Ceres’ O’Neal, Los Banos’ Waltman share WAC softball MVP
Ceres High School slugger Mahlena O’Neal has been named the Western Athletic Conference co-MVP.
The Georgia-bound senior was one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s top power hitters, slugging nine home runs and 12 doubles for the three-time defending league champions.
O’Neal’s home run total was eighth-best in the section and third in the Stanislaus District, trailing Oakdale’s Maddi Hackbarth and Haley Fuller, who hit 11 each.
O’Neal shared the MVP award with Los Banos junior Ali Waltman, who led the Tigers with a .465 average, 34 runs, 40 hits and 22 extra-base hits.
Waltman, a shortstop and pitcher, had Los Banos’ only hit at Ceres on May 3 – a two-run homer in a 2-1 victory that forced a title split for the second straight year. The Bulldogs (23-5) and Tigers (22-5) finished 11-1.
Ceres went on to win its second section title, defeating Benicia 3-2 in the Division III tournament.
One of Ceres’ postseason heroes was junior Callie Nunes, who was named the WAC Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in wins (19) and no-hitters (two). She also was second in ERA (0.80) and strikeouts (222).
Los Banos’ Dustin Caropreso was named Coach of the Year.
Ceres shortstop Nicole Bates, who went 6 for 8 in two section championship games against Benicia and turned the title-clinching double play, headlined the first team. The Washington-bound senior was joined on the first team by teammates Rayohna Sagapolu, Mackenzie Veuve and Sabrina Baisdon; McKenzie Schumacher and Cassie Gasper of El Capitan; Kiara Azevedo and Mel Silva of Los Banos; Riley Kuderca of Patterson; and Samantha Jacquez of Pacheco.
Los Banos had four players named to the second team: Savannah Valenzuela, Haley Quintana, Emily Lonetree and Kylee Cardoza.
Pacheco had three second-team selections: Kayla Valdez, Autumn Randles and Jasmine Yruegas. Rounding out the second team were Aubrey Aponte of El Capitan, Jasmine Hernandez of Patterson and Jessica Arreola of Ceres.
Honorable mentions were Yescenia Godinez of Central Valley, Annie Winton of Livingston, Addy Costa of Pacheco and Hayley Anderson of Patterson.
James Burns: 209-578-2150, @jburns1980
Western Athletic Conference softball
MVPs: Mahlena O’Neal, Ceres; Ali Waltman, Los Banos
Pitcher of the Year: Callie Nunes, Ceres
Coach of the Year: Dustin Caropreso, Los Banos
First team
Nicole Bates, Ceres; Rayohna Sagapolu, Ceres; Mackenzie Veuve, Ceres; Sabrina Baisdon, Ceres; McKenzie Schumacher, El Capitan; Cassie Gasper, El Capitan; Kiara Azevedo, Los Banos; Mel Silva, Los Banos; Riley Kuderca, Patterson; Samantha Jacquez, Pacheco
Second team
Savannah Valenzuela, Los Banos; Haley Quintana, Los Banos; Emily LoneTree, Los Banos; Kylee Cardoza, Los Banos; Kayla Valdez, Pacheco; Autumn Randles, Pacheco; Jasmine Yruegas, Pacheco; Aubrey Aponte, El Capitan; Jasmine Hernandez, Patterson; Jessica Arreola, Ceres
Honorable mention
Yescenia Godinez, Central Valley; Annie Winton, Livingston; Addy Costa, Pacheco; Hayley Anderson, Patterson
This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 10:29 AM with the headline "Ceres’ O’Neal, Los Banos’ Waltman share WAC softball MVP."