State strikeout leader, Central Catholic’s Roelling The Bee’s Softball Player of the Year
Central Catholic pitcher Randi Roelling wasn’t expecting to have the season she just did.
Of course she set goals and even though they seemed lofty prior to the Raiders’ first game, she blew them out of the water.
She anticipated 200 strikeouts but more than doubled that, tallying a state-leading 418, but that wasn’t enough. The junior had the lowest ERA of her varsity career, 0.72, and held opponents to a .104 batting average while helping herself out by blasting a team-high six home runs on offense. Roelling was also named the Valley Oak League MVP.
“That was crazy,” Roelling, who has committed to Cal Berkeley, said of her strikeout success. “I thought I was gonna get maybe over 200 this season, but to double it, it kind of blew my mind.”
It can get lonely in the circle, but The Bee’s Softball Player of the Year knows she’s not in it alone. She is quick to credit her infielders, outfielders and catcher for keeping her calm and allowing her to just pitch her game.
“When I feel like a lot is on my shoulders, I lean on my catcher and my teammates,” Roelling said. “They probably lean on me, too, but I’m leaning in on them. If one’s not giving enough, we’re gonna break down. Leaning on my teammates helped me a lot.”
When you don’t see her in the circle or batter’s box, you hear her in the dugout. Leading cheers, giving her teammates encouragement and sometimes instruction while they’re on the field.
“I do try to lead by example, but I lead vocally also,” she said. “I’m a very loud player. If you’re not loud, I don’t think you’re doing it right.”
For her, softball is about balance. It’s why she believes the Raiders were able to put together two separate win streaks of nine or more games, advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Championship and the second round of the Northern California Division II Regional Championships despite being a sixth seed.
She believes a healthy dose of fun in the dugout goes a long way in keeping the team loose and full of energy.
“I definitely have a different personality,” Roelling said. “I talk a lot about softball, but it’s not all about softball. If it’s all about softball, then you’re gonna be mentally drained. You have to joke about things. That just makes the game way more fun and a lot easier.”
But don’t let the sideline laughs confuse you; when it’s time to turn it on, she’s as competitive as they come.
Coach Sam Nichols says she thrives in pressure situations. Of her 18 wins, eight came in games decided by two runs or less.
“It would be really easy for her to take a day off or take a play off, but she’s the hardest worker on our team,” Nichols said during the season. “On the mound, she’s the ultimate competitor, she’s a bulldog. She competes at a very high level.”
Whether it’s facing the nine hitter on a struggling team in the preseason, or a future PAC-12 opponent late in the playoffs, Roelling wants to win her matchup.
“I treat everyone the same,” Roelling said. “In my mind, I’m like, ‘Okay, I gotta beat them.’ I just feel like I have a need to beat people.”
The Raiders return four of their top five hitters next season and the experience they gained this season will only benefit them next year.
“Our defense was pretty top-notch, we worked a lot on that,” Roelling said. “Our defense, when we need it, is always there to pick me up. I feel like we could have had more team at bats (this season).”
And for the strikeouts, she sped past her junior season goal, so she’s setting the senior strikeout bar pretty high.
“425.” she said.
Modesto Bee All-District Softball Teams
First Team
Delainey Everett - Oakdale, Jr., P
Kailey Estes - Gregori, Soph., P
Rhylee Magazinovic - Ripon, Sr., INF
Jenna Gomes - Hilmar, Sr., P
Amanda Bricker - Oakdale, Sr., INF
Delaney Pratt - Beyer, Sr., P/INF
Addison Mettler - Pitman, Jr., C
Alya Lacerda - Turlock, Fr., OF
Alison Robinson - Beyer, Jr., INF
Caitlyn Campbell - Ripon, Sr., UTIL
Miranda Temple - Enochs, Soph., INF
Jazmarie Roberts - Central Catholic, Fr., INF
Jacquelyn Lujan - Orestimba, Jr., P
Second Team
Brooklyn Heffernan - Ceres, Sr., P
Ava Hernandez - Big Valley Christian, Soph., P
Angie Valenzuela - Turlock, Sr., INF
Jayme Soares - Hilmar, Soph., UTIL
Trinity Beers - Big Valley Christian, Jr., INF
Mackenzie Hough - Beyer, Fr., C
Natalie Camarena - Enochs, Soph., P
Marissa Espinosa - Gregori, Sr., C
Sehren Martinez - Ceres, Jr., INF
Hailey Bacon - Turlock, Soph., C
Jamie Zarilla - Johansen, Soph., OF
Raegan Everett - Oakdale, Soph., INF
Joslyn Sotelo - Orestimba, Jr., 1B/OF
Brooke Davis - Escalon, Sr., P
Honorable Mention: Beyer: Olivia Saldivar, Jordyn Lish; Big Valley Christian: Cecily Fontana, Emily Avila; Ceres: Isabella Giraldes, Alizae Cole, Ava Montesdeoca; Central Catholic: Noelany Ramirez, Adison Machado, Jazzlyn Rios; Central Valley: Victoria Lloyd; Davis: Payton Applequist, Belen Ruiz; Downey: Sarah Browning, Maddy Ramme; Enochs: Alyssa Blanco, Marley Leighton; Escalon: Tulsa Carnes, Emily Vickers; Gregori: Chloe Hoffman, Hilmar: Emily Cogswell, Abby Blevins; Hughson: Jesse Duren, Kylee Carry; Johansen: Brenda Albarran; Modesto: Dasia Guzman, Ci’Yanna Kim; Modesto Christian: Rayva Corral; Oakdale: Danny Romo, Sophia Ortiz, Presley Barnes; Orestimba: Sophia Machado, Shiloh Croffoot; Patterson: Kayla Ortiz; Pitman: Kayleen Zayehmoureh, Lacie Nycum; Ripon: Kharime Caratachea, Peyton Naranjo; Ripon Christian: Shelby Terra, Taylor Postma; Riverbank: Janeiya Lopez, Jynessa Lopez; Turlock: Cadence Campbell, Abbey Harrington, Jenna Hernandez; Waterford: Hannah Bibbins, Samantha Ward
Modesto Bee Spring 2022 Athletes of the Year
Softball: Randi Roelling, Central Catholic, Junior — Named VOL MVP, Roelling finished first in the state in total strikeouts (regular season and postseason) with 418. Had a 0.72 ERA and 18 wins.
Girls Swimming: Madeline Staley, Downey, Sophomore — Staley competed in multiple events for the Knights and made the finals at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet in the 100 yard freestyle (54.23) and the 200 yard IM (2:17.35).
Girls Track and Field: Haleigh Humble, Oakdale, Senior — Humble came from behind to win the 800m at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and qualified for the State Meet. She will compete on the track and cross country teams at Stanislaus State next year.
Baseball: Mateo Garcia, Pitman, Senior — Was named the CCAL’s Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with a 7-1 record in 13 appearances, a 1.18 ERA and one save. Garcia also led the Pride at the plate with five home runs.
Boys Golf: Clark Van Gaalen, Turlock, Sophomore — Van Gaalen led the Bulldogs to an undefeated CCAL championship and the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship on May 9. He also led Turlock, which shot a Stanislaus District low 404, with a score of 74 at the Masters Tournament on May 16.
Boys Swimming: Nick Wilmot, Enochs, Junior — Qualified for the State Meet in the 200 yard freestyle by finishing third at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters with a time of 1:41.29.
Boys Tennis: Ryder Rockwood/Diego Johnson, Downey, Junior/Senior — Helped lead the Knights to their best regular season finish and first league title since 1979. The duo won the CCAL doubles championship and advanced to the second round in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.
Boys Track and Field: Anthony Sausedo, Ripon, Senior — Won the Division V and Sac-Joaquin Section titles in the 300M Hurdles. Sausedo qualified for the State Meet with a time of 38.26 at sections and finished seventh in California at state with a final time of 38.76 on May 28.
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 8:57 AM.
