5 Porterville stars selected among league's finest

Though none of the three Porterville-area softball squads could claim an especially spectacular season in league play (none finished with a better record than 7-5), that’s not to say there weren’t any special individual players on each of the teams.

Five players were named to the All-EYL First and Second Teams for the 2010 season, including two to the First Team: Monache shortstop Chandra Jones and Granite Hills catcher Zoe Kisling.

Three others — Porterville catcher Deanell Dohrman, Granite Hills shortstop Marykate Herrera and Monache pitcher/outfielder Danielle Emerson — earned spots on the Second Team.

The Tulare schools, Western and Union, were the runaway heavyweights as each placed five on both teams. Western first baseman Sarah King was named as the EYL MVP.

Jones completed her softball career as one of the more decorated, all-around athletes at Monache High. The three-year varsity player was also a permanent fixture on the volleyball team and enjoyed success as a starter for Marauders basketball last winter.

As a senior, Jones proved to be the most reliable threat from the plate, connecting for 24 hits en route to a .338 batting average and a solid .451 slugging percentage. Even more impressive is this statistic: Jones knew how to pick her pitches as she struck out just twice all year.

The Marauders will certainly miss her presence next year (when Jones will likely be suiting up at Porterville College), but the future for Monache softball is embodied by its only two freshman on the squad: Emerson and fellow pitcher Raeleen Torres.

After starting ace Kaitlyne Thompson left for the season, Emerson and Torres traded duties on the mound to keep the Marauders above .500 in league (7-5) and 9-17 overall with a Division II postseason appearance at Edison.

Emerson held fort with a 2.47 ERA and led the team with 43 strikeouts. At the plate, she collected 23 hits and her propensity for getting on base left her stranded 27 times — a team high.

Torres pitched the most innings for Monache (66 and 2-3 innings), striking out 38 and finishing with a 2.20 ERA and 4-3 record. Her high-rise pitches netted her a spot as an honorable mention for the Marauders, along with catcher Kailee Doyel and third baseman Victoria Jackson.

Doyel led the squad with 18 RBI off just 18 hits and Jackson, a four-year varsity player, proved invaluable with cat-like defense on the left side of the diamond.

Kisling, also a four-year varsity veteran, formed a solid duo with pitcher Kaitlin Fife to help the Grizzlies break out with a 14-11 record (4-8 EYL) and a home game against McLane in the Division IV postseason. Kisling also batted .406 with 26 hits and 10 RBI.

As the quickest Grizzly on the team, Herrera used her speed to steal a whopping 64 bases while acting as a vacuum in the shortstop, fielding virtually every opportunity for ground-outs. She also snagged 32 hits on the offensive end.

The Grizzlies had five honorable mentions, including Fife, the team’s workhorse on the mound. The junior pitched 124 innings — all but 15 of them for the season — for an unheard-of 1.64 ERA and 85 strikeouts.

Leadoff hitter Marissa Martinez was a sure at-bat, hitting 27 times for a .443 average and 58 stolen bases.

Deanna Alamillo led the Grizzlies potent offense as the crux of the lineup, batting .479 and driving in 33 runs off 34 hits. The senior also crossed home plate for a team-best 23 runs.

Vanessa Alcantar, another senior, collected 15 hits and six RBI.

A case for Granite’s best all-around player, however, could be argued on behalf of first baseman Ashley Halopoff. Just a freshman, Halopoff batted .444 for 24 hits, including a home run in the playoffs, and a .537 slugging average.

Halopoff also took to the mound for 11 innings, perhaps giving a taste of her future role with the Grizzlies. In limited time, she struck out eight with a 1.27 ERA and a 2-0 record.

For the Panthers, Dohrman shined in just about every aspect of the game. The Second-Teamer belted 17 hits (including a number for multiple bases) for six RBI and was left on base 19 times. The four-year varsity senior, who’s also being recruited to play for PC, knocked a home run out of the park for good measure.

Porterville’s only other four-year varsity player, Megan Pengilly, garnered honorable mentions along with first baseman Rochelle Lupio.

As the team’s ace pitcher, Pengilly shouldered the workload for a young Panthers squad that featured just three seniors. Pengilly led the team to an 8-15 finish (tying Granite at 4-8 in EYL). Pengilly also contributed 12 hits at a .240 clip.

One of Porterville’s rising stars, Lupio batted .293 for 17 hits and eight RBI. The sophomore was one of four to pound out a home run in 2010.