Recently in Softball Category

With softball dropped from the 2012 Olympic Games, Crystl Bustos is ready to try baseball.

After winning Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004 and a silver medal this past summer in Beijing, Bustos, 31, is considering an offer to play Minor League baseball for the Tucson Toros, a professional independent team that was formerly a farm club for the Astros.

"I'm looking into it as a possibility. I think I can do it," said Bustos, who resides in Valencia and played high school softball at Canyon High.

Bustos said she has retired from USA Softball but might stick around as a coach.

"I left my cleats at home plate in Beijing. I knew it was going to be over for me whether we won or lost," Bustos said. "I just want to focus on other things. By the time softball would be in the Olympics again, I'd be 39, and that's stretching it a bit."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

With the early signing period looming, L.A. Baptist softball player Jazmin Rodriguez has committed to Long Island, where she'll join her friend Bianca Mejia, a former El Camino Real standout.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Kennedy softball pitcher Julieanne Martinez has been offered scholarships by Boise State and Louisiana Tech.

As a junior last season, the 5-foot-5 right-hander was 24-4 with a 0.56 ERA and 273 strikeouts in 176 innings.

gerry.gittelson@daIlynews.com

There have been complaints against Quartz Hill coach Ben Meyer, who has been replaced by former coach/current A.D. Coy Ray, according to the Antelope Valley Press.gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Already recognized by Cal-Hi Sports as its State Player of the Year and EA Sports as it National Player of the Year in softball, Valencia graduate Jessica Spigner was recently honored as girls' Div. I State Athlete of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports' Deputy Editor Mark Tennis.

Although the Tennessee-bound Spigner was nominated against several multi-sport athletes, her season as both a pitcher and hitter was one of the most impressive in state history. In addition to leading the state with 29 victories and striking out 222 batters with a 0.62 ERA, Spigner hit a team-leading .480 with 12 home runs -- most among area seniors -- 37 runs and 38 RBIs to contribute to the Vikings capturing back-to-back Southern Section Div. I championships.

Spigner pitched a four-hitter in a 3-0 victory over previously unbeaten Simi Valley in the Div. I final. She was recently recognized as a second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Teammate Madison Shipman, who has also committed to Tennessee, was an honorable mention selection.

Spigner had previously been honored as a first-team West Regional selection and Shipman a second-team honoree by Louisville Slugger and NFCA.

According to The Signal, Bob Shults is the new softball coach at West Ranch, replacing Cassandra Perez, who went 5-12 this past season.

Shults is the father of Jessica Shults, a returning standout at Foothill League rival Hart.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It only took a few days to learn that Valencia softball standout Jessica Spigner was named Southern Section Div. I Player of the Year after leading the Vikings (29-5-1) to a 3-0 victory May 31 over Simi Valley, securing back-to-back Div. I championships.

Spigner has since enjoyed an incredible run of postseason honors, receiving the Gatorade State Player of the Year award June 10 and being named Cal-Hi Sports' Ms. Softball State Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Finding out what other local softball talents received postseason honors wasn't as easy, since the information is no longer posted on the Southern Section Web site and has to be obtained from division representatives.

However, the news was delivered Thursday that Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta junior Baillie Kirker and Viewpoint of Calabasas junior Michelle Lesser joined Spigner in being selected player of the year in their divisions. Kirker, who was the catalyst for the Falcons' 29-0 start and appearance in the semifinals, shared the Div. III award with La Serna of Whittier pitcher Holly Consterdine and Lesser was recognized in Div. VII after leading the Patriots (19-5) to their first championship.

Kirker, who has already verbally committed to Arizona, set the Southern Section single-season record with 18 home runs, hitting .673 with 47 runs, 66 RBIs and a 1.409 slugging percentage. Although C.V. won a Div. 3-A championship in 1986 with Heather Lindstrom in the circle and advanced to the 2000 semifinals with star pitcher Meredith Cervenka leading the way, Kirker is the first C.V. player to be selected division player of the year.

Lesser demonstrated the same versatility as Spigner, dominating in the pitcher's circle in addition to being Viewpoint's leading hitter.

Lesser (13-4) won her last 10 decisions, including a one-hitter in the May 31 division final in the Patriots' 2-1 victory over Liberty League rival Faith Baptist of Canoga Park. She also hit .550 with eight home runs, 55 RBIs and 48 runs scored.

Valencia softball standout Jessica Spigner has already received her share of awards this spring after leading the Vikings to their second straight Southern Section Div. I championship, joining former teammate Jordan Taylor -- who recently completed her freshman season at Michigan -- in being selected Div. I Player of the Year and Gatorade State Player of the Year.

Spigner matched Taylor's success from the 2007 season by completing the trifecta with her latest honor as Cal-Hi Sports' Ms. Softball State Player of the Year.

The Tennessee-bound Spigner, who won 29 games with a 0.62 ERA and 222 strikeouts in the circle in addition to hitting .480 with 12 home runs, 38 RBIs and 37 runs scored, wasn't the only Valencia player to be honored Wednesday. Shortstop Madison Shipman, who has already given a verbal commitment to follow Spigner to Tennessee, was selected State Sophomore of the Year after hitting .403 with 29 runs scored and 23 RBIs.

Taylor and Spigner became the first athletes from the same team to be selected the state's top player in consecutive years since Righetti of Santa Maria's Tracy Compton (1981) and Kandy Foust (1982).

Spigner is only the fourth area player to be recognized in the 35-year history of the award, joining Hart of Newhall's Samantha Ford (1984), Simi Valley's Sara Griffin (1993 and '94) and Taylor.

Shipman's recognition is even more impressive considering that neither Spigner or Taylor were selected the state's top sophomore.

El Camino Real of Woodland Hills' center fielder Dani Gilmore was selected State Freshman of the Year after setting City Section records for a ninth-grader with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs. Gilmore, the only freshman on the All-City roster, also added 47 runs to help the Conquistadores reach the City final.

Viewpoint of Calabasas just took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning against Faith Baptist.

Kelsey Kaplan hit a slow roller to first base and Michelle Lesser came home to score after leading off with a triple.

Both Valencia and Simi Valley won semifinal games and will meet up this weekend for the Div. I championship at Barber Park in Irvine.

Valencia won 3-2 at Santiago of Corona and Simi Valley held off Norco 1-0.

Valencia won last years championship, beating Hart of Newhall.

Simi Valley comes into the contest undefeated at 31-0.

It should be a great game to say the least.