Catch of the day: Sierra backstop Souza named Valley Oak League MVP

Jake Souza had lofty ambitions as a fresh-faced sophomore on the Sierra High School varsity baseball team.

He wanted to be a Valley Oak League champion and its most valuable player. At the time, those goals seemed well within Souza’s reach.

The Timberwolves were blessed with talent and up-and-coming pitching, and Souza was a hand-picked prodigy for Sierra Hall of Fame coach Jack Thomson.

Then fate tugged on the reins, delaying the coronation. In 2014, Manteca became the team of destiny, clinching a VOL title against Sierra to start a historic run to a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship and mythical state title.

Even this spring featured its share of hiccups. Souza was sidelined for five games with a variety of injuries, including wrist and knee nags and a concussion. Still, the tough-as-nails backstop for the Timberwolves found a way to realize his dreams. He led Sierra to its first VOL title in 14 years and was named the MVP in a vote of its coaches.

“My goal as a sophomore – my first year on varsity – was to win MVP by my senior year. I even told the coaches,” Souza said, “and ever since, they’ve been pushing me and helping me. I reached my goal.”

Souza was joined by three teammates on the all-VOL first team: San Diego Christian College-bound pitcher Leo Soto, second baseman Nick Oseguera, utility player Jake Gallagher and outfielder Ryan Vasquez.

Thomson was named Coach of the Year after winning his first league title since 2001.

“It felt great. Last year, we had a chance to do it, but Manteca had the better season,” said Souza, who will play summer ball with the NorCal Baseball Club of Tracy. “That was our goal at the beginning of the year. We all knew it, worked hard at practice and came together as a team and did it.

“I’ve never seen coach Thomson happier.”

Oakdale senior Wade Branch was named the Offensive Player of the Year after hitting .370 with an on-base percentage of .440, 27 hits and 17 runs scored.

A perennial title contender, the Mustangs finished a game behind Sierra in the final standings. Catcher Bryce Kirk, infielder Nolen Legan and outfielder Ben Solario rounded out Oakdale’s first-team selections.

Central Catholic reached the postseason in its first year in the VOL and had two first-team selections: senior pitcher Brad Nightengale and outfielder Ryan Vierra.

Manteca, the last of the league’s four playoff participants, was represented by rangy outfielder Dom Pisano and hard-hitting first baseman Greg Jones.

East Union shortstop Lucas Garcia and pitcher Marco Gonzales, and infielders Keenan Donatelli of Lathrop and C.J. Drain of Weston Ranch were also named to the first team.

Souza was never certain about his place on the MVP ballot. He missed the biggest week of the season after suffering a concussion in practice. He was struck by a foul ball while in the squat and had to sit out the Oakdale series.

The VOL’s coaches still thought highly of the versatile senior.

Souza was the heir apparent to Gold Glover Dakota Conners at shortstop but volunteered to move behind the dish after the graduation of all-VOL catcher Jake Pruitt, now a freshman at Delta College. Souza hadn’t played catcher in three years but settled in smoothly. Souza had just two errors in 23 games.

“I knew we’d be down at the catcher spot. We had juniors coming up that could play the infield at a high level,” he said. “But I couldn’t think of anybody that could catch. I told coach I could get the job done.”

Souza provided leadership behind the dish and pop at the plate. He flirted with a .400 average (.391) and collected a team-high 27 hits, four triples and 22 runs. His 17 RBIs were second on the team.

He is grateful for the award and believes he has a responsibility – to himself and those who voted for him – to chase new goals. Souza will likely continue his career at a community college in the fall.

“My goal was to always win the MVP but towards the end of the year, I didn’t expect to win it. Once I got the text from coach Thomson, I had to call him to make sure it was real,” he said. “I did not expect the award at all.”

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Catch of the day: Sierra backstop Souza named Valley Oak League MVP."