After helping her team to a recent playoff victory, freshman pitcher Lila Morris was asked to describe her team.
“We’re GOATs,” the freshman said.
Greatest of all time.
That sparked a question.
Which High Desert softball team is the greatest of all time?
The Riverside Prep Silver Knights are one win away from adding themselves to the short list of CIF-Southern Section softball champions from the area.
There have been five, with the last coming two seasons ago.
It might be impossible to gauge which team is the greatest. Especially now as playoff teams are grouped together after the season is over using a computer ranking system.
We don’t know what playoff brackets could have looked like way back in the day with this two-year-old format.
But banter is always fun. And being on the verge of a Division 3 championship in today’s playoff format is nothing short of impressive.
Here’s a look at those five championship squads from the High Desert, along with a list of teams that made title game appearances.
1978 — Apple Valley High School (19-6)
Led by head coach Sue Birdsall, the Sun Devils became the first squad from the High Desert to capture a CIF-SS title. The Sun Devils beat Royal Oak 3-1 in the Division 2-A title game after scoring three runs in the first inning and going hitless the rest of the way. Pitcher Teresa Thompson led the Sun Devils with six strikeouts in the game. The lineup also featured Christa White, Cindy Cusimano, Glenda Midgley, Paula Roessler, Paula Stevens and Sandy Dunham.
2007 — Hesperia High School (26-3)
Led by head coach Kelli Coleman, the Scorpions shut out El Segundo 3-0 in the Division V championship game. Hesperia was led by probably the most dominant pitcher to ever come from the High Desert in Allison Clark. She capped her stellar career at Hesperia with the championship, tallying a 26-3 record with a 0.30 ERA and 248 strikeouts in 161 ⅔ innings. The lineup also featured Amanda Bush, Jamie Roland, Karla Donan, Raeven Ball and Sam Beltran.
2014 — Academy of Careers and Exploration (26-1)
Led by head coach Tracy Davis, the Eagles beat University Prep 3-2 in an all-local showdown for the Division 7 crown. Before Morris’ dominant season in the circle as a freshman, Chloe Romero gave the High Desert a sample of what was to come in her four-year career at ACE. As a freshman, she put together an 18-1 record with a 1.17 ERA with 200 strikeouts in 114 innings. The lineup also featured Kyra Thomas, who scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the title game, Ariel Annis, Maddie Williams and May Menough.
2021 — Sultana High School (21-2)
Led by head coach Obie Galindo, the Sultana beat Redondo Union 7-4 for the Division 3 championship. Zada Day-Adams led the Sultans in the circle with an 18-2 record with a 2.61 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 128 ⅔ innings. The lineup also featured Clarissa Fillingame, who had the game-winning hit in the championship game, Addie Aguiniga, Ella Niles, Kamile Badibanga and Madelyn Torrenueva.
2024 — Hesperia Christian School (20-6)
Led by head coach April Skinner, the Patriots beat Jurupa Valley 8-7 for the Division 8 championship. Shortstop Eden Skinner was named the CIF-SS Div. 8 Player of the Year, and Macy Piorkowski led the way in the circle with an 11-4 record, 2.76 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 111 ⅔ innings. The lineup also featured Gabby Stoops, Haylie Hutchinson and Rilee Cooper.
These five High Desert teams lost in CIF-SS title games
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: A list of High Desert softball teams that have won CIF-SS championships
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
