When the discussion turns to the best high school softball teams of all time in the state of California, the 2024 Saint Francis Lancers have entered the conversation. Following a perfect 25-0 regular season, the Lancers blasted through the CCS Open Division playoffs, winning the championship with a 7-2 victory over rival Archbishop Mitty Saturday afternoon at West Valley College.
Saint Francis (28-0) will now turn its attention to a NorCal Division 1 title and will open Tuesday at home against Amador Valley. The two teams met April 6 at the Livermore Stampede with the Lancers winning 8-2.
In the Lancers’ third win over Mitty this season, senior Kate Munnerlyn allowed just one earned run despite battling some uncharacteristic wildness (6 walks). Munnerlyn struck out seven and heads into NorCals with a 15-0 record and 0.54 ERA. Senior Rebecca Quinn led the offense, going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
Mitty scored its runs on a two-run double by senior Lindsey Miller in the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Lancers picked up three runs in the sixth to seal the victory. Sophomore Kyleigh Mace went the distance, allowing just two earned runs against the juggernaut Lancers.
Saint Francis had no trouble in the first two rounds, hammering Carlmont 11-1 and Willow Glen 10-0. Sophomore Jaime Oakland and Quinn had 3 RBIs apiece against the Scots and Munnerlyn hit a grand slam to support her own five shutout innings (9 Ks) for the win over the Rams.
As the clear No. 2 team in CCS, Mitty also qualified for the NorCal Division 1 playoffs after its CCS playoff run. The Monarchs, who shut out both Los Gatos (4-0) and Hollister (6-0), will host Whitney Tuesday. Mace was nearly unhittable, throwing a two-hit shutout against the Wildcats and a four-hitter with 7 Ks against the Balers.
