Sports

San Gabriel Valley All-Area softball team, player of the year 2026

By Fred Robledo, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, West Covina, Calif. The Tribune Content Agency

Updated June 11, 2026 11:49 AM

The All-Area softball team selections from the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena and Whittier areas.

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY ALL-AREA SOFTBALL 2026

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mia Camacho, Whittier Christian, Junior

Like the rest of the Whittier Christian softball team, junior Mia Camacho got hot at the end of the season.

The Rutgers commit hit a home run in every round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.

The biggest homer, though, came in the bottom of the seventh inning of the championship game with Whittier Christian trailing Mater Dei by two runs.

Camacho used her strength to smack a two-run home run to right field to tie the score, 3-3, and send the game to extra innings.

"I was not trying to do too much, I was just trying to get on base for my team," Camacho said afterward. "My focus was just to hit the ball hard. The (home run)? It was amazing. It was beyond words and an amazing feeling."

Whittier Christian High School softball player Mia Camacho in La Habra on Friday, June 5, 2026. Camacho is the San Gabriel Valley Tribune player of the year. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Whittier Christian players celebrate a home run by Mia Camacho in the top of the seventh inning during the CIF-SS Division 2 championship game against Mater Dei in Irvine on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The Heralds went on to beat Mater Dei 5-3 with Bella Perez's eighth inning home run, giving Whittier Christian its fourth CIF-SS championship and first since 2010 when it won the Division 5 title.

Camacho, a first baseman, had an amazing season from start to finish.

She was among the area leaders with a .532 batting average. She belted 17 home runs and finished with 60 RBIs, which were among the top five in the CIF-SS this season. She also finished with 10 doubles and scored 47 runs.

For her efforts, Camacho has been selected the San Gabriel Valley's 2026 softball player of the year.

Camacho had several big games. One of the most memorable came during a tournament against Wisconsin's Sauk Prairie. Camacho had a grand slam and two-run home run to finish with seven RBIs in a 15-8 win.

She had three hits or more six times, but it was her playoff run that most will remember.

In the Heralds' 9-3 win over Warren in the first round, Camacho hit a solo home run and finished with two hits and two RBIs.

In the Heralds' second-round blowout win, 13-1, over Bonita, Camacho was walked twice but also hit a two-run home run.

Camacho led off the game with a solo home run in the Heralds' come-from-behind victory, 11-8, over St. Paul in the semifinals.

In that game, Camacho was also part of a seventh-inning rally that saw the Heralds score seven runs to go from a 7-4 deficit to an 11-7 lead. She had an RBI single during the rally and finished the game with two hits.

The came the championship game, where her dramatic two-run home run in the seventh inning kept the Heralds' season alive, allowing them to go on and win the divisional title.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Alison Ortega, La Mirada, Junior

La Mirada relied heavily on junior pitcher Alison Ortega in the prestigious CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, and came within a run of winning the title.

The Harvard commit, who finished the season with a 20-2 record and 1.05 ERA, is the SGV pitcher of the year.

She was outstanding against an incredibly tough schedule, and finished with 161 strikeouts over 139 innings.

She threw three straight two-hitters early in the season, and then Ortega threw a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over Warren, which helped the Matadores win the Gateway League title.

In the playoffs, she was at her best. She never allowed more than three runs in a game and threw five straight complete games.

Ortega struck out 10 in a 4-2 win over Los Alamitos in the first round. She tossed a three-hit shutout against Palos Verdes for a 3-0 win in the second round, and finished with 11 strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Etiwanda in the quarterfinals.

Against La Habra in the semifinals, Ortega had seven strikeouts in a 5-1 victory.

Ortega gave La Habra another quality outing in the championship against JSerra, but the Matadores lost 3-2.

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Riley and Reese Hilliard, La Mirada, Juniors

La Mirada's Riley and Reese Hilliard both had incredible seasons at the plate, so it seems fitting that they share this award.

The two juniors helped La Mirada make it to the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game, where they lost to JSerra 3-2 in the final.

La Mirada head coach Brent Tuttle congratulates Riley Hilliard (11) after hitting a home run on the first inning against Warren in their Gateway League softball game at La Mirada High School on Thursday April 30, 2026. La Mirada defeated Warren 6-0 to clinch the Gateway League Championship. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

Reese Hilliard #55 of the La Mirada Matadores hits a RBI single against the Etiwanda Eagles in the fourth inning of a CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal playoff girls softball game at La Mirada High School in La Mirada on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

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Riley Hilliard, an Oklahoma commit, batted .568 with 10 home runs, 14 doubles, 33 RBIs and scored 20 runs.

Reese Hilliard, a Stanford commit, batted .567 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, and a team-best 38 RBIs.

They'll be seniors next season and will be trying to top the combined 17 home runs and 71 RBIs they had this sesaon.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Aaliyah Zamano, Los Altos, Freshman

It's rare that a freshman shortstop helps lead a team to a league title or to a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. But that's exactly what Los Altos freshman Aaliyah Zamano did this sesaon.

Los Altos was fortunate that after four-year starting shortstop Bri Alejandre moved on to UCLA, the team had Zamano step in and lead the charge.

On a team filled with talented freshmen, Zamano was the best of the crop. She batted a team-leading .457. She also led the team in home runs (five), doubles (12) and RBIs (37).

Los Altos won the Hacienda League title and finished 20-9. The Conquerors lost to La Habra, 3-2, in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dale Van Duyn, Whittier Christian

Whittier Christian overcame a slow start to the season before turning on the jets. They won the Olympic League title and topped Mater Dei 5-3 in eight innings in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship game. It was coach Dale Van Duyn's second championship with the Heralds.

The championship game was filled with drama. Whittier Christian trailed Mater Dei 3-1 in the seventh inning, but a two-run home run from Mia Camacho sent the game to extra innings. A two-run homer from Bella Perez in the eighth lifted the Heralds to a come-from-behind victory.

In the semifinals, they overcame a 7-4 deficit in the seventh inning by scoring seven runs to pull out an 11-8 victory over St. Paul.

Whittier Christian finished the season 24-9-1.

FIRST TEAM

Pitcher: Kaylahni Duenas, Los Altos, So.

Pitcher: Robyn Guitron, Santa Fe, Sr.

Pitcher: Alexis Salas, California, Sr.

Pitcher: Samantha Cervantes, La Habra, Sr.

Utility: Leila Diebert, Charter Oak, Jr.

Utility: Emma Garcia, Glendora, Fr.

Utility: Carly Polanco, Monrovia, Fr.

Infielder: Aubrie Baruch, La Serna, Sr.

Infielder: Shirley Acevedo, California, Sr.

Infielder: Koa Puppe, Bonita, Jr.

Infielder: Sofia Hernandez, Whittier Christian, Sr.

Infielder: Adrianna Mangini, Bonita, Jr.

Infielder: Julyssa Jimenez, Bishop Amat, Sr.

Infielder: Audrey Schlim, San Dimas, Sr.

Infielder: Peyton Fox, Arcadia, Sr.

Outfielder: Tiffany Villegas, San Dimas, Jr.

Outfielder: Makayla Diebert, Charter Oak, Sr.

Outfielder: Ali Plimpton, Whittier Christian, Jr.

Outfielder: Alyssa Hernandez, La Habra, Sr.

Catcher: Hailey Chavolla, California, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Pitcher: Sofia Gonzalez, Whittier Christian, Jr.

Pitcher: Gianna Messick, Glendora, Sr.

Pitcher: Mia Salas, Ganesha, Sr.

Pitcher: Serenity Reyes, Bonita, Sr.

Pitcher: Samantha Almaraz, Arcadia, Sr.

Utility: Peyton Herdina, La Salle, Fr.

Utility: Samantha Garcia, Bishop Amat, Jr.

Utility: Campbell Taylor, Maranatha, Fr.

Infielder: Emma Apodaca, La Serna, Sr.

Infielder: JJ Mendoza, South Hills, Sr.

Infielder: Eveny Gomez, St. Paul, Sr.

Infielder: Shae McMorrow, Charter Oak, Sr.

Infielder: Rylee Cull, Whittier Christian, Jr.

Infielder: Mireya Gonzalez, La Habra, Jr.

Infielder: Katelyn Berumen, South El Monte, Jr.

Outfielder: Veida Aikey, Los Altos, Fr.

Outfielder: Alana Adams, La Mirada, Fr.

Outfielder: Leah Reynolds, Bonita, Jr.

Outfielder: Morgan Gonzalez, Glendora, Sr.

Catcher: Lacy Vantuinen, Ganesha, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Pitcher: Parker Milton, South Hills, Sr.

Pitcher: Cassie Gonzalez, Santa Fe, Jr.

Pitcher: Madison Garcia, Ramona Convent, Sr.

Pitcher: Sofia DeSantiago, Schurr, Jr.

Pitcher: Alexis Hurtado, Edgewood, Jr.

Utility: Saryah Razo, Santa Fe, Sr.

Utility: Gigi Butler, Muir, Sr.

Infielder: Lexi Avila, La Serna, So.

Infielder: Melina Sanchez, Schurr, Jr.

Infielder: Mia Negrete, St. Paul, Sr.

Infielder: Deana Moreno, Charter Oak, Sr.

Infielder: Aria Davis, La Salle, So.

Infielder: Gigi Bojorquez, Whittier Christian, Jr.

Infielder: Madison Cardona, Monrovia, Sr.

Infielder: Fatima Serna, La Mirada, Fr.

Infielder: Bella Esparza, California, Jr.

Infielder: Makayla Fernandez, South Hills, Sr.

Infielder: Kiki Gomez, Arcadia, Sr.

Infielder: Laila Kazazian, La Cañada, Sr.

Infielder: Ryan Torres, Glendora, Jr.

Infielder: Ximena Gomez, Edgewood, Fr.

Infielder: Loreli Castrejon, South El Monte, Sr.

Outfielder: Riley Labrecque, La Cañada, Jr.

Outfielder: Havana Pagan, La Salle, So.

Outfielder: Payton Godinez, Los Altos, Fr.

Outfielder: Elizabeth Biado, La Mirada, So.

Catcher: Dani Lopez, Whittier Christian, Sr.

Catcher: Jordyn Bertram, Santa Fe, So.

Catcher: Marilyn Sandoval, Northview, Sr.

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 11:40 AM.

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