Fresno-area prep softball: Clovis coach notches milestone win; Top 25 rankings debut
Clovis High softball’s 5-1 weekend at the Kick-Off Classic in Las Vegas gave coach Mike Noel his 700th career win.
He becomes the 10th coach in California to reach that milestone, according to Cal-Hi Sport Record Book.
The Cougars, No. 2 in The Bee’s first Central Section Top 25 rankings, visit No. 7 Bullard at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Noel could have company in the 700-win club sometime this season.
Madera’s Judy Shaubach stood at 690 entering games this week, section historian Bob Barnett said.
Around the horn
▪ Brynn Close tossed a no-hitter with eight strikeouts to lead Riverdale past Kings Christian 17-0. She also did it at the plate with two doubles and two RBI.
▪ Madison Staton of Central Valley Christian finished with 16 strikeouts and had an RBI as the Cavaliers defeated Porterville 6-4.
The defending Central Section Division I champion Clovis North is No. 1 in The Bee’s Top 25 after a 5-0 start. The Broncos have given up one run in those games, led by ace pitcher Ryan Maddox. Her ERA is 0.22 with 60 strikeouts against 110 batters faced. She has thrown one no-hitter this season.
▪ Eighteen teams will participate in the Central Showdown starting on Friday. The games will take place at Central East and Keith Tice Park. Teams participating include Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Buchanan, Central, Clovis East, Clovis North, Clovis West, Garces, Hanford, Kingsburg, Liberty-Madera Ranchos, Madera, Merced, Mission Prep, Sanger, St. Joseph, Stockdale and Templeton. Games begin at 1 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
Top 25 rankings
Records through Monday
1. Clovis North 5-0
2. Clovis 9-2
3. Buchanan 5-2
4. Liberty-Bakersfield 5-1
5. Stockdale 3-1
6. Central 5-2
7. Bullard 4-1
8. Tulare Western 10-1-1
9. St. Joseph 7-2
10. Hanford 5-2
11. Paso Robles 6-4
12. Frontier 6-4
13. Garces 8-3
14. Liberty-Madera Ranchos 6-1
15. Independence 6-4
16. Centennial 6-3-1
17. Tulare Union 4-2-1
18. El Diamante 3-3
19. Dinuba 4-4
20. Monache 5-3-1
21. San Luis Obispo 4-4-1
22. Golden West 5-3
23. Fowler 7-1
24. Bakersfield 4-2-1
25. San Joaquin Memorial 3-1
On the bubble: Kingsburg (4-4), Redwood (3-3-1), Chowchilla (5-1) Wasco (5-3), North (5-2), Arroyo Grande (3-4-1), Madera (3-4), Sanger (2-3)
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 1:42 PM.
