'Extremely proud': Redwood repeats as East Yosemite League softball champions

Back-to-back.

The Redwood High School softball team repeated as outright East Yosemite League champions this season.

The Rangers (17-9-2, 9-1) dominated EYL action, going 9-1 while outscoring their foes a combined 85-22. In 10 league games, they averaged 8.5 runs per game behind a squad that hit a collective .412 during its league championship run.

Since joining the EYL in 2022, Redwood third-year head coach Stevi Johnson has directed the Rangers to a combined 18-2 record in two league seasons.

“I’m super proud of, obviously, the work that they’ve put in,” Johnson said. “Over the past two years, this team has been 18-2 in league, which is a huge accomplishment. I really think that’s just a testament to all the hard work that they put in and the dedication that they’ve put into this program. I’m just extremely proud and fortunate to be able to coach this group of girls.”

Redwood’s continued success can be traced to their offseason workouts in the fall.

The Rangers practiced twice a week for six weeks during that time and were able to build continuity and unity.

“We had a really good turnout in the fall, which I think contributes to the success of our program,” Johnson said.

Under Johnson, Redwood is averaging 17 wins per season. The Rangers have won at least 17 games yearly since she took over the program in 2022.

More: Tulare County's top high school spring sports performers for Week 14

Redwood went 17-10-1 in Johnson’s first season in 2022 followed by another 17-10-1 campaign in 2023. The Rangers capped off regular season play this year with another 17-win season.

How has Johnson been able to establish consistency?

“Honestly, here, they have a lot of talent,” Johnson said. “They put the hard work in outside of Redwood. A lot of them play for travel ball teams so they’re really dedicated to this. I’ve just been really blessed with the group of girls that I’ve had. They’re the ones that end up putting the work in. I’m just fortunate enough that they’ve bought in to my coaching style, my coaching staff.

"I feel like my coaching staff has done an excellent job, too, over the past two, three years getting this program where we want it to be. We’re still trying to improve upon it every season but this all comes down to the girls trusting us and buying into what we’re trying to build here — which is a championship culture.”

Johnson is assisted by her father, Steve Johnson, Jeff Jennings and Aaron Cullum.

Redwood had one of Tulare County’s premier hitting teams this season.

The Rangers culminated the regular season batting .383 as a team with 290 hits, 186 runs, 171 RBIs, 53 doubles, six triples and 17 home runs.

That attack was led by:

• Alexis Rico (.467 batting average, 32 runs, 43 hits, 11 RBIs, three doubles, two triples)
• Bella Valdez (.457, 32 runs, 43 hits, 31 RBIs, 11 doubles, three triples, four homers)
• Shelby Somavia (.493, 21 runs, 35 hits, 24 RBIs, 13 doubles, six homers)
• Jaden Lopez (.389, 12 runs, 35 hits, 33 RBIs, seven doubles, triple, five homers)

Valdez excelled as a senior, doubling more than her hit total of 20 from last season. She also went from batting .247 as a junior to hitting .457. She blasted a personal best four homers this year.

Valdez also started at shortstop and turned six double plays.

“She’s been instrumental, especially coming off last year, she has turned it around 180,” Johnson said. “It’s just really awesome to see her improvement with the work that she put in.”

Redwood emphasized hitting this season — and it showed on game days.

The Rangers went from hitting .273 as a unit in 2023 to batting .383 this year.

Redwood was even better in league, registering a .412 batting average during EYL play.

The Rangers also increased their home run total from five to 17. Ten of those home runs came in league action.

“That’s not even something that we preach — the long ball,” Johnson said. “It’s just, when you have a good swing and you make good contact, you’re going to run into some pitches and they’re going to go. That’s what’s awesome. We try to keep a short swing. We try to keep a short approach to the ball but that just shows the work that they put in. We really hit hard this year because that is something that we wanted to improve on from last year.

“This year, us hitting .412 as a team, that just shows the work and dedication those kids put into improving their offensive swing. The home runs just came. That’s not something we planned but I’m just really proud of the power that we’ve shown this year.”

More: Mission Oak softball coach Ilissa Fachinni anchors Hawks to WYL championship

Tulare County Cream of the Crop Power Rankings

Here is one view of the top five baseball/softball teams in Tulare County (records are as of May 13):

Baseball

1. Redwood (21-5): The EYL champion Rangers went undefeated in league play, going 15-0.

2. Tulare Western (15-14): The Mustangs concluded the regular season with back-to-back wins.

3. Central Valley Christian (18-10): The Cavaliers' 18 victories this year are the most since they won 23 games in 2017.

4. Porterville (16-8): The Panthers finished second in the final EYL standings with a 10-5 mark.

5. Exeter (20-8): The Monarchs won 20 games for the first time since the 2019 campaign.

Softball

1. Redwood (17-9-2): The Rangers are the 2024 EYL champions.

2. Mission Oak (20-6): The Hawks captured an outright West Yosemite League championship this season.

3. Tulare Union (18-6-2): Senior pitcher Mason Hatton finished the regular season with 232 strikeouts.

4. El Diamante (17-9): The Miners' 17 victories are the most in a single season since they racked up 20 wins in 2015.

5. Monache (15-13): The Mauraders concluded the regular season with back-to-back victories.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 'Extremely proud': Redwood repeats as East Yosemite League softball champions