With only one player graduating, Ripon’s softball team is set up to make another deep postseason run in 2024.

Leading the way will be Kharime Caratachea, who has been named Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVP. Joining her as the area’s top female student-athletes for spring sports are East Union track star Taylor Snaer and Ripon Christian swimmer Faith Fasani.

Already committed to William Penn University, Caratachea who was Pitcher of the Year in the Trans-Valley League as a sophomore. This past season, “Mims” was voted MVP of the league and selected for the MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team for the Class of 2024.

The Indians (9-1 TVL, 14-5 overall) repeated as league champions, making it three straight. Their outstanding 2019 season culminated in a SJS Division IV title and the program’s first Cal-Hi Sports Division IV Team of the Year honor, but the 2020 and 21 campaigns were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

A calming influence from the pitcher’s circle, Caratachea has emerged as a veteran leader under first-year coach Tanner Jordan. For the second straight season, Ripon lost in the semifinal round of the playoffs to the eventual champion, this time to a talented Capital Christian team, 5-2, The Cougars from Sacramento went on to claim the Division IV NorCal title.

The diminutive Caratachea and the Indians held their own no matter the competition. She started the season with a sterling, 17-strikeout one-hitter against Sierra, finishing with three one-hitters on the season.

Before the loss to Capital Christian, Caratachea had one of her best efforts of the year in the quarterfinal round against West Park, twirling a two-hit, 12-strikeout shutout.

She ended the season 10-1 in 17 appearances with a 1.48 ERA and 155 strikeouts against 72 hits and 30 walks given up in 104 innings.

Caratachea was productive in other areas, batting .395 while sporting a .963 fielding percentage (one error).

Here’s the rest of the All-Area Softball Team:

Offensive Player of the Year

Jessica Almeida, Manteca, Sr.: The Buffaloes center fielder/catcher batted .621 while facing some tough pitching in the Valley Oak League, earning the All-VOL Offensive Player of the Year award.

Almeida ended her final regular season for Manteca on a torrid seven-game winning streak (17 for 22), finishing with a .486 overall batting average, .537 on-base percentage and .689 slugging percentage. She hit 10 doubles, a triple, a homer, drove in 14 runs and plated 20.

Defensive Player of the Year

Peyton Naranjo, Ripon, Sr.: The William Penn University-bound outfielder had just one error in 27 chances (.944 fielding percentage) with three assists.

Ripon’s lone senior also had one the most productive bats on the team, hitting .380 with three home runs and a team-high 18 RBIs.

Pitcher of the Year

Nayellys Torres, Manteca, Jr.: Torres enjoyed a breakout season for the Buffs, posting a career-best 1.47 ERA. She notched a 12-4 record in 20 appearances, struck out 143, walked only 11 while scattering 81 hits in 105 innings.

Team: P Ariana Fuentes, Lathrop, Jr.; P Layla Molina, East Union, Sr.; C Alana Hernandez, Ripon, So.; C Mackenzie Nervis, East Union, Jr.; 3B Elon James, Manteca Sr.; 1B Chloe Lautenslager, Ripon, Sr.; 3B Izabelle Spurzem, Ripon, So.; SS Addison Naranjo, Ripon, Fr.; SS Dianne LaFuentes, East Union, Sr.; OF Lydia Allgaier, East Union, Jr.; OF Kailee Alejandre, Ripon Christian, Sr. OF Breama Tyler, Sierra, Jr.; OF Reagan Van Der Hoek, Ripon Christian, So.; UTIL Sienna Lowery, Manteca, Fr.

TRACK & FIELD

Taylor Snaer, East Union, Sr.

Also the Bulletin’s two-time All-Area MVP for girls basketball, Snaer graduated from East Union as one of its best all-around female athletes of all-

She qualified the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships for a second consecutive year but did so in a different event and with limited training because of a bothersome back ailment earlier in the season.

That did not stop her from setting a new personal and school record in her final race as a Lancer, as she turned in the 13th best time in the 200-meter preliminaries. In her junior year, Snaer took 13th in the 400.

Snaer PR’d in the 100 early in the season, finishing in 11.98 in winning the Jaguar Invitational at Kimball. She did not compete in the event again for two months, earning the 100 and 200 titles in the VOL.

Snaer went on to place as the runner-up in both events during the SJS Division III meet, and third in the SJS Masters 200 final.

All-Area Team: Gabby Delgado (throws), Ripon, Sr.; Alaba Olaleye (jumps), Lathrop, Sr.; Starla Skiles (hurdles), Ripon, So.; Jade Thommes (pole vault), Ripon, Jr.; Janessa Ward (sprints), Lathrop, Jr.; Annie Wild (distance), Ripon, Sr.

SWIMMING

Fasani impressed in her first appearance at the SJS Championships, winning the frosh-soph title in the 50-yard freestyle while taking second in the 100 free.

She blazed to a 24.47-second finish in the 50, which would have been the fourth best time in the varsity final. In the 100, Fasani improved her personal record by a second in 54.51.

Team: Danika Brar, Ripon, Sr.; Keira Brink, Sierra, So.; Valerie Chun, Ripon, So.; Jennifer Graves, Sierra, Jr.; Victoria Guzman, Lathrop, So.; Madeline Staley, Ripon, Jr.; Crystallynn Tran, Ripon, So.