Del Oro softball reloaded, ranked 11th nationally

After a historic 31-2 season that ended with a CIF NorCal Regional Division I championship and a No. 10 national ranking, the Del Oro High School softball team isn't rebuilding, it's reloading. The Golden Eagles graduated just three seniors from last year's section runner-up squad and return the core of one of the most dominant teams in California, including four all-league infielders, one of the top pitchers in the state and the bulk of a lineup that punished opposing staffs. As a result, Del Oro opens the year ranked No. 11 nationally in the MaxPreps preseason poll. Headlining the group is junior pitcher Mikayla Finn, who went 21-1 and struck out 210 batters as a sophomore. Finn, a Cal commit, established herself as one of the top arms in the state last season, consistently working deep into games and controlling high-level competition. With another year of experience, she anchors a pitching staff built around stability and strike-throwing. Offensively, Del Oro brings back three hitters who batted over .400: senior Chloe Champas and sophomores Caelyn Campos and Emma Johnson. The trio was central to a lineup that combined contact, gap power and situational execution throughout 2025. Johnson also provides middle-of-the-order power. She hit eight home runs and drove in 29 runs during her freshman campaign and through the first scrimmage of the year, it seems she's picking up where she left off, according to Del Oro coach Sean Erickson. The Golden Eagles will also look to replace the production of graduated slugger Abby Davidson, who hit 14 home runs last season and is now playing at Utah Tech. Erickson says one candidate to help fill that role is senior Macey Davis, who returns to the program after a year away and brings added depth to the designated player and corner rotation. Erickson has high hopes for Davis, who he noted hit a ball further than anyone he has seen at the team's preseason scrimmage. "We never shut the door on her," Erickson said. "She was away for a year, worked on her game and came back stronger. That's what this is about. We needed to replace some power, and she showed at Rio Linda she can provide that." Del Oro's infield is expected to be strong again, as Avyn Brower, Avery Enyart, Nancy Barbario and Johnson all look to build on all-league campaigns. In the outfield, Champas and Campos will be back while Kate Brown returns behind the plate. The roster includes three new juniors and four freshmen who expect to compete for immediate roles. Internal competition has been a theme early in the preseason, and Erickson believes the battle for playing time on a loaded roster is making everyone better. Erickson noted that while Del Oro is defending league and NorCal champions, he doesn't want this team entering the season with the mindset that it has to defend a title. Instead, he wants them to prove they are still among the state's elite. "We're not defending anything," Erickson said. "We're going out to earn it again. I see a focused group." The Golden Eagles open their season on Feb. 18 at Ponderosa.