TRANS VALLEY LEAGUE ALL-LEAGUE SELECTIONS
• Coach of the year: Diana Texeira, Escalon
• Most Valuable Player: Caitlin Brooks, Escalon
• Pitcher of the Year: Alyssa Coelho, Hughson
• Offensive Player of the Year: Sloan McHann, Modesto Christian
• Defensive Player of the Year: Kattie Schmidig, Escalon
• First team: Modesto Christian: Rachel Borges, Paris Andrew, Brittani McGue; Hughson: Brittney Rickles, Krista Bava, Erica Mireles, Katie Etcheverry; Ripon Christian: Katie Thomas, Sarah Nieweg; Ripon: Alissa Vickers,Paulina Ceja; Riverbank: Carlye Avey, Aimee Lopez, Amanda Lopez.
• Honorable Mention: Hughson: Alyssa Aqueche, Jesse Sill, Madelyn Birchall; Modesto Christian: Ashely Shamp, Erin Loretelli; Ripon Christian: Janeen Viss; Ripon: Chelsae Higgins, Cynthia Nunes; Kendra Contente; Riverbank: Jessica McDonald.
For Ripon Christian, senior hurler Sarah Nieweg and freshman shortstop Katie Thomas were both selected.
The Knights won just two contests in 2009, but the final win came on the last day of the season over the rival Indians.
Nieweg was the heart and soul of the Knights, tossing 155 innings and racking up 162 strikeouts while turning in a sterling 4.29 ERA.
In 25 games played, Thomas hit .375 with 27 hits, 20 RBIs, 13 runs scored, three doubles and three more triples.
Ripon, which finished 3-12 in league play and 9-16 overall, was led at shortstop by sophomore Paulina Ceja and in center by sophomore Alissa Vickers. Both were named all-leaguers.
Ceja was a beast at the dish, raking at a .413 clip with 26 hits, 15 runs and 11 RBIs.
Vickers, meanwhile, hit an even .400 from the top of the order with 30 hits, 17 runs, eight RBIs and five doubles.
Even more impressive was Vickers’ 17 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
Ripon also had three honorable mention selections, Chelsea Higgins, Cynthia Nunes and Kendra Contente.
