Hartnell-Diablo Valley softball

Northern California Regional Playoffs
Friday's game
Hartnell (26-10) at Diablo Valley (22-14), 2 p.m.
Diablo Valley is limping into the postseason, having dropped its last two games and three of its last four, finishing fifth in the Big 8 Conference at 11-13.
However it plays in arguably the strongest conference in Northern California as four teams are ranked in the state, including Diablo Valley.
The Panthers have to find a way to keep Terri Taylor off the base paths, as she hit .492, driving in a team leading 40 runs for the Vikings.
A common opponent is MPC, who Hartnell and Diablo Valley both split two games with this year.
The Panthers are a power hitting team, having ripped 30 home runs, with Salinas grad Harlee Noda, hitting .438 with nine homers.
 Teammate Danielle Caoili, who could draw the starting assignment Friday in the circle, hit a team leading 10 bombs for Hartnell.
 The Panthers finished among the state leaders in steals this spring with 74. Alvarez product Angelina Ruiz is fifth in the state with 33 while North Salinas alum Kaitlyn Doyle has 26.
 If Caoili and her 13 wins doesn't start in the circle, Doyle and her 11-2 record will. Both will be used in the best-of-three series, which will resume on Saturday.