Softball across the Santa Clarita Valley is entering another week of Foothill and Heritage League play, and the race is already taking shape. 

The defending Foothill League champion Saugus Centurions are off to a 2-0 start, tied atop the standings with West Ranch. In the Heritage League, Santa Clarita Christian sits in second place, while Trinity Classical Academy is looking to keep improving.

Saugus (7-5, 2-0)
Saugus opened league play with a 3-1 win over Castaic, though it was the Coyotes who struck first. The Centurions responded in the fourth inning when Olivia Frias delivered a two-run double to give Saugus a 2-1 lead. 

Frias later added her third RBI of the game, driving in Nicole Specht to extend the advantage to 3-1.

The Centurions followed that performance with a dominant 13-2 victory over Canyon.

Riley Bennett-Murray paced the offense with three runs, four RBIs and a home run. Amelia Johnson added two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored, while Savannah Smith contributed a pair of runs.

Saugus will face Valencia on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. at Valencia High School.

West Ranch (9-1, 2-0)

West Ranch is riding an eight-game winning streak and has opened league play in dominant fashion.

The Wildcats overwhelmed Golden Valley 20-0 in their Foothill League opener, scoring 11 runs in the first inning. Torrey Price, Paige Arrington and Naomi Stoll each scored three runs, while Stoll and Arrington combined for seven RBIs. Nearly every player in the lineup crossed the plate.

West Ranch followed with a 13-5 win over Castaic, with Stoll and Price again leading the way with three runs each.

The Wildcats will host Canyon on Thursday at 3:15 p.m.

Valencia (5-3, 1-0)

Valencia’s lone league game so far was a 4-3 extra-inning win over Hart. The Hawks built a 3-0 lead by the third inning, but the Vikings answered with three runs in the bottom half to tie the game.

Valencia ultimately secured the win in extras. Sydney Bolder led with two runs and an RBI, while Keira Rand and Victoria Tejeda each scored a run.

The Vikings will host Saugus on Thursday at 3:15 p.m.

Hart (4-5, 1-1)
Hart has experienced two very different outcomes in league play.

The Hawks opened with a dominant 10-0 win over Canyon, led by Hannah Cook, who scored two runs and drove in two more. Freshmen Naima Melendez and Kailyn Dodson each recorded three RBIs.

Hart then fell in a tightly contested extra-inning game to Valencia. Freshmen Ellie Hodge, Mackenzie Druez and Dodson accounted for all of the Hawks’ runs.

Hart returns to non-league play Saturday, opening tournament action against Palos Verdes at 10:30 a.m.

Castaic (4-3, 0-2)
Castaic’s league opener against Saugus was competitive early. Pitcher Tatum McAfee set the tone in the first inning, retiring the side without allowing a hit. In the bottom half, Samantha Farrell hit an inside-the-park home run to give the Coyotes a 1-0 lead.

Saugus took control in the fourth inning and added an insurance run later to secure the win. Castaic then fell 13-5 to West Ranch in its second league game.

The Coyotes return to the diamond Thursday at 3:15 p.m. at Golden Valley.

Golden Valley (2-5, 0-1)
Golden Valley has hit a rough stretch, including a 20-0 loss to West Ranch in its league opener.

Prior to the skid, the Grizzlies recorded back-to-back wins with a 24-4 victory over Grant and a 17-7 win over Antelope Valley. 

They will look to snap the losing streak Friday in non-league play against Eastside at 3:15 p.m.

Canyon (3-8, 0-2)
Canyon’s start to Foothill League play has been difficult, with lopsided losses to Hart and Saugus. The Cowboys have also struggled in non-league games, particularly on the defensive side.

Canyon’s next game will be Thursday at 3:15 p.m. against West Ranch.

Santa Clarita Christian (1-4, 0-1)
The Cardinals have had a slow start to the season, dropping their first four games before breaking through with a 19-16 win over Valley Christian Academy.

They return to action Thursday against Marymount at 4:15 p.m.

Trinity Classical Academy (0-3, 0-0)
Trinity has shown offensive potential, scoring at least seven runs in each of its games. However, defensive struggles have persisted, with the Knights allowing at least 11 runs in each contest.

They will look for more consistency on Tuesday against Bishop Diego at 3:30 p.m.

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