Softball All-Area: Bishop Amat’s Lexi Gonzalez named player of the year

San Gabriel Valley Tribune 2013 All-Area Softball Photo Gallery
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Player of the Year: LEXI GONZALEZ, Bishop Amat, Sr.
By Steve Ramirez
TRIBUNE SOFTBALL ALL AREA ONLINE: When it came to hitting a softball consistently and with power, no player in the area in recent years did it better than Bishop Amat High School’s Alexis Gonzalez.
The recently graduated senior was the glue and key cog that allowed the Lancers to win back-to-back Del Rey League championships and make decent runs in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

For her efforts, Gonzalez, a catcher, is Tribune Softball Player of the Year.
Gonzalez, who hit .513 over the past two seasons in leading the Lancers to a 46-12 record, hit .532 with six home runs and 34 RBIs this season. She also had 19 extra base hits. A year ago, she hit .495 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs.
“I’ve always set my standards high,” said Gonzalez, who signed with Division I Oregon State of the Pac-12 Conference. “Coming in as a freshman, there were a lot of goals I wanted to reach by my senior year. I think I accomplished most of them.”
The one missing was a CIF-SS title, although the Lancers came close, advancing to the Division 3 semifinals before losing to eventual champion Chino Hills last season, and making it to the second-round this season, losing to traditional-power La Serna.
But Gonzalez, who was Del Rey League MVP and first team All-CIF-SS Division 3, leaves La Puente with no regrets.
“Overall, we had a pretty good run,” she said. “The preseason was great, the regular season was great. We just fell a little short during the playoffs. It happens to the best.
“I think our biggest challenge was that we were (cruising) through our league, so we took it that it would be the same, and we were lackadaisical and it bit us in the second round. The first game was a scare and the second game, it just didn’t happen.”
Now she’s looking to take that same attitude to help Oregon State reach unchartered territory and a possible run at a national title.
“Every year the program has been making a positive turn,” She said. “They are bettering the program. Hopefully in my five years, we’ll be able to accomplish something special.”

Coach of the Year: JEFF BUTLER, NORTVIEW
The 2013 season will go down as the best in Northview High School history.
The Vikings went 21-8 and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section divisional semifinals for the first time.
For his efforts, Butler, in his sixth season leading the Black and Gold, is Tribune Softball coach of the Year.
As usual, he reflected the success to his team.
“I can remember telling them in September that this season could be really special,” Butler said of the Vikings’ run to the Division 5 Final Four. Finally, when we got to the playoffs, they believed me.”
The Vikings were led by Jocelyn Marquez, who hit .554 with seven home runs and had four in the postseason, and twin sisters Erinn and Sarina Jaramillo, who combined for 69 RBIs. Marquez had a home run in the quartrfinals to key the Vikings’ 5-4 victory over Barstow.
“It was a really great run,” Butler said. “It felt great, but especially for Errin and Surina. They are two of the best players we’ve ever had. They can leave knowing they accomplished something no one here ever did before.”

FIRST TEAM
PATRICIA PARKS, CHINO HILLS, pitcher, Jr.
The junior played helped the Huskies to their second consecutive Sierra League title and a trip to the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals. She was arguably the Huskies top hitter and their ace in the circle, keying Chino Hills to a 25-8 record. Parks was first-team All-Sierra League.

SABRINA ANGUIANO, BISHOP AMAT, PITCHER, Sr.
The senior was arguably the area’s top pitcher after helping the Lancers to a 22-5 record, and the second round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. She was 18-2, with a 1.15 ERA. Anguiano had 108 strikeouts in 127 innings and held opposing batters to a .179 average. She was Del Rey League Pitcher of the Year.

JANELL WHEATON, SAN DIMAS, CATCHER, Jr.
The junior catcher was arguably the top hitter in the area. She hit .609 and had 39 RBIs to help the Saints to a 22-8 record and another Valle Vista League title. San Dimas advanced two rounds in the CIF-SS Division 5 quarterfinals. Wheaton also had 21 extra-base hits, with 12 doubles. She also had six triples to lead the Saints.

ERINN JARAMILLO, NORTHVIEW, INF, Sr.
The senior second basemen will likely go down as one of the top players in the program’s history after leading the Vikings to their first trip to the CIF-SS divisonal semifinals. Jaramillo helped Northview to a 21-8 record by hitting .520 with 43 RBIs. She also had 20 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. She was All-Valle Vista League.

CORRINA LISCANO, BONITA, INF, Sr.
The senior third baseman led the Bearcats to a 23-7 record and their second Hacienda League title in three seasons. She hit .534 and had 23 RBIs as the Bearcat advanced two rounds in the Division 2 playoffs. Lizcano scored 20 runs and had 12 extra-base hits, including five home runs. She was All-Hacienda League and All-CIF-SS Division 2.

LEXI ROBLES, SOUTH HILLS, INF, Sr.
The senior shortstop was a key cog for the Huskies, who recovered from a slow start to finish tied for second in the Sierra League and advance two rounds in the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. Robles hit .429 and scored 26 runs. She also had 13 RBIs and 15 extra-base hits. She was first team All-Sierra League.

SAMANTHA VALADEZ, CHARTER OAK, INF, Sr.
The senior third baseman was one of the top offensive producers in the area. Valadez hit .447 with 41 RBIs. She also scored 25 runs to help the Chargers finish 23-7 and enjoy one of their better postseason runs with a trip to the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals. She was first team All-Sierra League.

ALYSSA MENDEZ, CHINIO HILLS, INF, Jr.
The junior third baseman played a key role in the Huskies’ run to a second consecutive Sierra League crown en route to advancing to the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals. She ranked among the area leaders in several offensive categories. Mendez was Sierra League co-MVP and first team All-CIF-SS Division 2.

AMANDA SANCHEZ, BISHOP AMAT, OF, Jr.
The junior was a hitting machine and had a big role in the Lancers going 22-5 and winning another Del Rey League title. She hit .569 and had 30 RBIs. Sanchez also had 14 extra-base hits, including six home runs. She scored 28 runs. She was first team All-Del Rey League after helping Bishop Amat go 12-0 in league play.

JOCELYN MARQUEZ, NORTHVIEW, OF, Jr.
The junior outfielder saved her best for last, helping Northview into the CIF-SS divisional semifinals for the first time, with two home runs and three RBIs in the quarterfinals. Marquez finished the season with a .554 average and 24 RBIs. She also scored 47 runs and had 14 extra-base hits, including seven home runs.

NICKI SPRAGUE, CHARTER OAK, OF, Sr.
The senior outfielder was the spark for the Chargers, who were 23-7 and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals. Sprague hit .557 and had 33 RBIs. She also scored 37 runs and had 24 extra-base hits, with 18 doubles and five home runs. She was co-Sierra League MVP with Chino Hills’ Alyssa Mendez and first team All-CIF-SS Division 2.

SECOND TEAM
Pitcher — Bianca Cockrell, Bonita, Sr.
Pitcher — Bethie. Celaya, San Dimas, Sr.
Catcher — Kaylea Snaer, Rowland, Sr.
Infielder — Liza Liddell, Bonita, Sr.
Infielder — Ashley Diaz, South El Monte, So.
Infielder — Dani Wilson, Diamond Bar, Sr.
Infielder — Sarina Jaramillo, Northview, Sr.
Outfield — Larissa Munoz, Bishop Amat, Sr.
Outfield — Brittny Zepeda, South El Monte, Jr.
Utility — Brooke Clemetson, Charter Oak, Jr.
Utility — Franki Caudillo, Sierra Vista, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
AYALA — Morgan Ettinger, P, Sr.
BISHOP AMAT — Victoria Saucedo, Inf, Sr.
BONITA — Vienna Benavides, Inf, Jr.
SAN DIMAS — Deenah San Luis, Inf., Sr., & Carlie Salm, Inf., Fr.
SOUTH EL MONTE — Mia Luques, P, So.
SOUTH HILLS — C. Van Hemelryck, P, So.
WEST COVINA — Alex Rodriguez, Inf., Jr.
WILSON — Serena Meehan, Inf., So.

TOP 20
1. Bishop Amat (22-5)
2. Chino Hills (25-8)
3. San Dimas (22-8)
4. Northview (21-8)
5. Charter Oak (23-7)
6. Bonita (23-7)
7. South Hills (19-8)
8. Ayala (19-8)
9. Sierra Vista (19-5)
10. S. El Monte (17-6)
11. Diamond Bar (12-15)
12. Duarte (18-5)
13. Wilson (14-10)
14. West Covina (14-11)
15. Arroyo (12-9)
16. Southlands (17-5)
17. La Puente 12-7)
18. Covina (11-14)
19. Los Altos (9-14)
20. Dia. Ranch (13-13)

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Del Rey: Bishop Amat
Hacienda: Bonita
Mission Valley: South El Monte
Montview: Sierra Vista, Duarte
Sierra: Chino Hills
Valle Vista: San Dimas

GAME OF THE YEAR
Northview 5, Barstow 4
Sarina Jaramillo went 3 for 3 with two doubles and Jocelyn Marquez hit her fourth home run of the playoffs as the Vikings advanced to the CIF-Southern Section semifinals for the first time by beating the Aztecs in a Division 5 quarterfinal. Northview lost to eventual champ Aquinas in the semifinals.

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