Atwater High star Madi Hiler has been one of the most feared hitters in the Central California Conference since stepping onto campus four years ago. She was named the CCC MVP her freshman season and followed that up by being named Offensive Player of the Year her sophomore and junior years. Hiler can add another CCC MVP to her list of accolades after the coaches tabbed her for the top honor this season.

 

Hiler finished this season with a .571 batting average and went until the final playoff game of the season before finally striking out for the first time. In CCC play, Hiler hit a robust .688 with one home run, 17 runs scored and 11 RBIs in 10 games. 

 

“Madi is deserving of the MVP award because she truly is cut from a different cloth when it comes to sports, especially softball,” said Atwater coach Jenna Mitchell. “Not only is she extremely talented, she understands the game on a deeper level. This year she had the highest batting average in the league, didn't strike out one time (in CCC play), and was a threat on the bases. Defensively she just has it! If Madi is catching, nobody is stealing on her, let alone taking a big enough lead to get picked off. She played shortstop for us a few times this year and when she is out there she is a vacuum, making tremendous plays.  Madi is the complete package as a softball player.”

 

Mitchell says having Hiler is like having an extra coach out in the field.  “She sees things on the field with a coach's eye and is always helping out her teammates,” Mitchell said. “There have been countless times in the middle of the game where I'll turn to Madi and say ‘What do you think?’ and she can give me the insight of what is happening with the girls emotionally and how she thinks certain changes will affect them.”

 

After winning the CCC championship with a perfect 10-0 run through the conference, Merced had two players earn top awards. Bears ace Annalise Ramirez was named the CCC Pitcher of the Year and shortstop Antonia LeJarde was named Offensive Player of the Year. Ramirez finished with a 17-4 record to go along with 200 strikeouts and a 1.06 ERA in 139 innings pitched. LeJarde hit .486 with five home runs, 37 runs scored and 22 RBIs this season.

 

Merced High’s Jennifer Moreno was named the CCC Coach of the Year. The all-CCC first-team selections were Atwater’s Kylie Medina, Riley Leonardo, Audrina Granados, Merced’s Macey Saucedo, Buhach Colony’s Leslie Gutierrez, Peyton Runyan-Rocha and Jasmine Resendez, El Capitan’s Tasha Dickey, Golden Valley’s Savanna Benc and Los Banos’ Grace Orozco and Avery Vierra. 

 

The second-team selections were Kennedy Ross (Atwater), Aubrey Trindale (Buhach Colony), Ellery Hunter (El Capitan), Emily Green (Golden Valley), Maliyah Salas (Los Banos), Madison Cabral (Merced), Genesis Velasquez (Atwater), Kaylee Fuentes (Los Banos) and Madisyn Leard (Buhach Colony).

 

The Sportsmanship Award winners were Kaileigh Ruzbarsky (Atwater), Madelyn Zamarripa (Buhach Colony), Ava Arriaga (El Capitan), Mariah Morales (Golden Valley), Malia Fuentes (Los Banos) and Eliana Uriostegui (Merced).

 

Two Livingston High players were named to the all-Western Athletic Conference first team after helping lead the Wolves to the playoffs. Infielder Olivia Costa was a first-team pick after hitting .514 this season with 12 doubles and 33 RBIs. Costa is the Livingston High hit leader, since stats have been kept on MaxPreps, with 107 hits in her four-year varsity career. Mariah Blaine was also named to the first team after hitting .494 with nine doubles and 38 RBIS. Blaine also struck out 81 batters in 101.1 innings pitched.

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.