Livingston High trio earn top Trans-Valley League awards after special season for Wolves
It was a special season for the Livingston High football team. The Wolves earned their first home playoff game since 1990 and advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinals.
Leading the way was a four-year starter at quarterback in Rocklin Baptista, who was named the Trans-Valley League Outstanding Offensive Player.
It’s going to be different next year for Livingston coach Alex Gonzalez without Baptista to count on.
“It’s going to be a hard situation,” Gonzalez said. “Of course we have other players coming up but Rocklin was really special. He was special mentally, physically and with his leadership and work ethic.”
Baptista passed for 1,546 yards and 21 touchdowns this season to go along with 708 rushing yards and eight more scores.
Wolves teammate Carlos Baez was named the Outstanding Offensive Back after rushing for 1,197 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“We haven’t had a true running back in a couple years and Carlos was a true running back,” Gonzalez said. “He helped balance out our passing game and Rocklin’s rushing game. Carlos really helped open up our offense.”
Livingston nose guard Adrian Perez was named the TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman and Hilmar junior Derek Taylor was selected as the TVL’s Outstanding Receiver hauling in 39 catches for 872 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Escalon Defensive end/tight end EJ Lewis was selected as the TVL Most Valuable Player after leading the Cougars to the league championship.
Escalon’s Nathan Chavez was named Outstanding Offensive Lineman and Cougars teammate Rykers Peters was named Outstanding Linebacker.
Ripon’s Ethan Day was named Outstanding Defensive Player and Indians teammate Adam Berrera was named Outstanding Defensive Back.
The all-TVL first team selections on offense included: linemen Kevin Parra (Hilmar), Roy Purlee (Hughson), Emiliano Acosta (Ripon), Chavez and Abram Nisse (Livingston), running backs Baez, Logan Anderson (Escalon), Will Nutcher (Hughson), receivers Owen Nash (Escalon), Taylor, Nolan Young (Ripon) and quarterback Donovan Rozevink (Escalon).
The first-team defensive selections were: linemen Perez, Ryan Lewis (Escalon), Landon Gomes (Hilmar), Colin Speed (Ripon), Tate Christensen (Escalon), outside linebackers/defensive ends Peters, Young, Blake Westmoreland (Hilmar), inside linebackers Broc Perry (Hilmar), Caden Gonsavles (Escalon), Caleb Johnston (Ripon), Jairo Hernandez (Livingston), defensive backs Matthew Baptista (Escalon), Lane Caroso (Hilmar), Flavio Aguilar (Livingston), Berrera, Seth Harcrow (Hughson) and kicker/punter Andre Alves (Hilmar).
The second-team offensive selections were: linemen Alex Casillas (Livingston) Andre Rasberry (Livingston), David Burciago (Hughson), Andrew Fletcher (Riverbank), Fritz Troesh (Hilmar), Gomes, Jesus Ontiveros (Modesto Christian), Sebastian Snow (Escalon), Christensen, Hunter Smith (Hughson), running backs Perry, Westmoreland, JP Lial (Escalon), Baptista, receivers Everett Hunter (Modesto Christian), Jeremiah Bernard (Modesto Christian) ad Aguilar.
The defensive second-team selections were: linemen Rasberry, Acosta, Eric Rasmussen (Hughson), Jackson Tigert (Riverbank), Taylor, Saul Hernandez (Hilmar), outside linebackers/defensive ends Liam Bridgeford (Hughson), Matt Espinola (Hughson), Alex Nisperos (Riverbank), Jamin Miller (Escalon), Luke Cox (Hilmar), Ray Corral (Modesto Christian), Alex Casillas (Livingston), inside linebackers Daniel Espinoza (Ripon), Leovanni Ochoa (Ripon), Haidyn Herrin (Hughson), Ethan Jones (Hughson), Ontiveros, Omar Baez (Livingston) and defensive backs Jason Pimentel (Hilmar), Tyler Medina (Escalon), Bernard, Jordan Alvarez (Livingston), Anthony Lopez (Hughson), Lawrence Diaz (Riverbank) and Jack Manning (Ripon).
The second-team kicker was Escalon’s Alfonzo Gonzalez.
