3 city players infiltrate Tulare's EYL stranglehold

Tulare Western and Tulare Union had their way with the rest of the EYL softball competition in 2009.

Combined, the D-II powers went  12-1 against the Porterville city trio (Monache handed Western its only league loss, 2-1, March 31).

So it comes as no surprise the two gobbled up most of the first-team slots.

The Mustangs’ MacKenzie Mendonca (.455/ 5 HRs/ 4 triples) was named league MVP. Mendonca hit two home runs against Monache in their second meeting as well.

Pitchers Brianne Hardman (Western - 0.91 ERA) and Lauren Crow (Union - 0.87) may wind up on NCAA Division I rosters and they proved it with Hardman leading the Mustangs to the Valley title and Crow propelling the Redskins into the semifinals.

Union also placed Ilissa Facchine, Carissa Romero and Taylor Jordan on the top team. 

But three local girls were able to shine enough to land on the first team: Monache senior center fielder Jessica Simmonds, Porterville senior pitcher Tanaya Williams and Granite Hills senior shortstop Stacey Campos.

Simmonds was the driving force on the 9-3 Marauders, hitting .512 from the leadoff spot.

The switch-hitting senior also clubbed two home runs and five triples, including a March stretch where she tripled in four straight games.

In the nine-inning season finale against Porterville, Simmonds scored three times, including the tying run. 

That contest was one of the few low points for Williams, who struck out 127 hitters compared to just 20 walks in her final season in orange.

Williams also led the league with a .537 batting average with 18 RBIs. 

The Porterville College-bound senior struck out 21 combined in two outings against the Grizzlies. 

The one Grizzly that was the toughest out for EYL pitchers was Campos. She led the team with a .452 average packed with eight doubles, a triple and a home run.

She was also the Grizzlies’ chief threat on the bases, stealing an EYL-best 30.

Granite junior Zoe Kisling was the only city catcher on the top two teams, posting a .396 average and belting a home run. 

Monache junior infielders Chandra Jones and Victoria Jackson were also second-teamers. Jones came up biggest when it mattered most, going 3-for-4 and plating the winning run in the marathon battle with the Panthers and belting a triple and three RBIs against Garces in the playoffs.

Jackson (third base), like Jones, was a solid defensive performer as well. She hit .354 and tied Jones for the team lead with 16 RBIs.

Monache’s top pitcher, senior Katherine Figueroa, received honorable mention. Porterville center fielder Katelyn Ogas (two home runs), catcher Deanell Dohrman (two home runs) and second baseman Lane Johnson (.333/ 1 HR) also received honorable mention nods.

Granite sophomore pitcher Kaitlin Fife was the only underclassman to receive recognition while senior third baseman Veronica Herrera and junior center fielder Deanna Alamillo rounded out the local honorable mentions.

Few Spots Open

3 Orange Belters got first-team recognition in the Tulare-dominated EYL

First Team

Jessica Simmonds, Sr. CF - Monache

Tanaya Williams, Sr. P - Porterville

Stacey Campos, Sr. SS - Granite Hills

Second Team

Zoe Kisling, Jr. C - Granite Hills

Victoria Jackson, Jr. 3B - Monache

Chandra Jones, Jr. SS - Monache

Honorable Mention

Katherine Figueroa, Sr. P - Monache

Katelyn Ogas, Sr. CF - Porterville

Deanell Dohrman, Jr. C - Porterville

Lane Johnson, Sr. 2B - Porterville

Kaitlin Fife, So. P - Granite Hills

Veronica Herrera, Sr. 3B - Granite Hills

Deanna Alamillo, Jr. CF - Granite Hills