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Oxford Academy softball coach Bob Whitney believed he set a realistic goal.

His program improved enough, he thought, that it could aim to complete the 605 League without enduring a mercy-rule loss.

That objective seemed logical until the Patriots’ sizzling start.

“I’ve kind of changed my mind,” Whitney said on Monday. “As long as our pitching stays good and we play good defense … we can play with anyone in league.”

“Making CIF is the goal,” the coach added.

Oxford Academy is indeed aiming higher after winning its first 17 games, including a 12-2 win against Whitney in the teams’ 605 League opener last week.

The Patriots’ start is the best in school history and has the team ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 7.

The real test will arrive in the 605 League, where all of Oxford Academy’s opponents are grouped in higher-ranked playoff divisions.

The Patriots haven’t reached the postseason since 2018 but have renewed optimism.

They added three impact three freshmen to a core featuring strong juniors and seniors.

Whitney, in his eighth season, said freshman pitcher Emily Ganguly has been critical to the success. She is 15-0 with a 1.85 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 72 innings.

“She’s done way better than I thought,” he said of Ganguly, who has pitched two no-hitters.

Freshmen Daniela Perez and Mia Sierra-Mendoza have formed a steady combination at shortstop and second base, respectively. Perez is hitting .531 with 32 runs and 19 RBIs. Sierra-Mendoza is hitting .447 with 11 RBIs.

The team’s core is led by senior captains Ella Pace and Monique Rojas.

Pace, a catcher bound for MIT, leads the offense in average (.611), runs (36), doubles (eight), triples (four) and RBIs (21). She also has 12 stolen bases.

Rojas, a utility player, is hitting .509 with 13 RBIs and a team-high 14 stolen bases.

The junior class is led by utility Xiomara Martinez and right fielder Kuhu Gupta.

“It’s a good blend of youth and experience,” said assistant coach Dave Clifton, the school’s athletic director and first softball coach.

Oxford Academy won several titles in the Academy League under Clifton but fell on hard times in recent years.

The Patriots finished 1-9 in the 605 League last season and were 2-8 in 2022.

Whitney said the pandemic nearly wiped out the program.

But thanks to a historic start this spring, the Anaheim Union school best known for its academic prowess has an exciting contender to watch.

“Pretty crazy,” Clifton said. “We just live in the moments when we have this group of kids.”

JSERRA, TESORO SET FOR TOURNAMENT CLASH

JSerra and Tesoro will play Saturday in the semifinals of the La Mirada Classic at California at 1 p.m. The winner will face either South Hills-California in the finals at Glenn at 6 p.m.

Last week, JSerra edged Tesoro 8-5 in 11 innings in a nonleague game.

NOTES

There will be eight playoff divisions this spring in the Southern Section, one more than the last several seasons. …

Marina is hopeful that ace Mia Valbuena (elbow) can return Tuesday against Los Alamitos, Vikings co-coach Dan Hay said. …

Villa Park has found success mixing junior Auddrey Lira and freshman Julianna Romero in the circle, Spartans coach Terry Williams said. …

Esperanza has been batting Florida-bound Taylor Shumaker third this spring. The senior primarily batted leadoff her first three seasons.

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