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MaxPreps names Goulart states medium schools coach of the year
Sierras Messersmith joins 3 Lancers on all-state team
SB--MaxPreps-Medium Schools file pic
Kendelle Messersmith gets a hit in Sierras Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game against Lindhurst. She joins East Union coach Brian Goulart and players Samantha Owen, Alexis Erich and - photo by Photo by WAYNE THALLANDER


Sierra’s Kendelle Messersmith and East Union sophomore Alexis Erich finally get their due.

They’re two of four players from Manteca to be named to the MaxPreps Medium Schools All-State Team on Monday, joining East Union stars Cherish Burks and Samantha Owen.

East Union head coach Brian Goulart also gets a nod, earning the MaxPreps Medium Schools Coach of the Year a month after getting the same honor from Cal-Hi Sports. He guided the Lancers to a 30-3 record, a second straight Valley Oak League crown, their third overall Sac-Joaquin Section championship and first-ever mythical state title as the Cal-Hi Sports Division III State Team of the Year.

 Taft is the MaxPreps Medium Schools team of the Year, while UCLA-bound Rachel Garcia of Highland (Palmdale) captured Player of the Year honors.

Owen is the 2015 Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVP. The Pacific commit was already named to the FloSoftball All-American second team, MaxPreps underclass All-American team and is on several Cal-Hi Sports all-state lists. Burks, heading to Oregon, made the MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American second team and Cal-Hi Sports first team.

Erich was a pitching whiz as a freshman, but an arm injury forced her to concentrate on hitting this past spring. That helped lead a breakthrough season offensively while batting behind Owen from the cleanup spot. Only Erich rivaled Owen’s astronomical stat line, as she finished with a .644 batting average, 10 home runs and 59 RBIs.

Messersmith was the outstanding shortstop for the SJS Division IV champion Timberwolves (19-5). She hit for a .574 average and 29 RBIs in 20 regular-season contests.