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OUT WITH A BANG
Ripons Ferreira earns 2nd MVP for TVL softball
AWD--All-TVL selections file 1
Mikaela Ferreira watches her deep fly ball soar over the fence for a home run during a Ripon home game against Hughson. - photo by GARY JENSEN/GreatShots.SmugMug.com

Mikaela Ferreira managed to outproduce her MVP season from a year ago.

Ripon High’s standout shortstop had better numbers across the board as a senior and was named the Trans-Valley League MVP once again.

She’s the only Ripon athlete to earn a major award for baseball and softball. The Sac-Joaquin Section Division V third-place softball team wound up with five all-league selections. Jack Mayer, the league’s baseball MVP in 2016, was one of four Indians to make the cut.

Ferreira, a four-year varsity starter, recorded career-highs with her astounding .648 batting average, 46 hits, 40 runs, 40 RBIs, 14 doubles and four homers in the regular season. She has signed to St. Mary’s College. 

Ripon (10-2, 21-6 overall) took second behind rival Escalon in league. The Cougars (12-0, 23-4) swept the Indians in the regular season. They met again in the SJS Division V winners-bracket semifinal, with Escalon overcoming a four-run deficit to win 7-6 and knock off Mariposa 5-2 in the title round. Escalon’s Chardae Hoskins was named Best Pitcher, Riverbank’s Joslyn Beliera is Best Offensive Player and Megan Lutz of Hughson is Best Defensive Player. Escalon’s Art Brooks is Coach of the Year.

Shay Furtado had a breakout season for Ripon and is among the club’s five all-league selections. The utility infielder hit .569 with four homers and 32 RBIs. Notre Da de Namur-bound first baseman/catcher Jennica Baldwin (.442), freshman center fielder Lilly Mejia (.451, four HRs, 34 RBIs), senior third baseman Hoku Lee (.344, 36 runs) and sophomore Sydney Vernon (.382, 15 RBIs) also made all-league.

Junior pitcher Lillian Dillard and catcher Hana Lee earned honorable mention.

Escalon’s section runner-up baseball team captured three major awards: Justice Naraghi (MVP), Lucca Dutra (Most Valuable Offensive Player) and Parker Cosby (Most Valuable Defensive Player). Mountain House’s Julian Sainz was named Pitcher of the Year. Escalon’s Greg Largent and Mountain House’s Stephen Gatehouse are Co-Coaches of the Year.

Ripon (8-4, 17-7-2) finished third in league. Mayer went 6-2 in 10 appearances on the mound and held a 3.10 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 52 innings. Outfielders Donny Cooksey (.410, 18 RBIs), Andrew Durrer (.328, 22 RBIs) and Jacob Gahm (.444, 25 runs, 19 RBIs, 20 steals) join Mayer on the all-league list.

Pitchers Luke Petker and John Eicher earned honorable mention along with third baseman Colby Bacon.