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DIAMOND DANDIES
8 area stars make All-state teams for baseball, softball
HON--All-State Baseball-Softball file 1
Mantecas Ronaldo Tijero makes contact in a semifinal contest against Vista del Lago of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs. - photo by Photo By Sean Kahler

The awards keep coming for league MVPs Marco Gonzales, Travis Vander Molen and Mikaela Ferreira.

The trio is among the eight Manteca-area standouts named to the Cal-Hi Sports all-state baseball and softball teams.

Vander Molen and Ferreira made the all-state first teams for the small-school division. Both Riponites helped their programs reach new heights this fall.

Vander Molen led Ripon Christian’s baseball team to a Southern League championship and its first appearance in a Sac-Joaquin Section final. The Knights completed their most successful season with a 23-6 overall. Bound for NAIA powerhouse, the third baseman hit for a .625 average with 17 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 44 RBIs.

Ferreira was unanimously voted as the Trans-Valley League’s softball MVP. She excelled at shortstop after playing mostly at third base during her first two seasons on the varsity. She paced the Indians (22-4) with a .481 average, four homers and 27 RBIs.

Also earning all-state honors was Ripon pitcher Danielle Sperry (16-2, 1.24 ERA, 139 strikeouts), a three-time All-TVL Pitcher of the Year. The future Sacramento State Hornet listed on the small schools second team. The Indians went 22-4 and won their first SJS championship.

Gonzales is one of three East Union players honored by Cal-Hi Sports. The baseball MVP for the Valley Oak League was the Lancers’ ace pitcher and split time at the corner infield spots. He finished with a 5-2 record, 1.71 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 49 innings while hitting for a .415 average. Gonzales will continue playing for Menlo College.

Joining him on the all-state medium schools second team is center fielder Ronaldo Tijero of VOL and SJS Division III champion Manteca (23-7) batted .392 with team-highs in hits (40), doubles (seven) and triples (six) to go with 30 RBIs. 

East Union’s Michelle Castro and Sierra’s Lindsey Walljasper were each listed on separate two separate teams. 

The William Penn-bound Castro earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after hitting .608 with eight homers, 25 RBIs and 15 steals for the VOL co-champion Lancers (22-3). She is on the all-state medium schools first team and overall second team.

Walljasper made the medium schools and all-underclass second teams. The ace pitcher went 10-3 with a tidy 0.59 ERA and 150 strikeouts in her senior campaign. Also getting a spot on the all-state medium schools second team was East Union pitcher Mikayla Bongi. The VOL’s Pitcher of the Year broke out with a 0.70 ERA and 104 strikeouts while splitting time in the circle with Delaney Pamplin.