Rivals' infielders gobble up EYL awards

Most questions were answered when coaches from the East Yosemite League gathered at the round table to hash out this year’s All-EYL baseball awards.

As with most nominations and selections, however, a few questions tend to pop up.

Five Orange Belt stars from Porterville, Monache and Granite Hills were named to the first team and seven more filled out the second team.

The Panthers and Marauders, who tied for third in league with 8-4 records sent four and five players, respectively. Several of these players were debated over the same positions in which certain cases could be made for both sides.

Porterville senior pitcher Joe Tuttle was the first pitcher named to the first team roster for his 6-0 year in 11 starts with a 2.30 ERA. Tuttle struck out 39 and walked only 21 in 61 innings played with one save to his credit.

The other pitcher selected, Tulare Western’s Joey Fonseca, was one of four Mustangs selected to the first team — a testament to the league champions who finished 10-2.

The infield is where things heated up a little bit between the in-city rivals.

Porterville’s Daniel Rueger was named as the first team’s second baseman while Monache second baseman Aaron Gray earned a spot on the second team. Gray connected 26 times for a .347 batting average and 26 RBIs in 2009.

Rueger and Gray each belted a home run while Rueger had five more hits and five more runs (22) with a .408 average that forced other coaches to take the Panther.

At catcher, Porterville’s Kevin Hulse got the nod over Monache’s Dylan Rogers. While sharing time behind the plate with Hayden Doyel, Rogers turned in a solid season batting .333 to go with 26 hits, 21 RBIs and 24 runs, second most on the team in each category.

But Hulse’s often-clutch performance at bat rounded up 30 hits, 27 RBIs and a pair of homers while batting .441 in 24 games.

Shortstop, however, was the toss-up that pitted all-around Porterville athlete Phillip Carganilla against Monache’s steady  Nate Crocker. Carganilla finished with more hits, runs and home runs while Crocker racked up more RBIs and batted .425 to the Panther’s .260 in EYL play.

“A lot of it’s all about the offense,” Monache coach Anthony Gale said. “Phillip is a great player and great athlete but I think Nate really deserved to be on that first team. I also thought Aaron should’ve been on there because his 19 RBIs led the league.”

Monache outfielder Micah McCrillis, whose four home runs are the most of any Orange Belter, made the first team while outfielder Doyel was named to the second team.

Granite Hills pitcher Jason Tredway (133 strikeouts) and first baseman Gabe Malandrini (.424 batting average) were selected to the second team as well.

Porterville’s Nick Shew and Monache’s Joey Sabo and Zack Aguilar, who missed six games with a separated shoulder, each garnered honorable mention. Granite Hills posted three players to the honorable mention list: shortstop Tomas Valadez, catcher Tyler McFadden and junior second baseman Alex Lamb.

Making the Cut

5 Orange Belt players landed on the
All-EYL first team

First Team

Nate Crocker - Jr. SS, Monache

Daniel Rueger - Sr. 2B, Porterville

Micah McCrillis - Sr. OF, Monache

Kevin Hulse - Jr. C, Porterville 

Joe Tuttle - Sr. P, Porterville

Second Team

Aaron Gray - Jr. 2B, Monache

Phillip Carganilla - Sr. SS, Porterville

Gabe Malandrini - Sr. 1B, Granite Hills

Hayden Doyel - Jr. OF, Monache

Matt Camargo - Jr. OF, Granite Hills

Dylan Rogers - Sr. C, Monache

Jason Tredway - Sr. P, Granite Hills