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Seniors Luisi, Martinez lead local All-TVL baseball selections
All-TVL Baseball Team
Ripon Christian’s Jordan Luisi offers a pitch against Orestimba in a Trans Valley League game. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Senior pitcher Jordan Luisi, junior catcher Maxx Anderson and freshman third baseman Stadtler Postma were named to the All-Trans Valley League baseball team for Ripon Christian.

Senior outfielder Isaiah Martinez is the lone representative for Ripon.

All-TVL Baseball Team
Ripon outfielder Isaiah Martinez gets under the pop fly for an out against Manteca in non-league action. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

League champion Hughson (11-1, 27-7 overall) garnered three of the four major awards, and another six were named to the All-TVL first team. The Huskies were runners-up in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs. Standout shortstop Beau Blake is MVP, junior Laws

on Aviles received Most Outstanding Offensive Player and Max Mankins earned Most Outstanding Pitcher.

Kaleb Amaya of co-runner-up Hilmar (9-3, 18-5) picked up Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Hilmar’s Frank Hillard and Hughson’s Charlie Garza are Co-Coaches of the Year.

Despite fielding its youngest team in the 15 years under coach John de Visser, Ripon Christian (6-6, 14-11) was up for the challenge in its return to the TVL. And the Knights did so with their best returning player, senior catcher/infielder Josh Buffalow, out for the season with an arm injury.

After a six-game losing streak, Ripon Christian closed the year winning eight of its last 10, including a sweep of rival Ripon and a round-one win over Millennium in the SJS Division VI playoffs.

The late-blooming Luisi played a big part in RC’s success. He emerged as the Knights’ pitching ace, sporting a 1.97 ERA in seven league appearances with team-highs in strikeouts (35) and innings pitched (32).

Luisi was also a sparkplug offensively, especially with his legs. He paced the team with 13 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.

Orestimba-Ripon Christian baseball
Maxx Anderson connects for a bases-clearing double down the third-base line in the second inning of Ripon Christian’s 16-4 drubbing of visiting Orestimba on Thursday. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Anderson was a welcome late-season addition after he served his SJS-imposed sit-out period for transferring from Oakdale. In just nine league games, he powered RC with a .500 batting average, .571 on-base percentage and 0.583 slugging percentage — all team bests. Two of his 12 hits in league went for doubles, and he scored 12 runs and drove in 11 more.

All-TVL Baseball Team
Stadtler Postma heads to home plate during Ripon Christian’s second-inning rally against visiting Orestimba. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Postma was productive at the plate and reliable defensively from the hot corner. He hit .333 with three doubles, 12 runs and seven steals. On defense, he had fielding percentage of .955 with just one error.

Ripon Christian senior Josh Crivello and sophomore Tyler Wadlow made honorable mention.

Martinez paced Ripon (5-7, 11-13) with his .500 batting average and 12 hits in league. He also keyed the defensive outfield with 14 putouts and one assist, committing no errors.

Sophomore Jack Peters earned honorable mention.