6 Cardinals named to All-ESL 1st Team

Corcoran and Lindsay clinched a share of the East Sequoia League softball crown, so it stands to reason that the Panthers and Cardinals would dominate this year’s All-ESL First and Second Teams.

Six of Lindsay’s talent-ladened squad made the First Team while Corcoran contributed five, including MVP Demi Walker.

Though four of the Cardinals were seniors and another was a junior, perhaps the star that burned brightest was a sophomore — Sammy Jauregui.

As an ace pitcher and the team’s top batter, Jauregui piled up the stats — and the wins — to help bring the Cardinals their third straight league championship, becoming the only girls team in school history to three-peat.

The First-Teamer finished with a .519 batting average for the season — including .575 in league — and totaled 41 hits, 14 RBI and 37 runs. Her speed and bunting skills contributed heavily to her .630 on-base percentage and eight stolen bases.

From the mound, Jauregui picked up a 5-1 record in ESL. In a team-high of 68 innings pitched, she struck out 77 and gave up an average of just 2.75 earned runs per nine innings.

The future will likely hold multiple accolades for Jauregui, along with fellow teammate Kelcey Knutson, who earned her second straight First Team selection.

The junior outfielder batted .451 overall, collecting 31 hits and 37 runs while driving in more than 30 runs for the second straight season.

All six of Lindsay’s seniors were named to either the First or Second Team.

Three-year varsity veterans Hayley Kendig and Brittany Gutierrez were along for the ride during each of the three titles.

Kendig earned the All-ESL roster’s utility spot as a pitcher and third baseman. She finished as the team’s winningest pitcher with a 10-3 record in 2010, adding to her total of 23 wins for her career at Lindsay High.

Kendig fanned 55 batters in just 51 innings of action for a 2.94 ERA. On the offensive end, she batted .269 and drove in 13 runs.

Gutierrez played an integral role in Lindsay’s high-octane offense, averaging .320 at the plate and contributing nine runs and eight RBI in league.

As a second baseman, Gutierrez, was second on the team with 21 assists and 19 putouts.

Third baseman Rachel Marie Ruiz was one of the Cardinals’ most dependable hitters, batting .438 in league with 12 runs, 14 hits and eight RBI. Her on-base (.568) and slugging (.531) percentages were among tops on the squad.

Catcher Veronica Millan led the team with 68 putouts with a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000. The senior also drove in 10 runs behind a .310 hitting average.

Three Cardinals were named to the Second Team, including Vanessa Gutierrez, who was on the First Team last year.

The senior made a strong case for this year’s stacked First Team, but her .410 batting average in league and 23 runs scored were apparently not enough.

Senior Lele Misa’alefua knocked out one-third of all her batting opportunities, driving in eight runs and crossing home plate nine times.

Off the bag, Misa’alefua took part in 54 putouts and recorded a solid .949 fielding percentage.

Sophomore Alexsis Arguelles earned her first spot on the All-ESL Second Team as a shortstop.

The multi-sport athlete batted .290 and racked up 13 runs and eight RBI.

These Cardinals have simply gotten used to winning as seniors Misa’alefua, Millan, Ruiz and Brittany Gutierrez were all a part of four straight championships, including a JV title in their freshman seasons.

Despite finishing ahead of last-place Orosi with a 2-10 record and finishing the season with six wins, Strathmore did not place any on the First or Second Teams this year.

Corcoran’s David Chavez was named Coach of the Year and Woodlake sent four players to the First Team.