and defense are key in the playoffs and both Kibbe and Christianson haven't faltered, despite an increase of three feet from the pitching rubber to the plate this season, to equal the distance of 43 feet in college softball.

Kibbe, who has pitched in softball in summer leagues since she was eight, has overcome a recent wrist injuring incurred while sliding. Her dad, Jay, the Rancho hitting coach, was one of the original  pro Redwood Pioneer baseball players (a hard-throwing pitcher) and played two seasons in Rohnert Park.

Katy is a power thrower with a reportoire that includes a fastball, changeup, curveball, riseball and screwball.  She has allowed 69 hits in 77 innings, owns a 1.45 ERA and a .224 batting average against her. She has struck out 67.

"This team is pretty similar to last year's," Kibbe said. "We have the same pitchers. Lately, we've played a lot better together."

Kibbe plays for the Easton California Impact during the summer, a 16-and-under travel team made up of players from throughout Northern California.

Christianson has allowed 43 hits in 59 innings and is sporting a 1.31 ERA and a .187 average against her.  She's struck out 48. "We've played some close games (which the Cougars normally win), she said. Christianson has played since she was seven and has already committed to attending and playing softball at Cal Lutheran University in Southern California.

Johnson is hoping for a high seed in the Division 2 playoffs. He figures Pinole Valley will capture the No. 1 seed.  Petaluma, which defeated Rancho early in the season, also figures to be included in Div. 2 along with other strong teams Casa Grande, Redwood and Concord.

Rancho ended last week with an eight-game winning streak and a drastic drop in errors over the last three weeks.

"We hit the ball," Johnson said. "Errors were a problem early."

Now the Cougars seem primed for their annual journey to the postseason. And their aim is at the whole enchilada — an NCS championship.