This episode of Varsity Vibes features host Luke LaMonte delivering a comprehensive roundup of Riverside County prep softball, highlighting the teams and players making the biggest impact this season. From powerhouse programs to emerging contenders, the show breaks down key performances, rankings, and storylines shaping the local high school sports landscape.
Powerhouses like Murrieta Mesa and King are emerging as elite contenders, with eye-popping records, run differentials, and national rankings. Defending champions Norco continue their excellence, while Valley View and Roosevelt remain steady forces. Across divisions, programs like Hillcrest and Indio are building momentum, and teams like Corona are making noise after missing last year’s playoffs.
From juggernauts to under-the-radar risers, this episode delivers a comprehensive look at the teams shaping the local softball landscape—and what to expect as the postseason race heats up. Covering CIF Southern Section competition, this episode provides in-depth analysis, team spotlights, and insight into what to expect as the postseason approaches.
Whether you're a fan, athlete, or coach, Varsity Vibes brings you reliable, high-level coverage of Riverside County athletics.
Transcripts
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Luke LaMonte, Host: [:
Luke LaMonte, Host: And then some of the teams that we just can't go without talking about afterwards. So we're gonna start things off with Division one per usual. Absolutely littered with teams from Riverside County: Norco, Roosevelt, Murrieta Mesa, Poly, Valley View, and King all made that top bracket. So we're gonna walk through this chaotic division one working our way up from the worst to the best performing teams.
Luke LaMonte, Host: The first team eliminated in round one was poly, they fell six to zero versus Murrieta Mesa. Poly finished ranked 81st in the state after their 20 and nine season, bouncing after just one game in that post-season this year off to a slightly worse start, but still plenty ahead of them with an eight and five record.
ly other team that failed to [:
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Luke LaMonte, Host: The team has 14 home runs and is batting a collective 400, and they have pitched 118 total strikeouts so far. This team is simply put, unstoppable. Good luck. Everyone is going to need it if the Rams are on your schedule. We're gonna continue on to Valley View, so a second round exit 8 to 0 versus Temescal.
Luke LaMonte, Host: Val Temescal Canyon. They lost the reigning Ivy League Champs. Ended the year 24 and five ranked 60th and are right on pace for another successful year. They're ranked 52nd now 13 and two and are 9 to 0 when they are not at home. The sign of a good team is one that wins on the road. We're gonna go to our final team.
ena completing an incredible [:
Luke LaMonte, Host: Two El Modena. The team finished 29 and 4 to 46 throughout the whole season, undefeated at home. Big eight champs finished fifth nationally and second overall in the state behind only the Del Oro Golden Eagles, who were first, who were five spots behind Norco nationally. As a matter of fact, the Cougars held one of the greatest seasons in California softball history.
ball with some elite teams in:
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Luke LaMonte, Host: Linfield Christian, they fell in round two. They went 21 and four and second in the ambassador league ranked 115th in the state this year. Bit of a downer for them. Five and six. Overall ranked 316th after some road struggles. Had really put a wrench in this team season. Still a little bit of time.
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situation, not exactly sure [:
Luke LaMonte, Host: Currently four and five ranked 134th. Still time to turn things around, but a bad start overall for what was a great team last season. Now we're gonna drop to division three. They had two teams. Very brief and disappointing result. Unfortunately, LA Quinta and Beaumont both eliminated in round one.
Luke LaMonte, Host: Cougars fell 9 to 1 versus semi-finalist. Kennedy ending a 12 and 11 season sneaking into the playoffs barely. The team now sits at six and five on pace for a similar end result. La Quinta on the other hand, they fell the Mission Viejo 7 to 3 halting their desert empire runner up season.
illcrest was a one and done. [:
Luke LaMonte, Host: Thanks to a perfect five and O at home. To add to their 120 fifth ranked resume, Indio managed to find a path of the quarter finals after a 15 to 13 win in round one and a 4 to 2 victory to follow. The team lost 9 to 3. Eventually to El Toro ending the run of the Desert Valley undefeated.
Luke LaMonte, Host: League Champions previously 18 and 12. Team is now 10 and four in the new year. Pretty good start. Division five zero teams, unfortunately made it from Riverside Counties. We're gonna bump right down to division six. They saw one team that being San Jacinto, they clawed their way to the quarterfinals before ATO took the win.
the season. That's a really [:
Luke LaMonte, Host: Now, in the new season, the team sits at five and eight, an unclear path for the future. Maybe they can sneak in again and go on another run. We'll have to wait and see. In Division vii, Moreno Valley, the only team, they were one and done really quick, a 7 to 5 loss versus Westminster. The Vikings were 10 and 10. Perfect .500.
them in the year. And now in:
Luke LaMonte, Host: Now, a team not mentioned in the playoffs last year is Corona. This is the one team that we had as an outlier who has seen a good jump into this new season. The Panthers are currently nine and two and ranked 46 in the state, but 25th overall in the Southern section. They're fresh off their only home loss.
Luke LaMonte, Host: It was [:
Luke LaMonte, Host: Make sure to stay tuned for future episodes next week on Varsity Vibes brought to you by the United American Network.
