Camarillo, Oaks Christian, Agoura bring loaded bats into the CIF-SS softball playoffs

Weapons are needed to compete in the CIF-Southern Section softball playoffs.

Luckily, Camarillo and Oaks Christian are well equipped for the challenges that lay ahead in Division 1.

Behind a lineup anchored by Long Beach State commit Angelina Apodaca, the Scorpions (20-6) went 8-0 in the Coastal Canyon League.

Apodaca is hitting .459 with 14 doubles, six home runs and 26 RBIs. Justice Flores is hitting .423 with 10 doubles and 27 runs scored.

“We’re young in the circle, which is always a learning process,” Camarillo coach Nichole Pinedo said. “Our lineup has really stepped up and been able to score some runs when we needed it.”

The Coastal Canyon League champion will visit Anaheim-Canyon (23-4) in Thursday’s first round.

Oaks Christian (19-4) will host Santa Margarita Catholic (16-10) in Tuesday's wild-card round.

The Marmonte League champion is averaging eight runs per game behind a lineup that includes seniors Ilove’a Brittingham, Rylee McCoy and Terrianna Kelley, who have combined to slug a combined 34 home runs.

“We definitely have really good offensive weapons in this year’s lineup, as well,” Oaks Christian coach Cheyenne Coyle. “When we’re winning, we’re playing good defense, as well.”

Brittingham is hitting .575 with 18 home runs and 33 RBIs in 21 games. The 18 home runs are the second-highest total in the state.

“She’s insanely fun to watch,” Coyle said.

Despite a lineup that includes four freshmen, Agoura outslugged Oaks Christian to lead the Marmonte League in runs scored with 105.

“Our sticks are real live,” said Agoura coach Chance Redmond.

The lineup is anchored by first baseman Mia Gomez, who is hitting .589 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs. The offense helped the Chargers overcome the loss of ace Aly Chavez for much of the season. Freshman Sloan Briggs, who is 5-2 with a 3.97 ERA, has stepped into the circle for Agoura.

“This was a very interesting year,” Redmond said.

In Division 3, Agoura (11-7) will host Santa Ana-Segerstrom (12-10-1) in Thursday's first round. Royal (13-7) will host Irvine-Beckham (13-7-2).

Oxnard coach Paul Tinoco remembers when his Yellowjackets moved up to No. 1 in the Division 4 rankings on March 18.

“Whoa,” Tincoco said. “It was out of nowhere. It caught us off-guard.”

But Oxnard was on its way to playing up to that lofty ranking, powered by the hitting (.507) and pitching (12-3, 2.14 ERA) of senior Baylany Magana.

Oxnard’s eight seniors were boosted by three freshmen who earned starting positions: second baseman Kayla Lorona, shortstop Layla Mukul and catcher Raelene Rangel.

The Yellowjackets ended up splitting the Channel League title with powerhouse Rio Mesa.

“It was a great year. Everything seemed to click,” Tincoco said.

Both Channel League co-champions received top seeds.

Oxnard (15-8-1), the No. 1 seed in Division 4, will host JW North on Thursday. Newbury Park (20-5) will visit second-seeded Crescenta Valley (13-11) in Division 4.

Rio Mesa (22-5), the No. 4 seed in Division 2, will host Kennedy (12-12). Westlake (18-8) will visit Las Flores-Tesoro (15-4) in Division 2.

St. Bonaventure coach Andy Gibson sees some familiar faces in the Division 5 field, like Tri-Valley League foe Grace Brethren and Citrus Coast League champion Fillmore.

“There’s some teams in there that we’ve seen,” Gibson said. “It’s going to be a battle.”

The Tri-Valley League champion Seraphs (19-2-1), seeded No. 2 in Division 5, will host either Apple Valley or Kaiser in the first round.

Grace Brethren (16-3-1), seeded No. 4, will host El Monte-Arroyo (15-4). Fillmore (14-5-2) will host Bellflower (10-11-2) and Santa Paula (12-5) will host Santa Monica (15-11-1).

Moorpark (10-8) will visit Chino Hills (16-11) in Tuesday's Division 1 wild-card round.

Santa Clara (10-11) will visit Huntington Beach-Ocean View (11-11) in the Division 5 wild-card round.

Nordhoff (5-14) will visit San Gorgonio (11-15) in the Division 6 wild-card round.

Joe Curley is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com . For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo, Oaks Christian, Agoura bring loaded bats into the CIF-SS softball playoffs