2011 NorCal soFtball
March
10 Players to Watch (listed alphabetically) SHELBY WISDOM, P, SR., ELK GROVE — Led Thundering Herd to a section title with a 0.54 ERA and 269 strikeouts while also batting .338. ELIZABETH PEREZ, P, JR., JOHANSENMOdestO — The ace of the No.5-ranked team in the state to start the year, Perez was 22-4 with 0.62 ERA in 2010. ALLY CARDA, P, SR., PLEASANT GROVEeLK GrOVe — UCLA-bound, Carda struck our 331 batters en route to an 18-6 record and 0.54 ERA. She also hit a robust .512. KASEY STANCHECK, P, SR., OAK RIDGEeL dOradO hILLs — Stancheck was all-state after posting 25 wins to lead the Trojans to a fifth-straight section title. MALENA PADILLA, OF, SR., FREEDOMOaKLey — Will be the backbone of the Falcons’ offense this year after hitting .482 with 27 RBI and 30 runs scored in 2010.
which Wisdom and the Thundering Herd beat three times last year en route to the SJS title. Carda had 18 wins last year, an 0.54 ERA and a remarkable 311 strikeouts in 169 innings. “She’s definitely been my best friend since the eighth grade and she definitely helps push me,” Wisdom said. “We have a very friendly rivalry.” Wisdom isn’t the power pitcher Carda is, instead relying on six pitches. Her favorites are the screwball and change-up. Everything she throws possesses remarkable movement. Through two games, she hadn’t allowed an earned run and has 23 strikeouts and two walks in 12 innings. As talented as she is on the mound, Alexander said Wisdom is an equally good teammate. “She’s a great kid,” he said. “She’s not loud, but business-like on the mound. She’s a competitor with a capital C. We all have come to know that glare when she’s not happy.” She was nothing but happy when the Thundering Herd defeated Johansen-Modesto 6-3 in the second-game of a doubleheader to claim the SJS title last May 28. “I was kind of in shock when it happened,” Wisdom said of winning the title, the team’s first since 2004. “I believed in our team, but when the moment finally came I just remember jumping up in the air, hugging my catcher and then it was all a blur. It still seems unbelievable.” Elk Grove was beaten earlier in the day 6-5 to force a deciding game. Wisdom had eight strikeouts and a walk and gave up three earned runs in the title game. But she also had two hits, including a two-run homer. “She’s not a tall, dominating figure on the mound in the mold of the Cat Osterman,” Alexander said. “But she’s a flat-out athlete. If she wasn’t pitching, she’d play shortstop. She
RAEANN GARZA, P, SO., JAMES LOGANUnIOn CIty — Just a freshman, Garza was the winning pitcher in the Colts’ 4-3 sectionchampionship victory over Freedom last June. DANIELLE HENDERSON, 3B, SR., sheLdOn-saCraMentO — Already committed to join her older sister Jolene at Cal, Henderson boasted a .510 average with 30 RBI last season. VANESSA ALVAREZ, P, JR., ARCHBISHOP MItty-san JOse — It might be hard to top her sophomore campaign of 293 strikeouts, a 0.15 ERA and a 24-2 record.
JANELL LARONT, P, SR., VALLEY CHRIStIan-san JOse — A dual-threat, Laront had 26 wins in the circle while leading the team with a .419 average and 32 RBI.
MEGAN AVERITT, OF, SR., ALAMEDA — We don’t know if she speaks softly, but we know she carries a big stick. Averitt hit .610 with 47 hits and 35 runs scored in 2010.
hits the ball a ton, runs like the wind, she does it all. But she’s definitely a pitcher. She’s our pitcher and that’s what she’ll do in college.” Center fielder Jordan Brenner is another college player — she’ll play next year at San Francisco State. She was the team’s leading hitter last year at .449. “She runs like the wind and is a great slap hitter,” Alexander said. “She’s got a great arm from the outfield.” Other returning starters are catcher Alycia Fields and third baseman Carlee Gray, both juniors. “(Fields) stepped up as a freshman and just got better and better,” Alexander said. “Carlee is another third-year player who is very versatile.” Gray moves over from first base, which is now being shared by junior Alexis Saborio, sophomore Erikka Burke and versatile senior Kimberly Wilburn. With Harris and Brenner holding down left and center, right is being shared by either Wilburn, sophomore Sarah Hannah or senior Jessica Venturelli. Talented Morgan Evangelista, a catcher, joins Pires and Kaylor as the team’s only ninth-graders. “We lost four really good players from last year, so we really need to push harder this year,” Wisdom said. “Of course we have a target on our backs now. Everyone wants to beat us. But our goal is strong and true – to get back to Wednesday night.” Wednesday is traditionally the night SJS championship games are played. Wisdom welcomes the target and has embraced the national rankings. “I think we deserve it, but it should only make us more determined to keep it,” she said. “We can’t sit back. We have to keep pushing forward.” ✪
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NorCal top 15 SportStars’ preseason Northern California softball rankings. Teams from the Central Section are not considered. Records are from 2010. 1. Elk Grove .............................. 25-4-1 2. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove .......24-7 3. James Logan-Union City ........25-5 4. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills.......27-5 5. Johansen-Modesto ..................28-6 6. Sheldon-Sacramento ........... 20-9-1 7. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose ......28-3 8. Valley Christian-San Jose ........25-5 9. Freedom-Oakley ......................24-3 10. California-San Ramon ...........16-6 11. Pioneer-San Jose ...................23-9 12. Pinole Valley-Pinole ...............21-7 13. Concord ..................................24-3 14. Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park ..22-5 15. Heritage-Brentwood .............17-10
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Mark your calendars! Key tournament/showcase dates to note March 10-12 — Queen of the Mountain, Willow Pass Park, Concord March 10-12 — Victory Preseason Tournament, multiple sites, Elk Grove/Sacramento March 18-19, 25-26 — Charlie Miguel Invitational, Pioneer HS, San Jose March 31-April 2 — Standley Cup, Oliver Park, Hayward April 1-2 — 27th Annual Napa Tournament, Napa HS April 7-9 — Livermore Stampede, Robertson Park, Livermore April 14-16 — Reed Easter Tournament, Shadow Mountain Park, Reno, NV. April 15-16 — Stephanie LeDoux Tournament, Roseville City Parks, Roseville April 28-30 — NorCal Classic, various sites, Tracy
March 10, 2011
SportStars™
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