Pacheco High School senior is Sun-Star Softball Player of the Year after stellar season
With two softball coaches as parents, Pacheco High School senior Abi Pikas grew up around the sport.
She received her first softball glove when she was a baby. It was pink and a gift from the Merrill West High School softball players who her father Charlie was coaching at the time.
“The first glove she used was probably when she was 3 or 4 years old,” Charlie Pikas said.
“Our life is softball,” Abi Pikas added. “I grew up around softball. I’m never not around a softball field. It’s like a second home for us. I’m always catching a game with my dad.”
It’s not a surprise that Abi Pikas became a softball star at Pacheco. The Panthers senior was named the Western Athletic Conference MVP this season after finishing with a .613 batting average on the season to go along with 48 runs — which ranked third in the Sac-Joaquin Section — and 20 RBIs.
Her 69 stolen bases ranked second in the state.
Abi Pikas is also the Merced Sun-Star Softball Player of the Year.
She set eight school records during her softball career, including career marks in hits, stolen bases, doubles and runs scored and single-season records in those same categories.
“I think the record that means the most to me is the stolen base record because I know how much work went into that,” Abi Pikas said. “I tried to take a base whenever I could.”
She stole her 69 bases this season without getting thrown out once.
“I think that’s the most glaring stat,” said Charlie Pikas, who coached her at Pacheco. “To go 69 for 69 a lot of things have to go right... She probably stole third base 20 times this year and that’s a short throw.”
Abi Pikas was also named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Western Region first team for the third consecutive season.
“I see her every day and I see her ability,” Charlie Pikas said. “When other people say something, I think maybe she is a special kid. It’s heartwarming when others see her abilities too.”
Track
Ciarra Cabrera-Martinez, Golden Valley
Golden Valley High School sophomore Ciarra Cabrera-Martinez remembers playing tag and another version of tag, called sharks and minnows, in elementary school.
Cabrera-Martinez loved to run.
“I think I was in fifth grade when I heard on the intercom about tryouts for the track team,” she said. “It seemed fun.”
Cabrera-Martinez has been running every since and played a key role in helping lead Golden Valley to the Central California Conference championship.
After qualifying for the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet in four events, Cabrera-Martinez is the Merced Sun-Star Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
“I enjoy that running makes you stronger and faster, but not just physically, it makes you stronger mentally, too,” Cabrera-Martinez said. “Running gives you a break from everything.”
Cabrera-Martinez earned a lot of points for the Cougars this season as one of the top 800- and 1600-meter competitors in the CCC this season. She was also part of the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams.
Cabrera-Martinez finished sixth in the 1600 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Finals with a person best time of 5 minutes, 8.12 seconds. She also finished 12th in the 800 finals with a time of 2:23.58.
“I was most proud of my mile time,” she said. “That took a lot of effort to get that and I’m glad I got that time. I didn’t know I could do that, but I did it.”
Cabrera-Martinez’s success this season will fuel her to do even better next year.
“It’s going to motivate me a lot,” Cabrera-Martinez said. “I’m going to try to make it state next year.”
Swimming
Macie Drum, Buhach Colony
Macie Drum considers herself a water polo player who also competes in swimming.
The Buhach Colony High School senior excels in the pool.
Drum helped the Thunder win the Central California Conference championship and she also picked up individual CCC titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.
Drum is the Merced Sun-Star Girls Swimmer of the Year.
Drum transferred from Stone Ridge Christian, where she was a Sun-Star All-Area selection in swimming as a freshman last year.
Drum came over and helped the Thunder win a share of the CCC water polo championship this fall. She then played a key role in helping BC win a swimming championship.
“Swimming is something I have to push myself in,” Drum said. “The swim meets are a lot of fun, but I definitely enjoy water polo a little more.”
Drum won the 50 freestyle at the CCC championships with a time of 25.36 seconds and she touched the wall first in the 100 freestyle in 56.03 seconds.
“I had to change my mental approach this year,” Drum said. “Last year I tried to tell myself to go faster but I didn’t think I could. This year I really sucked it up and got past that.”
Drum competed in the frosh/soph division at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet and her 50 freestyle time of 25.29 seconds was the 11th fastest time from a varsity or frosh/soph competitor. Drum also turned in a time of 56.51 in the 100 freestyle.
The highlight of the season for Drum was celebrating a CCC championship with her teammates.
“That meant a lot because as a team we worked hard for that all season,” she said. “We knew El Capitan would be our main competition. We had to work at practice every day. We all wanted to win.”
All-Area Teams
Softball
Madison Hiler, Atwater
Chloe Hughes, Mariposa
Breann Raney, Dos Palos
Cali Cole, Stone Ridge Christian
Bree Barner, Golden Valley
Danyelle Castillo, Atwater
Jenay Scott, El Capitan
Maisen Pridell, Le Grand
Haiden Pridell, Le Grand
Morgan Saucedo, El Capitan
Mia Hendrickson, Atwater
Aleatha Buchner, Merced
Moxie Barton, Los Banos
Ciarra Esparza, Buhach Colony
Maria Barillas, Golden Valley
Hailey Haynes, Chowchilla
Hailee Moore, Los Banos
Yanely Castillo, Pacheco
Hailey Volkmar, Chowchilla
Matalie Greenwood, Los Banos
Swimming
Chloe Dingeldein, El Capitan
Brooklyn Ramsey, El Capitan
Abby Perez, Buhach Colony
Kyley Abril, Buhach Colony
Elli Metcalf, El Capitan
Sofia Belerique, Hilmar
Makayla Hemphill, El Capitan
Samantha Slocum, Merced
Track
Lilly Brewer, Hilmar
Crystal Hernandez, Los Banos
Jordin McDowell, Atwater
Sidney Logsdon, Hilmar
Jacqueline Sanchez, Buhach Colony
Kyndell Johnston, Hilmar
Shelby Shelton, El Capitan
Elsa Van Dyke, Merced
Gianna Veldhuis, El Capitan
Alana Ornelas, Golden Valley
Valentina Moreno, Golden Valley
Jayden Leeper, Buhach Colony
Amyra Navarrette, Golden Valley
McKayla Aiken, Hilmar
Kiley Lewis, Livingston
Kyah McKellar, Atwater
Jordynn Middleton, El Capitan
This story was originally published July 6, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
