A trio of power
Saugus’ Mariah Lopez earns Pitcher of the Year honors; Cents’ Lindsay Clare and Valencia’s Shea O’Leary share POY
When the Foothill League softball season began, one thing was certain: Saugus and Valencia highs had topnotch pitchers.
As the year progressed, Saugus’ Mariah Lopez and Valencia’s Shea O’Leary reminded those in the stands and those at the plate that that was the case.
Further proof came earlier this week when the All-Foothill League softball awards and teams were announced, as Lopez and O’Leary took two of the top honors.
Lopez earned the Foothill’s Pitcher of the Year honor, while her teammate Lindsay Clare and O’Leary were named co-Players of the Year.
“This year was definitely something we all knew going into it that it was going to be a dogfight with the caliber of schools (Shea and I were) going to,” Lopez said. “It was cool (to win Pitcher of the Year). It was a battle for who it was going to be. I’m just grateful it was me.”
Lopez, a University of Oklahoma-bound senior who missed a majority of league play her junior year due
to an elbow injury, led the way in the circle for the Centurions with a 2.41 ERA in league. She struck out 132 batters and walked 37 in 78 1/3 Foothill innings.
“I definitely wanted to go out with a bang. I wanted to make an impact on this season and make it one of the better (ones), considering it was the last one,” Lopez said about being able to recover from her injury. “And I wanted to be pitching my best going into college.”
Lopez’s 9-1 record matched Saugus’ Foothill League mark, earning it a share of the Foothill League crown. Lopez’s only blemish came against O’Leary on May 3, when the Vikings were, ultimately, able to snag a portion of the title themselves.
O’Leary was in command herself this season, aiding the Vikings to a 9-1 Foothill League mark and into the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.
The sophomore and University of Texas commit also had a 9-1 league record. Her mark came in 63 innings pitched, posting a 1.67 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 12 walks.
“I don’t care about sharing part of the award,” O’Leary said of being named co-Player of the Year. “I definitely want to come back next year and pitch harder, and I’m hoping that I get Pitcher of the Year next year.”
Although Lopez was dealing in the circle all season, Clare had her pitcher’s back.
The Centurions shortstop record 22 RBIs, six home runs and 21 hits in the 10 league games.
The University of San Diegobound senior hit her way to a .389 batting average, .441 on base percentage and .889 slugging percentage during league.
The league’s co-champions each had three players in the first team, while two players represented West Ranch.
Cayla Kessinger, Cassidy Fitzgerald and Sabrina Seeley were named on the first-team for Saugus.
Sophomore catcher Allysa Shipman and seniors Brittney Ross-Smith and Alley Johnson were all included in the first team roster.
Wildcat seniors Jessica Harper and Megan Smith were the West Ranch representatives on the first team list.
Golden Valley infielder Tatyanah Castillo and Canyon infielder Amanda Doyle made it on to the first team again.
Saugus, Valencia, West Ranch and Canyon each had two players on the second team, while Hart and Golden Valley each had one.
Ty Cueva and Clarissa Ellwein represented the Centurions, Erin Andris and Noel Dominguez were on for Valencia, Jaclyn Napoli and Makenna Harper for West Ranch and Brittany Workman and Kailee Powell were included in the second team for Canyon.
Golden Valley’s Valerie Goymerac and Hart’s Brooke Marquez rounded out the second team roster.