Lindsay’s Jauregui is ESL softball MVP
10 from local schools land on first or second teams
After a stellar season, Lindsay High School softball junior pitcher Danielle Jauregui was named the All-east Sequoia League’s Most Valuable Player, while five other Cardinals, and two players from both Granite Hills and Strathmore were named to first and second teams.
“[She’s] an all-around team leader,” said Lindsay coach Izzy Torres about Jauregui. “We do not have the season we had, without Danielle Jauregui.”
The Cardinals (17-10, 14-1 ESL) finished first in the ESL and were the 13th-seed in the CIF Central Section Division V championship tournament. Lindsay lost 3-0 to fourth-seeded Mclane (17-9-1) in the opening round.
In league play, Jauregui was 9-1 in the circle and led the league in stolen bases.
“Not only is she my leadoff batter but she’s a leader on the team,” said Torres, emphasizing Jauregui’s impact on the team. “She leads with her attitude and her ability to play the game. We’re very fortunate to have her coming back next year.”
Also named to the first team from Lindsay were junior utility player Sierra Torres and senior shortstop Raquel Gonzalez.
Another team leader, Gonzalez came back to the Cardinals after missing last season due to a broken finger and had a great final season. She had four unassisted double plays along with numerous putouts and batted .589 in the ESL as the team’s second hitter.
“She comes back her senior year and it was really just a blessing having her back,” said Torres. “A strong, strong infielder playing shortstop for us. And it was great having her back her senior year. That’s going to be a position that we are really going to miss. She’ll be well missed but as a coach I’m just proud of her taking it to the next level and playing at Porterville College.”
Batting cleanup for the Cardinals, Sierra was clutch. Her most memorable game was against the ESL’S Sierra Pacific (17-8, 12-3). In the 17-16 win, she had a 2-run Rbidouble in the seventh inning that shifted the momentum into Lindsay’s favor after coming into the inning down 16-10.
“Well-deserved award, hands down. Just a real good clutch hitter,” said coach Izzy. Sierra played catcher and right field but stepped in and filled the shoes of the Cardinals’ star first baseman after she had to sit out.
Lindsay senior pitcher Aylssa Nunez, senior infielder Skarlett Rojas and junior outfielder Marlene Gutierrez made the second team. The Cardinals graduate five seniors, two of them starters, and will return a majority of their team next season.
Strathmore (8-19, 4-11 ESL) struggled this season and finished last in the ESL, but senior shortstop Ally Holloway and senior utility player Taylor Alkire were named to the first team.
“They were the athletes on the team,” said Strathmore coach Martin Hernandez. “They were my captains. I made them push the other girls to their potential and they were good role models to a lot of these girls who had only been playing a few years. They meant a lot to the team, they were the leaders.”
Alkire led the team with a .465 batting average, followed closely by Holloway with .445.
Granite Hills (15-171, 7-8 ESL) finished third in the ESL and had pitcher Illiana Castillo and outfielder Mariah Goss named to the first team as well. The Grizzlies were seeded-eighth in the Div. VI playoffs before losing 8-1 to second-seeded Orange Cove (19-11), who were the defending champions.
Granite Hills coach was not available for comment.