After leading her team to a CCC championship, Golden Valley outfielder named MVP
The Golden Valley High softball team outscored their final four Central California Conference opponents 30-0, including shutout victories over Merced and Atwater.
The strong finish helped the Cougars win the CCC championship this spring with a 7-1 record.
“Our team was a lot like it has been the last few years,” said Golden Valley coach Ross Cruickshanks. “We’re not going to over power anyone. We’re not going to scare anyone with our offense. We just had different girls step up.”
One constant was junior outfielder Naomi Moore.
Moore finished with a batting average of .654 to go along with two home runs, five doubles and 13 runs scored in CCC play.
Moore was named the CCC Most Valuable Player by the conference coaches.
“She outhit everyone in league, she got on base, she’s great on defense,” said Cruickshanks. “She’s the one girl everyone worried about on our team. She was able to come through in big games.”
Moore was also named to the Max Preps all-Sac-Joaquin Section team for the class of 2022. Golden Valley freshman pitcher Bree Barner was also named to the all-section team for the class of 2024.
The Merced duo of Trisha McCleskey and Ava Brown took home the other top CCC honors. McCleskey threw two no-hitters in her seven CCC games. She compiled a 1.25 ERA in 39 and 1/3 innings, striking out 67 hitters.
Brown finished with a .533 batting average, three home runs, 13 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
The all-CCC first team selections were Atwater’s Kendall Flatt, Amelie Valdez, Marley Gonzalez and Shelli Faulk, Buhach Colony’s Ciara Esparza, El Capitan’s Morgan Saucedo, Golden Valley’s Maddy Stokes, Stefanie Ramirez and Kyle Diaz and Merced’s Ellie Alvarez and Danielle Torres Werra.
The second-team picks were Emily Moreno (Atwater), Abby Flores (BC), Skyler Dietz (BC), Lindsey Henderson (EC), Jenay Scott (EC), Barner, Nina Aranda (GV), Kaitlyn Arceo (Merced) and Hannah Isakow (Merced).
Los Banos’ Zevada wins state title
Los Banos senior wrestler Victoria Zevada went 3-0 at the 2021 California State Finals Invitational, which was held June 11-13th, to win the 191-pound state championship at the Fresno Fairgrounds.
Zevada won two decisions in her first two matches and then recorded a first-round pin in the finals against Canyon Springs Julianna Matias.
Tigers teammates Kiana Daniels (139 pounds) and Kiara Daniels both finished sixth in their respective divisions.
The boys also held their state finals last week and El Capitan’s Isaiah Serena (108) pounds became the first Gauchos wrestler to place at state in school history. Serena reached the semifinals and eventually finished sixth.
El Capitan’s Luis Mejia (115) and Merced’s Abram Granados both recorded top 12 finishes in their respective divisions.
This story was originally published June 19, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
