Manning, Cards headline All-ESL roster

Cassie Manning didn’t get much of a rest this year. 

Where there was a Lindsay girls sport, there was a good bet she would be a key part of it.

The senior libero, point guard and pitcher played three sports and helped each of her teams into the playoffs. 

While an intregal cog in her fall and winter sports — volleyball and basketball — Manning was indispensable on the diamond. 

Manning was the best player on an 11-1 Cardinals team, so her being named ESL softball MVP isn’t much of a surprise.

She compiled a 17-6 record, finished with a 2.80 ERA and led the Orange Belt with 163 strikeouts. Manning got the top honor, but was far from the only Cardinal on the first team.

Four others — sophomore left fielder Kelcey Knutson, senior catcher Maricela Villarreal, senior first baseman Nicole Bolanos and junior Rachel Marie Ruiz — were also voted onto the team.

Strathmore, despite a 2-10 ESL season, placed senior outfielder Jessica  Tenhet on the team. 

Tenhet went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the Spartans’ first league win, against Orosi, April 28.

Knutson led the team, hitting .377, and led all Orange Belt hitters with 33 RBIs while Bolanos was second on that list (26 RBIs) and led the six-school region with 14 doubles.

Ruiz, who played mostly third base, hit .375 with 20 RBIs while Villarreal (.333) struck out just twice in 97 plate appearances.

Cardinal junior leadoff hitter and center fielder Vanessa Gutierrez, second baseman Brittany Gutierrez, freshman shortstop Renee Alvarado and utility player Lele Misaalefua were on the second team.

Misaalefua hit an outside-the-park grand slam against Strathmore.

Lindsay fourth-year coach Brett Kendig was named Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches.