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Calderon, Lopez selected to All-VOL first team
All-VOL softball
Manteca catcher Na’ima Calderon tries to run down a pop-up behind the plate in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinal with Valley Oak League rival Oakdale on May 16. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Manteca sophomore Na’ima Calderon and East Union junior Savanna Lopez are the only two players from the area to make the All-Valley Oak League softball first team.

Both schools have four second-team selections.

Outright champion Central Catholic (12-0, 26-7) racked up most of the major awards. Arizona State-bound Jazmarie Roberts was voted MVP, Sacramento State signee Madie Harrison garnered Offensive Player of the Year and sophomore infielder Samantha Nichols grabbed Defensive Player of the Year.

Pitcher of the Year Luna Lopez and Coach of the Year Alison Noble were recognized after leading Mountain House (8-4, 20-8) to a runner-up finish in its first season in the ultra-competitive VOL.

Manteca (7-5, 21-9) and East Union (4-8, 17-14) both advanced to the semifinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. For the Buffaloes, it was the second straight year they’ve reached the Division III semis, only to drop a one-run heartbreaker to a league rival (1-0 at Central Catholic). EU had its run stopped by second-seeded Pioneer in Division IV, but it was the Lancers’ first semifinal appearance since 2017.

Calderon was a two-way standout, shining defensively even after moving from third base to catcher late in the season. She had no errors in 11 league games. Offensively, she anchored the Buffaloes with a .429 batting average, three doubles and eight RBIs.

Junior infielder Jocelyn Baptist (.378, five doubles, 10 RBIs), junior outfielder/catcher Lauren Moncada (.389, 10 steals, 15 runs, 11 RBIs), sophomore outfielder Ayva Wilkins (.361, two triples, 10 RBIs) and junior utility infielder/outfielder Marissa San Nicolas (.385, home run, 10 runs) are Manteca’s second-team selections.

Wood-East Union softball
East Union center fielder Savanna Lopez runs down the flyball for an out against Wood. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Lopez was the sparkplug from the top of East Union’s order, leading the Lancers with a .515 average and .579 on-base percentage. Her 17 hits, 12 runs and 13 stolen bases were also team-highs, and she was a highlight waiting to happen in center field.

Senior second baseman Leah Altstadt (.333, nine RBIs), junior shortstop Caliyah Lopez (.424, 11 steals, 10 runs), junior corner infielder Fallon Norman (.368, three doubles, 12 RBIs), and Cal Baptist-bound first baseman/pitcher Mikayla Simpson (4.08 ERA, 55 strikeouts, 46 1/3 innings) were Lancers named to the second team.

Junior Maitland Kohoutek of Sierra (0-12, 3-14) received honorable mention.