The preseason top team in the country, Norco (California) High, finished the season Friday night with a 2-0 win over Great Oak to capture its second consecutive CIF-Southern Section Div. I title in what is considered the toughest high school playoff division in the country.
The Cougars are ranked #3 nationally in the latest Extra Elite Eighty High School Rankings and could still conceivably finish No. 1 if two undefeated Florida teams above them, Lakewood Ranch out of Bradenton and Winter Springs, would lose. The two from the Sunshine State could face each other in the title game.
For Norco, though, winning the CIF championship this week was all the team had on its minds and the win made it the first time since 2007-2008 a team has gone back-to-back in Division I since Valencia High did it 11 years ago led by the great Jordan Taylor who would go on to pitch for Michigan and Team USA.
Norco (31-1) has its own great pitcher in Sarah Willis, the junior committed to the University of Washington, who will repeat as an Extra Inning Softball All-American after finishing the year 21-1 capped by a masterpiece in the title game.