Enochs’ Camarena does it all in key CCAL softball win over Gregori
Lillian Camarena did it all for Enochs on Monday.
The senior Stanislaus State commit is playing out of position, taking on second- and third-base duties instead of playing her primary position at catcher, but she is still impactful.
Camarena made plays on defense, making a diving stop at third base before throwing across the diamond for a 5-3 putout and ending the game by turning a double play. She was constantly in starting pitcher Kaylee Ruiz’s ear, providing leadership, encouragement and advice. And she made plays on offense, launching a first-inning home run and a walk and a two-RBI double.
That all led to a key win in Central California Athletic League play over Gregori. It is their second win over the Jaguars this season and moved them closer to back-to-back league titles.
The game was rescheduled after getting rained out March 31.
Enochs won the first matchup 5-4 and jumped out to a 7-1 lead early Monday before ultimately winning 7-4. The win was a good bounce back for the Eagles after losing the previous game to Turlock. The Eagles and Jaguars entered the game tied atop the league with 6-1 records, and after seven competitive innings, Enochs was 7-1 and Gregori 6-2.
“After the last game, we were tense because we lost,” Camarena said. “We knew we had to come back stronger and work harder. That (loss to Turlock) was a boost of motivation for us. We were like, we have to win this is for league to be a little more comfortable.”
Camarena homered on her second swing of the game, tying the game at 1-1. She walked and scored in the third to give the Eagles their first lead of the game at 2-1. With a 5-1 lead in the fourth, she drove in Marian Verdugo and Daniella Barba to break the game open even more.
“Last season, they wouldn’t throw to me, so I came in with the mindset of ‘What if they walk me?’” Camarena said. “I was waiting for a mistake pitch and as soon I saw them, I was able to execute for the team.”
Camarena has seven multi-hit games this season and is batting .606 on the season. She has 20 hits, six doubles, three triples, four home runs, 17 RBI and 15 runs.
The Eagles and Jaguars have traded league titles in each of the past four seasons.
Enochs won undefeated league championships in 2023 and 2025, finishing 15-0. In 2022 and 2024, the Jaguars finished atop the league standings, going 13-2 and 15-0, respectively.
The Eagles resume league play April 14 against Downey. They finish their second round of league games next week. Gregori’s next league game is an April 14 road contest against Pitman.
Harrison, Lomeli-Garcia hit walk-offs in tournament wins for Central Catholic
The Michelle Carew Classic gave Central Catholic a look at some of the best talent and teams on the West Coast last week, and the Raiders finished their stay in Anaheim 3-2 with three straight wins. Three of the five games were decided by two runs or fewer, and they finished 2-1 with a pair of walk-offs on the same day.
Sacramento State signee Madie Harrison was the hero in the eight-inning, 10-8 morning win over Chino Hills. Harrison broke out of an offensive slump to send a two-run walk-off home run over the center field fence.
It was her second homer of the game (Harrison and Samantha Nichols hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning) and drove in three runs to win the game.
The Raiders entered the final inning trailing 8-6. Paige Perry drove in Brooklyn Marquez who was on second as the ghost runner. With two outs later in the inning, Chino Hills intentionally walked Nichols and Harrison sent the ball over the center field fence for the three-run walk-off.
“I was just happy,” she said. “I was happy that I had my team’s back and got it done for my team. Everything we do is as a team, so I just wanted to put the ball in play, not have a selfish at bat and get a job done for my team. To get the best job done, I was just happy I was able to finish for my team.”
In the second game, Carsyn Lomeli-Garcia ended the game in the eighth with an RBI single, sealing an 11-10 victory over Del Oro. The teams went back and forth to start the game until the Golden Eagles broke the game open with six runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Raiders immediately answered, putting up six in the bottom half. They entered extra innings tied 9-9.
Del Oro scored once in the top of the eighth. Ceriah Fitzhugh drove in Paige Perry, who was on second base as an extra-innings runner, with a single then advanced to second. With a full count Lomeli-Garcia’s game-winning single drove in Fitzhugh. She went 3-for-5 on the day and drove in three runs.
“I was looking for (a pitch) out … so once I saw it out, I got my foot down and just drove it from there,” Lomeli-Garcia said. “We work so hard in practice, so it was more of a team thing, not just me. I knew my teammates had my back.”
Escalon multi-sport athlete commits to UCR
Escalon dynamic softball player Arianna Velasco announced where she will play at the next level this week, posting on her social media that she will continue her career at Division I University of California, Riverside.
A junior three-year varsity player, Velasco took her visit to the Inland Empire campus March 21 and announced her commitment April 8. She is a multi-sport athlete, playing middle infield in softball and point guard in basketball. She is already closing in on the school’s all-time scoring record that was set by her senior teammate Madi Babasa, who will play softball next year at the University of Arizona.
Fresh off leading the Cougars’ girls basketball team to an appearance in the Northern California Regional Semifinals for the first time in school history and earning Modesto Bee Player of the Year honors, Velasco is one of the most productive players on the diamond. In six recorded games, she is batting .632 with 12 hits, seven runs, seven RBI, three doubles, two triples and a home run.
The Cougars are 6-10 overall but 4-2 in Trans-Valley League play, good for third place. They are looking to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
VOL rivalry heats up with key game Tuesday
The second meeting in the biggest Stanislaus District softball series is next week in Modesto. And, once again, league positioning is at stake. Central Catholic hosts Oakdale Tuesday for the final matchup between the rivals this season in Valley Oak League play.
The Raiders won the first matchup on March 17, 2-1 thanks to heads-up base running and a clutch seventh inning hit. University of Florida commit Samantha Nichols drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice. Two batters later, she stole home for the game’s first run. Oakdale didn’t answer till the bottom of the sixth inning when Southwestern Oklahoma State University-bound Briley Everett scored on a Raiders error. Brooklyn Marquez drove in Carsyn Lomeli-Garcia in the top of the seventh inning for a game-winning run and University of the Pacific commit Stephanie Garcia ended the game with a strikeout, stranding a Mustang on second base.
Central Catholic is undefeated in VOL play, entering the game 8-0 while Oakdale is 7-1 with its only loss coming to the Raiders. The game is at Central Catholic at 4 p.m.
