Ripon High’s Justin Scott was voted Pitcher of the Year in the Trans Valley League, after helping the Indians finish second in the conference.
League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division-V champion Escalon garnered most of the major honors: Aaron Pangilinan is Most Valuable Player, Patrick Mulry Offensive Player of the Year, Gino Franceschetti co-Defensive Player of the Year and Greg Largent Coach of the Year.
Ripon (9-3, 15-11-1 overall) advanced to the semifinal round of the SJS Division-V playoffs, ending its season with two straight losses to Summerville.
Two of Scott’s best efforts of the year were in TVL action. Scott closed the regular season with a five-inning no-hitter against Orestimba, striking out seven and walking one. In a game against Modesto Christian he had a complete-game two-hitter and fanned 10.
Scott finished 5-2 in the regular season with a 1.49 earned run average and 66 strikeouts in 61 innings.
Joining Scott on the all-TVL team are seniors Alex Gustin, Hayden Koch, Zach Evans and junior Jake McCreath.
Koch was 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA as Ripon’s No. 2 starting pitcher and hit .304. Gustin, a three-year varsity starter at second base, led Ripon with a .343 batting average, 23 hits, 18 runs and six doubles.
Evans started at catcher and hit .333, and first baseman McCreath hit .286.
Senior outfielders Ryan Durrer (.339, 14 RBIs) and Sam Van Vuren (.323) earned honorable mention.
In the Southern League, Ripon Christian junior shortstop/pitcher Kalvin Prins and senior second baseman Aaron Fay were selected to the first team.
Kalvin Prins was the Knights’ leader in batting average (.425), runs scored (32), home runs (five), RBIs (30) and steals (15). From the mound, he struck out 48 in 48 2/3 innings and wrapped up the year with a 5-3 record and 4.03 ERA.
Fay, a four-year varsity player, hit .414 with five jacks, 29 RBIs and 24 runs.
Senior outfielder Elijah English (.350, seven doubles, 30 runs) and sophomore catcher Dominic Nelson (.364, 25 RBIs) were named to the honorable-mention list.
Ripon Christian went 7-7 in its first season back in the Southern League and finished 9-14-2 overall.
Ripons Scott named Trans Valley League Pitcher of the Year