Prep softball rankings: American Canyon, Vintage end regular season in top spots

League softball tournaments last week brought an exciting conclusion to the North Bay's regular season in high school softball.

The playoffs begin this week with more than 15 local teams pursuing North Coast Section titles. These will be The Press Democrat's last softball team rankings until the playoffs are completed and all teams are finished playing for the year.

American Canyon heads into the playoffs as the season-long No. 1 team. The Wolves won their final six games of the season after their lone league loss to Casa Grande and defeated No. 2 Vintage 8-0 in the Vine Valley Athletic League tournament title game.

After coasting through the regular season, the Wolves will now be tested in the NCS Division 1 bracket, featuring the top teams in the section.

Despite suffering a surprising loss to No. 4 Petaluma, Vintage ends the regular season at No. 2. The Crushers run-ruled No. 3 Casa Grande 11-1 in the VVAL tournament before falling to top-ranked American Canyon in the title game.

Petaluma also stays put at No. 4. The Trojans faced the top three teams in the rankings to finish the regular season and picked up their best win over the year against Vintage in the tail end of league play.

Rancho Cotate closed out the regular season as hot as any team in the area, beating previous No. 5 Cardinal Newman 16-7 to force a share of the NBL-Oak regular-season title - and then defeated Analy 6-5 and No. 7 Maria Carrillo 13-9 (on a walk-off grand slam in extra innings) to win the league tournament for the first time since 2022.

The Cougars have won five in a row heading into their playoff opener on Wednesday.

Cardinal Newman drops a spot to No. 6 after losing the final two games of the regular season. After falling to Rancho Cotate in the league finale, the Cardinals dropped their NBL-Oak tournament semifinal game 8-6 to Maria Carrillo.

The Pumas would be higher in the rankings had they not lost their two league meetings with the Cardinals this season.

Outside of these rankings, Ukiah won the NBL-Redwood tournament, defeating regular-season league champion Piner 3-2 in extra innings. The Prospectors swept the league meetings.

And in the NCL I, Cloverdale defeated St. Helena in the regular-season finale to force a share of the league title.

1. American Canyon (19-3)

Last ranking: 1

Since last ranking: 4-0; beat Justin-Siena 18-8, Napa 16-3, No. 4 Petaluma 15-5 and No. 2 Vintage 8-0 to win VVAL Tournament.

This week: Played Tuesday vs. 10 seed Granada (13-12), NCS Division 1 playoffs.

2. Vintage (14-11)

Last ranking: 2

Since last ranking: 2-2; lost to No. 4 Petaluma 7-2, beat Sonoma Valley 15-1 and No. 3 Casa Grande 11-1, lost to No. 1 American Canyon 8-0 in VVAL Tournament.

This week: Played Tuesday vs. 11 seed Berkeley (16-6), NCS Division 2 playoffs.

3. Casa Grande (11-12-1)

Last ranking: 3

Since last ranking: 2-1; beat Napa 13-0 and No. 4 Petaluma 6-5, lost to No. 2 Vintage 11-1 in VVAL Tournament semifinal.

This week: Played Tuesday at 5 seed Pinole Valley (18-7), NCS Division 2 playoffs.

4. Petaluma (13-11-1)

Last ranking: 4

Since last ranking: 1-2; beat No. 2 Vintage 7-2, lost to No. 3 Casa Grande 6-5 and No. 1 American Canyon 15-5 in VVAL Tournament semifinal.

This week: Played Tuesday at 8 seed Las Lomas (14-8-1), NCS Division 3 playoffs.

5. Rancho Cotate (14-10)

Last ranking: 6

Since last ranking: 4-0; beat Analy 12-0, then-No. 5 Cardinal Newman 16-7, Analy 6-5 and No. 7 Maria Carrillo 13-9 to win NBL-Oak Tournament.

This week: vs. 4 seed Redwood (19-7), NCS Division 2 playoffs, 5 p.m. Wednesday.

6. Cardinal Newman (14-9)

Last ranking: 5

Since last ranking: 0-2; lost to then-No. 6 Rancho Cotate 16-7 and No. 7 Maria Carrillo 8-6 in NBL-Oak Tournament semifinal.

This week: Played Tuesday vs. 9 seed Foothill (11-11), NCS Division 2 playoffs.

7. Maria Carrillo (14-11)

Last ranking: 7

Since last ranking: 3-2; beat Windsor 7-6, Analy 7-6, lost to Redwood 11-8, beat then-No. 5 Cardinal Newman 8-6, lost to then-No. 6 Rancho Cotate 13-9 in NBL-Oak Tournament.

This week: vs. 13 seed Washington (10-10), NCS Division 3 playoffs, 5 p.m. Wednesday

On the bubble

Analy (9-12), Cloverdale (18-3), Montgomery (13-12), Piner (16-7), St. Helena (17-6), Ukiah (15-8).

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 6:38 PM.