3CFCA announces its first Player and Pitcher of the Week
SAN BERNARDINO - The No. 3 San Jose Community College softball team has been close to unhittable so far in the 2022 season.
Last Thursday, sophomore pitcher Jessell Lewis made sure of it.
Meanwhile, anyone hoping to slow down state No. 5 Palomar is going to have to find ways to get Taylor Harrison out.
Lewis and Harrison were chosen as the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association pitcher and player of the month for February based on nominations provided by coaches.
Lewis (Silver Creek HS) has been tormenting opposing batters this season, posting an 8-1 record with an ERA of 0.36 in 13 appearances for the Jaguars. Last Thursday, she tossed her first no-hitter for San Jose, as the Jaguars beat Cabrillo College 10-0 in five innings. She previously had two one-hitters and one two-hitter to her credit in the circle this season. Against Cabrillo, she faced one batter over the minimum in the game shortened to five innings by the run rule. She struck out six on 47 pitches.
Overall, the Jaguars have posted a 15-1 record in the first month-plus of the season, as their opponents are only hitting .213 against them.
The Palomar offense has been a juggernaut this season, scoring 112 runs in 14 games. Harrison, a sophomore outfielder, has had a hand in 30 of them.
Harrison (Rancho Bernardo HS) has been battering opposing pitchers through the first month of the season. She entered March hitting .526, with a .574 on-base percentage while slugging .737. Seven of her 20 hits are for extra bases and she has scored 12 times while driving in another 18, while swiping six bases.
In the Comets’ win over No. 1 Mt. SAC last week, she had a pair of RBI to cap off a week that saw her hit .600 in four games.
Other players considered
Maddy Ribeiro, San Jose: Ribeiro has five home runs, 24 runs batted in and is batting .462 with a .904 slugging percentage on the season. Four of her homers have come in the last five games, including a grand slam and a walk-off three-run blast against Cabrillo.
America Maples, West Valley: The pitcher has compiled a 4-1 record, allowing only four earned runs over 32.1 innings pitch. She has struck out 30 en route to a 0.87 earned run average.
Farrah Steffany, Palomar: The pitcher is 5-0 in nine appearances for the Comets, including a no-hitter against San Bernardino Valley with five strikeouts. She followed up that performance with a three-hit shutout of Fullerton. She has an ERA of 1.17 on the season.
Sydney Heming, West Valley: The infielder was a tough out in the first full month of the season, posting a .590 batting average, with 12 hits and six RBI.
Violet Salazar, Chaffey: The dual threat has helped the Panthers open the season with an 11-5 record. In the circle, she is 5-2 with 29 strikeouts in 34 innings. And at the plate, she is hitting .396 with 17 extra base hits, 18 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
Patricia Levi Luna, San Bernardino Valley: The catalyst to the Wolverines’ offense, she is hitting .311 on the season, while leading the team with five doubles, 10 runs and 10 RBI.
(Bill Norris, 3CFCA)