Gray MVP, 11 others named to All-EYL
Six Porterville High baseball players and five from Monache High were named to this year’s All-East Yosemite League First and Second Teams for their standout performances on the old sandlot.
Though Monache had fewer representatives than their rival Panthers and EYL champions Tulare Western, the Marauders, in the end, boast the league MVP — Aaron Gray.
In years past, Monache has utilized Gray just about everywhere in the infield — often reaping the rewards of his sure-handed glove. But as a senior, the Marauders needed him on the mound most and, perhaps surprising no one, Gray flourished.
“He deserved (MVP),” Monache coach Anthony Gale said. “Without question. We finished second in league and I can’t think of many games he didn’t give us an opportunity to win.”
Gray tied teammate Martin Guzman, who was named to the Second Team, for most innings pitched and wound up striking out 68 en route to a 4.23 ERA and 5-5 record.
“Every time I went out to the mound and asked if he was doing OK, he said he was great,” Gale said. “He always wanted that ball in his hands.”
Gray also got it done from the batter’s box as he led Monache in hits (32) and batting average (.395) and led the entire league with 31 RBI.
Teammate Zack Aguilar was second on Monache in batting average (.382) and runs (27) but the outfielder likely earned his First Team status off his penchant for crushing the ball. He powered six home runs over the fence to go with his eye-popping .763 slugging percentage.
“He’s got a lot of power; he’s a strong kid for his size,” Gale said. “And once he gets on base, he can fly. I think Zack’s been the best center fielder in the league for the past two years.”
Shortstop Nate Crocker is the outspoken Marauder of the bunch, but the senior has the numbers to back it up. The first-teamer finished the season with a team-high 30 runs and tied Aguilar with 29 hits. And because of Crocker’s vocal tendencies, the team has dubbed him and Gray as “Fire and Ice.”
“Nate’s kind of the fireball of the team while Aaron keeps cool and in control,” Gale said.
Together, the two form a perfect infield pair, trading off around shortstop, pitcher and second base. Not surprisingly, those two will represent Monache at this year’s All-Star game on Saturday in Exeter.
Catcher Hayden Doyel was named to the Second Team for what Gale refers to as his “well-rounded play.” Doyel put up solid numbers in batting average (.379), RBI (20) and hits (25).
“I think Hayden could’ve easily been on the First Team but he’s not the flashiest player out there — he just does everything well,” said Gale, whose Marauders finished 12-12 (8-4 EYL). “There’s not a coach in the EYL who wouldn’t want him on the team.”
Doyel also threw out one-third of runners attempting to steal, yet stole a team-high 11 bases himself.
“He’s not the fastest guy on the team, but he’s got good counts and understands a pitcher’s rhythm,” Gale said.
Guzman, also know as “Goose,” shared the mound with Gray, pitching an equal number of innings (53). The sophomore turned in an impressive 3.17 ERA, walking just 12 all year and striking out 34.
The Panthers placed three on the First Team: a sophomore, a junior and a senior.
Porterville benefited from the veteran presence of catcher Kevin Hulse, who led the way with a .451 batting average, 32 hits and 32 runs. He also belted two home runs and boasted a .690 slug percentage.
Junior Zack Watson anchored first base for one of the league’s toughest defense, but it was his batting — .438 average with a whopping six homers and team-high 35 hits — that caught the league’s eye.
The younger Matt Watson held his own on the mound as a sophomore, out-pitching senior hurlers on a regular basis. In 57 innings, Watson allowed just 21 earned runs and 39 hits while striking out 52 batters for a record of 5-5.
Porterville also sent two to the Second Team — Chris Dempsie Jr., and Robert Burcham.
Second baseman Dempsie Jr. cracked 19 hits for a .306 batting average while third baseman Burcham collected 24 hits, 13 RBI and seven stolen bases.
The Panthers finished tied for third in league with Tulare Union at 7-5 and 11-14 overall. Both Monache and Porterville were ousted in the first round of the playoffs to Frontier and Fresno, respectively.
Granite Hills struggled through the season with a 2-19 (0-10 EYL) record, but outfielder Matt Camargo put up a strong enough resume to earn his place on the Second Team. The outfielder led the Grizzlies with a .346 batting average and thieved 22 bases in 22 attempts.
Camargo and teammate Alex Lamb will represent Granite Hills in Saturday’s All-Star game, as will Porterville’s Hulse and Nate Brown.
Monache’s Dustin Land, Porterville’s Mitchell Villarreal, Joel Smithey and Brown, and Granite Hills’ Lamb and Tony Parra were all named as Honorable Mentions.
Western dominated the First Team with seven selections and two more on the Second Team while Tulare Union placed just one on the First Team and two on the Second Team.
Gale said the nominations of anyone named to All-EYL is certainly nothing to sneeze at.
“It represents how hard these kids work,” he said. “To be good in this league, you have to work year-round to stay competitive. These kids drove us to those wins.”
