San Jacinto Valley Academy closing in as postseason gets closer

PERRIS – After traveling to face California Military Institute in double-header action this past Saturday, April 15, the Santa Rosa Academy Rangers softball team have, on average, been scoring 12 runs a game, while only letting up less than one run to their opponents. Against CMI, the Rangers would put 29 runs on the board in the two games they played that day, holding the Rough Riders scoreless in both games.

Nuview Bridge, in a 20-6 loss, and Desert Christian, in a 16-2 loss, are the only South Valley League opponents that have scored against Santa Rosa (9-2-1 overall, 7-0 in league), while every other opponent has suffered the same fate as CMI. San Jacinto Valley Academy is also on a collision course to be the top team, garnishing an overall record of 10-2, and are also undefeated at 5-0 in SVL play.

The two teams will meet up this week (Friday, April 21) and again next week on Thursday, April 27, as the regular season concludes. The SVL defending champion Rangers are led offensively by Faith Krueger (.800 batting average, 24 hits, 9 doubles, 5 triples and 3 HRs) and Lisa Cante (.783 batting average, 18 hits, 9 doubles, 1 triple and 1 HR), while Jordan Krueger (.30 ERA, 50 Ks) and Kadence Bernard (2.88 ERA, 24 Ks) toe the rubber to lead the defense. The two aces also have three wins each.

San Jacinto Valley Academy is led defensively by pitchers Avalika Arana (19 Ks) and Rhiannon-Sonia Rodriguez, who boasts a 3.13 ERA, and on offense by Dianara Aleman with her twenty hits (.625 batting average). It should be an exciting race between the two teams as the postseason gets closer with a title on the line.

JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.

JP Raineri

JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist and head of the sports department at the Valley News. A former Southwestern League head baseball coach and former President of the Temecula Youth Baseball League, he has also worked as a local radio personality for All Pro Broadcasting and as a television host for the Outdoor Channel. When he’s not covering sports, JP works in the Media Technology Department for Major League Baseball.