Robinson, Contreras receive 3CFCA honors this week; Villanueva, Toy garner accolades last week
SAN BERNARDINO - Compared to their counterparts in baseball, a softball athlete needs to be versatile.
With rosters sometimes less than half the size of their counterparts, softball teams need players who can do everything – hit, pitch, play the field. You name it, they do it to help their team win.
As such, this week’s spotlight shines on players in the state are players who did a little bit of everything to help their teams pick up some much needed victories.
First is College of the Desert’s Lauren Robinson. The Roadrunners only had one doubleheader against San Bernardino Valley on their schedule last week, but Robinson made sure they got two wins. In the two games, she went 7-for-8 at the plate, with three runs batted in, two doubles and a run scored. She picked up the victory in game one, only walking two. In game two, she moved to first base, recording 11 putouts and picking up an assist to keep stop a runner from scoring at home.
Robinson is a Covid sophomore, and returned to COD this spring to continue her playing career. Coach Garrett Estrin pointed out that she hasn’t just done the job on the field, but in the classroom as well, saying that she will be completing her bachelor’s degree this spring.
It has been a rough season for Southwestern, but the Jaguars picked up a big win last Saturday when they knocked off this week’s state No. 14 Cerritos 4-3 in 10 innings. That win came with a lot of help from Katalina Contreras.
The freshman went the distance in the circle for the Jaguars, striking out five and only walking two. Meanwhile, at the plate, she was 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the victory. For the season, she is hitting .459 with five home runs and a .770 slugging percentage.
Some of the other notable performances from last week:
Jasmine Rodriguez (Golden West): In four games, the Rustlers’ leadoff hitter went 10-for-15 with two triples, two homers, six runs and seven runs batted in.
Rylee McDaniel (Oxnard): She was 9-16 with four homers, three triples, and a double in five games last week. She scored nine times and had seven RBI. She was also intentionally walked three times and drew six more walks to reach base 18 times in 22 plate appearances. She also had 10 assists and 17 putouts over 37 innings.
Sierra Banuelos (San Bernardino Valley): She was 7-for-14 as the Wolverines went 3-2 in a five-game week. She scored four times, walking twice and adding an RBI.
VILLANUEVA, TOY RECEIVE 3CFCA ACCOLADES
SAN BERNARDINO - Consistency is a hallmark in a great offensive player in any sport. And in softball – where even the best players are statistically more likely to fail than succeed on a regular basis – having a perfect week at the plate is going to give your team a chance to win.
Such was the case for Santiago Canyon’s Samantha Villanueva last week.
The sophomore infielder was a perfect 6-for-6 last week as the state’s 20th ranked team picked up a pair of wins over Orange Coast and Saddleback.
Hitting out of the No. 3 spot in the order, Villanueva had a pair of doubles, five runs batted in and four runs scored. In the two games, she was perfect in the field at shortstop, helping the Hawks turn two double plays.
For the season, she is eighth in the state with .540 batting average, second with 34 hits, third with 29 runs batted in and second with 27 runs scored.
Consistency also helps in the circle, as a pitcher can completely take over the flow of a game.
Last week, Ashlee Toy of Cosumnes River was tough to beat.
The sophomore picked up three wins – two of the shutouts, the other in relief – as the state’s 12th ranked team swept the week.
In her first start, she struck out seven in a five-inning shutout, then followed that up in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Modesto by throwing a three-hitter, striking out 11. In the back half of the doubleheader, she entered the game in the fifth after Modesto got the tying run to third in a 1-0 game. While the Pirates were able to tie it, the Hawks scored twice in the bottom half of the inning, and held on for a 4-2 win. She struck out three in 2.2 innings in the final win.
For the season, Toy is 8-2 with four complete games, having struck out 61 and posting a 1.37 earned run average.
Others considered:
Shelbie Valencia, Bakersfield College: She was 6-for-10 with a home run, seven runs scored, 10 RBI, three walks and three stolen bases.
Eileen Lopez, San Bernardino Valley: In a pair of games last Saturday, Lopez was 5-for-6 with three doubles, three stolen bases and four runs scored.
Vinnie Robles, Santa Ana College: In three games, she was 6-for-8 with two doubles, two runs, two stolen bases and two RBI.
Maddie Grissom, West Valley: In four games, she hit .443, with three doubles, one triple, a home run, eight RBI and two stolen bases, while posting a perfect week in the field.
Taylor Folwer, San Jose: In four games, she hit three home runs – one a grand slam – posting seven RBI and five runs scored.
Brianna Duncan (P), Fresno City: In three games, she threw eight innings, striking out 14, allowing one earned run and picked up a pair of victories.
Samantha Islas (P), Cerritos College: Islas threw three complete games, going 2-1 on the week, with one of those wins a one-hit shutout that snapped Mt. San Antonio College’s 42-game conference winning streak. She racked up 17 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
Emily Rosas (P), Santa Ana: She pitched 17.2 inning on the week, allowing only nine hits and striking out 16 while picking up a pair of victories.
Amaya Sutton (P), Sierra College: Sutton picked up a pair of conference wins for Sierra, allowing six hits, one walk, no earned runs and striking out 24 in the two games.
Shelby White (P), West Valley: Posted a 2-0 record, while only giving up three hits and one walk. She struck out 15 in 10 innings (facing only 27 batters), and combined on a no hitter with Rhiannon Underhill against Chabot.
(Bill Norris, 3CFCA)