Through the first weekend of Regionals play in the Div. I Women’s College World Series, the Oregon Ducks have shown why they were the top seed, winning all three of their games so far via shutouts as they get ready to face Kentucky in the Super Regionals.
Anchoring third base as she has for the last four years is All-American Jenna Lilley, a member of Team USA who will compete in the Japan All-Star Series for the U.S. to be held June 20-23.
Jenna, who’s hitting leadoff for Mike White’s team and has a .367 average and .488 on-base percentage right now, is a key reason the Ducks are flying high right now, but looking down the road who will replace the senior standout from Canton, Ohio once she graduates?
One strong candidate is Rachel Cid, a power-hitting, defensive vacuum cleaner at the hot corner, who is one of the top-rated players in the 2018 class (ranked by Extra Inning Softball as #9 in the recently released Elite 100 player ratings).
The high school senior from Northern California would love nothing more to be mentioned in the same breath as Lilley; for, when asked who she’d love to have dinner with Rachel answers: “Jenna, because she’s been through the college experience and I love the way she plays the game all around.”
The tie between the two extends further: when Rachel took an unofficial visit to Eugene as a freshman, she mentions talking to Lilley, among other players, as being a deciding factor in why she ultimately committed to Oregon.
Will Rachel be the heir apparent (or is that “air apparent?”) to bring the great stick and defensive prowess Jenna has at third base?
Only time will tell, but with her great power, ability to hit for a high average and consistent play in the infield—last year, for example, in 41 innings at PGF Nationals she made only two errors—Rachel is as good of a bet as any.
And you know she’s been watching her future team this week, stating: “Oregon is looking very strong, especially the pitching staff and everyone is doing their job in executing and manufacturing runs. I think the bats needs to wake up just a little bit more as they move into the Supers and hopefully the WCWS.”
Here’s more on this player who is definitely one to watch starting next year in the Pac-12…
NAME: RACHEL CID
Hometown/ST: Tracy, CA
Grad Year: 2018
Position(s): 3B/MIF
Club Team: California Cruisers – Sievers
High School (City/ST): Tracy (California)
GPA: 3.6
College: Oregon
When committed? Freshman year
Height: 5-foot-3
Top Honors/Accomplishments: Becoming an Oregon Duck; Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 #9 ranking in the 2018 class; Tracy single season record holder with 55 RBI and .607 batting average; three-time League MVP (2018, 2017, 2015).
Key High School Stats: Currently hitting .612 in 26 games with seven home runs, 35 RBI, .696 on-base percentage, 1.164 slugging percentage, 1.860 OPS and .957 fielding percentage this season.
Other Sports? Played golf when I was younger
Other Universities Considered: Washington, Arizona, UCLA, Oklahoma, LSU
Preferred College Major: Human Physiology
*****
Your last day of high school is Friday (May 25) and your ceremony is Saturday… what’s going through your mind about your final week at Tracy High?
As my senior year is coming to an end, I am excited to graduate and move on to the college atmosphere. However, I am a little sad that I am leaving my closest of friends behind, but I know I will meet so many new people in college and have an even greater time in college than I did in high school.
