Softball All-Area: Bonita's Courtney Gano and Bishop Amat's Jesse Mendez take top honors

You know what I just thought? The article's title is "Meeting Expectations". Don't kids in class get C's if they meet expectations. Isn't that average? Come on now Fred.

huh!

Dear Fred,
I guess this marks the end of an error it's been an exciting four years of softball your dedication and hard work in covering the girls has been much appreciated. I'm going to miss the blogs but most of all I will miss my DD. playing in the San Dimas,Charter Oak and Bonita tournments. Fairwell my friend and thank you I hope someday you decide to put together another all freshmen team like you did in 2008.

It has been pointed out several times that we have a great crop of freshman softball players this season, and many of them are starting shortstops making a huge impact on top teams in the area. Most of these girls I've seen, some I haven't, but I've put together an All-Freshman team regardless. Don't hold me to it, most of it is observation, some based on stats, and some from browsing rosters. I posted stats next to the players that I had stats for. I'm sure you'll tell me who I've missed and who I need to pay attention to more. I don't know if we've ever done this before, so just have fun with it. Here it is, the All-Freshman team.

Above: No wonder coach Gano came back to coaching. His daughter Courtney can already swing and defend the hole at short with the best of them.

Tribune All-Freshman Team
Pitcher
Laura Banuelos, Rowland, 2.36 ERA
Catcher
Jacqueline Carlin, Bishop Amat, .222
Infielders
Courtney Gano, Los Altos, SS, .384
Stephany LaRosa, Diamond Bar, SS
Monica Gomez, Sierra Vista, 3B, .593
Samantha Nieves, South Hills, SS, .410
Jazzmin Arrant, Covina, SS
Mercedez Cundiff, Rowland, SS, .357
Outfielders
Jazmin Chavez, Northview, .243
Breeanna Sandoval, Bonita, .328.
Jen Gonzalez, Charter Oak, .379, Utility

Above: Diamond Bar's Stephany LaRosa showed some amazing range at short. She's already among the best in the valley.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Amanda Salazar, Los Altos, 3B, .130
Megan Parra, Diamond Ranch, C/Inf, .200
Stephani Dennis, Wilson, OF, .167
Melissa Rodriguez, Wilson, OF/Inf, .182
Julissa Castellanos, South El Monte, C/OF, .240
Salina Gonzalez, South El Monte, .286, OF/Catcher
Chelsea Dang, Rosemead, Inf/Pitcher
Veronica Ramirez, Azusa, P/3B
Alyssa Lozano, Sierra Vista, SS, .469
Ashley Solis, La Puente, SS, .320
Auryanna Earhardt, Duarte, SS/3B, .243
Leeza Urrutia, Duarte, 3B, .444
Vanessa Medrano, Duarte, 2B, .389
Justine Chavira, Walnut, INF, .313
Alora Tejeda, Diamond Bar, Utility
Alissa Young, St. Lucy's, .211
Amber Vernetti, St. Lucy's, .200
Aleena Avalos, San Dimas, OF
Courtney Hine, San Dimas, OF
Taylor Garcia, Baldwin Park, 3B
Eileen Arevalo, Baldwin Park, Pitcher
Ciara Liscano, Bonita, .295, Catcher

hey Fred, bla bla bla....

Fred,

I think you miss understood my comment my bad. What I meant was the weaker leagues were obvious in how their players performned in the all star game Meaning you got most of it right.

Just Askin, I have nothing to do with senior all-star selections (though next year our paper is finally get involved in baseball and softball).

There are some kids with better stats offensively and defensively that are not on the list. Being a senior helps and having a mom come on to the blog and parade her kid doesn't hurt either. Congratulations to all the fine athletes.

please,pretty please
now you can kiss my redneck azz! the sierra was overrated obviously by the score in the championship game lmao,.

just askin?, really?????

The Hacienda League was a joke, everybody out in first round except Bonita, they got lucky against wild-card Ontario, but got knocked out in 2nd round. Anisa........Pleeeze.....more like just beggin..

Fred,

We all know you don't have to justify squat to anybody as evidence in the senior all atar game it was obvious who the areas best were and what leagues were the strongest. With that said I do feel you missed two pitchers and if you were at the all star game you could see there was only two that could handle the gold level talent that was being thrown at them. The first is Lauren O'Leary who is'nt in our area so she can't be considered, but the second is the only other pitcher to handle the best hitters in the area and that was Carly Argyle who I beleive got snubbed this season by several? Lets just say most of the higher numbered division players got Lit at the all star game. Now the second pitcher I feel was missed and Fred maybe you could be so kind to answer this one how does a 1.34 era and 22-5 record not make at least second team aka(Anissa Sanchez) just askin fella?

One thing for sure, I like the softball All-Tribune picture over the baseball All-Tribune picture. What's up with light-up bat, my 2 year girl has one of those magic wand light-up bats.

To: Born and Raised SGV

She would probably ride the bench on the Sierra on Baseline teams. Be happy with what you got.

Funny in Sierra..

I disagree, our all-area teams are far less political than all-league teams. Remember, Nikki Wheatley didn't make first team All-Hacienda league girls basketball, and she was arguably the best player in not just league, but the entire area, which is why she was first team all-area with us. ... I think we got it right. Plus, league is only half the equation, how you do in non-league, tournaments and the CIF playoffs are the other half of the equation.

I agree you can make a great argument for Ramirez being on first team, but the three I selected at the position she is considered for had similar numbers on better teams, tougher leagues and divisions. But that's a good question, if she were at Amat, South Hills, Bonita or any other of our top high school softball programs would she be on first team? Nobody can really answer that without watching how it would unfold, but I do know she's a very talented travel ball player who would have fit in anywhere. Look, like I always say, these selections don't mean I made all the right choices, for every player selected you can make a strong argument with someone else.

Funny, 1st team All League girls don't make this list but Second team do? I'll take that award over yours any day. Those are from the League coaches that see the girls for at least 3 games and not by the Max preps (cooked)stats or teams/games featured in the Tribune. Some schools got almost no write ups in the paper until they made it deep into playoffs and they were one of the only team(s) still playing. The competition was tough and scoring was tough but the girls still came through not like teams/girls that didn't even make it to playoffs or made multiple errors in games not covered by tribune. Popularity contest again!

Fred said:
"For instance, is a .600 batting average in the Montview or Mission Valley equivalent to a .600 average in the Baseline or Sierra? Not even close."

The Valle Vista League had just as weak pitching as the Montview or Mission Valley Leagues, so batting average numbers coming out of that league are also skewed.

Just to be clear... She made the "second team list"

Let’s see here...
Veronica Ramirez is the one who had an article about her "skills", dominated on the field and won the league MVP, highly recommended from her coaches.... only made your second list… would she have made the first team if she would have attended AMAT?

Fred, I agree with almost everything you put out. Not this one.
I will agree to disagree.

Not true at all, Azusa's Veronica Ramirez, the Montview League MVP, is on this list and deservedly so. In baseball, Sierra League MVP Elias Novelo was on the all-area first team. They made it not just because of their batting averages, but their all-around games and what they meant to their teams. Plus, they came highly recommended by coaches I spoke with.

So what you’re saying is….
“you didn’t make my list because your parents can’t afford to place you in a private school or can’t afford to live in Sierra or baseline school districts (Upland, Claremont etc…), instead we live in La Puente or El Monte where the schools are much smaller” …Sounds Ridiculous? I DO understand there are many people who think like you do….but I am glad not everyone does…if they did, I would have never have had the pleasure of watching Jerry Rice (D2) play on Sunday’s.
I am sure glad RIO’s family have the money to send him to AMAT … I can’t imagine someone not recognizing his talents if he would have played in a Montview school.

Fred,

well last i checked 491 in the Sierra league was second best and 465 over all is second best and 1 error...Next

Uh...okay Fred, sorry I doubted your knowledge!
Thanks for all your hard work and the hard work of the rest of your staff!

Lisa, it's not talking smack, if you can't understand the drastic difference between level of competition, you will always feel the way you do.

There you go again...talking smack about the Montview League! Why does it matter? A player that puts up the stats should be awarded for their performances, regardless. What about those Montview League teams that play teams out of their league and out of their division?

Stats mean something, but not the be all, end all. You also have to ask coaches about defensive abilities, you have to consider level of competition. For instance, is a .600 batting average in the Montview or Mission Valley equivalent to a .600 average in the Baseline or Sierra? Not even close.

Whatever makes you feel better. These are individual awards aren't they? Then stats should mean something....

I don't think I hosed anyone, everyone on this list deserves to be here. You can always make an argument for someone else, but I feel comfortable with these selections after talking with lots of coaches and our staff. As for All-CIF, I don't pay much attention to that when selecting our teams -- in fact I can't, our teams are picked before CIF releases its teams.

WOW Fred,
I wont name any names but someone got hosed. 1st team all CIF, 80 point higher batting avg. but not good enough for your list. great job Fred......