San Luis Obispo’s Xiao Gin (left) earns all-state medium schools first team selection with a journey that is hard to believe (read below for more). At right are all-state medium schools first team picks Julia Scardina and Anabel Teperson of 25-1 Marin Catholic (Kentfield). You may read more about Julia later this week. Anabel went 20-1 as a pitcher with a 1.06 ERA. Photos: Twitter.com & Harold Abend.
With All-State baseball for 2019 completely in the books, we switch back to the 37th annual Cal-Hi Sports All-State Softball Teams. The announcements continue for the most outstanding players from medium or small schools in class. There were several medium school teams that had two players named All-State, including D3 State Team of the Year Oakdale. But it’s the stories that go with two of the honorees on those teams — Xiao Gin of San Luis Obispo and Piper Neri of Manhattan Beach Mira Costa — that will take your breath away. For the small schools, we did end up with two teams that had more than two players selected as East Nicolaus had four and Ripon had three.
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RELATED: All-State Softball Underclass Teams | Final Divisional State Rankings
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In writing the intro for all-state teams like the ones below, it’s almost always about those schools that have multiple selections. We’re doing that again for this year’s Cal-Hi Sports All-State Small Schools Softball Teams, but for the Medium Schools two players who made the roster did so with amazing back stories.
One of those on first team is pitcher-fielder Xiao Gin of San Luis Obispo. She has been one of the top players along the Central Coast and this season she batted .500 with an on-base average over .600 (she walked 19 times) while also posting a 1.02 ERA in the circle with 179 strikeouts in 110 innings. Gin also has signed a letter of intent with Oregon State and will actually report to Corvallis in August after graduating one year early from high school.
Piper Neri has been aided in her development as a softball player by surfing. She’s from Manhattan Beach. Photo: costasoftball.com.
According to a recent feature about her in Softball America and from other news features on TV and print in San Luis Obispo, Gin is an adoptive daughter of parents Dick and Sue Gin who came to California as a Chinese orphan. As the story goes, Gin was literally left on a doorstep of a Chinese orphanage with no note or explanation. Her parents, Chinese-Americans who already had two children, wanted to adopt and after a long, arduous process were able to take Xiao home. She’s now an all-state softball player who will be in the Pac-12 Conference playing in college.
One of those on second team for medium schools is outfielder Piper Neri from Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach. According to a story about her in the The Beach Reporter by Jim Leinonen, Neri plays without use of her right arm. That arm and hand are partially paralyzed due to her being born with brachial plexus injury. She’s had several surgeries to gain some movement, but has to do a glove switch and throw with the same arm while playing the outfield and all of her hitting power comes from the one arm as well.
Despite that obstacle, Neri just completed her third varsity season with the Mustangs. She was on the All-Daily Breeze and All-CIF Southern Section lists and this season batted .467 with 18 doubles, three triples and one homer. She had 49 hits in all and only had three errors with three assists. She said in the article that colleges have been contacting her.
Joining those two on all-state medium schools with more than one honoree are Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta, Marin Catholic of Kentfield, Oakdale, Godinez of Santa Ana, Westlake of Westlake Village and San Marin of Novato.
For the all-state small schools, Division V State Team of the Year East Nicolaus of Nicolaus ended up with three players on first team and one on second. Northern Section Player of the Year Avery Croxall (a pitcher who has committed to Pacific) and Arizona State commit Savannah Pierce on the infield were joined on first team by senior Preslie Hewitt as an outfielder. Graduating senior Riley Grigsby almost made it on first team as well, but had to go on second team.
Division IV State Team of the Year Ripon also had more than two players chosen all-state small schools. Leading hitter (.575) and 24-2 pitcher Sydney Thomason was a no-brainer on first team as was junior infielder Lilly Mejia, who was the other regular in the Indians’ power-packed lineup who batted above .500. Several players were considered for second team with McKenna Daley (a junior who had only one less hit than Mejia) ending up being the one to get it.
Other schools with more than one all-state small schools player this year are McKinleyville, Kern Valley of Lake Isabella, Louisville of Woodland Hills, Sutter, Nordhoff of Ojai, St. Patrick-St. Vincent of Vallejo, Grace Brethren of Simi Valley, Linden and Calaveras of San Andreas.
Note: Other than a few exceptions, schools that were eligible to be in the Cal-Hi Sports Division IV or Division V state rankings are considered small and those that were in Division II and Division III are medium. In the CIFSS playoffs, D1 and D2 are large, D3 and D4 are medium, while D5, D6 and D7 are mixed with some in medium and some in small. In our system, some schools with large enrollments in lower playoff divisions are just too big to be small schools. There also are mixed teams from the CIF Central Coast Section in its D1 (some medium, some large). There is no all-state large schools team, but there is a third team added to the overall teams in which only players from large schools are eligible.
Here are the 2019 Cal-Hi Sports All-State Softball Teams for medium schools and small schools:
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM CATCHERS
Adrienne Chang (West Ranch, Valencia) Sr.
Marissa Gonzalez (Kingsburg) Soph.
Jocelyn Pino (Cupertino) Sr.
Destiny Quiles (Vacaville) Sr.
Vallery Wong of Sacramento Grant will play next at the University of Oregon. Grant doesn’t exactly have the softball program with girls headed to D1 colleges, but Vallery has made it work for her. Photo: cayardsharks.com.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM PITCHERS
Elizabeth Avery (Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland) Sr.
Marissa Bertuccio (Golden Valley, Merced) Sr.
Reina Castillo (Aquinas, San Bernardino) Soph.
Desiree Hernandez (Crescenta Valley, La Crescenta) Soph.
Devyn Netz (Maranatha, Pasadena) Jr.
Anabel Teperson (Marin Catholic, Kentfield) Soph.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM INFIELD
Alanna Barraza (Diamond Ranch, Pomona) Sr.
Brittney Bye (Oakdale) Sr.
Alyssa Hernandez (Crescenta Valley, La Crescenta) Sr.
Madison Jacobus (Bishop Montgomery, Torrance) Sr.
Janelle Meono (Wilson, Hacienda Heights) Sr.
Keana Pola (Godinez, Santa Ana) Sr.
Savannah Pola (Godinez, Santa Ana) Soph.
America Ramirez (Oxnard) Jr.
Isabel Rocco (Jurupa Hills, Fontana) Sr.
Julia Scardina (Marin Catholic, Kentfield) Sr.
Vallery Wong (Grant, Sacramento) Sr.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM OUTFIELD
Bryn Boznanski (Rosary, Fullerton) Jr.
Nicole Hammoude (Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland) Sr.
Megan Grant (Aragon, San Mateo) Fr.
Virginia Nemeth (Glendora) Jr.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
(Hitting-Pitching-Fielding combinations)
Kylie Chung (Westlake, Westlake Village) Soph.
Ashley Daugherty (Templeton) Sr.
Xiao Gin (San Luis Obispo) Sr.
Maddie Papenhausen (San Marin, Novato) Jr.
Lexi Webb (Oakdale) Sr.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM CATCHERS
Rachel Allen (Palos Verdes, PV Estates) Soph.
Jocelyn Carrillo (Highland, Palmdale) Sr.
Ashley Donaldson (Branham, San Jose) Jr.
Sammie Luckie (Del Campo, Fair Oaks) Sr.
Katherine Sua (Santiago, Garden Grove) Sr.
Annie Villalobos (San Pasqual, Escondido) Sr.
Katie Hicks of Walnut Creek Northgate is a player to watch for next season as well. She was All-Bay Area this season as a junior with a .508 average, eight homers and 37 RBI. Photo: NorthgateBroncos.com via Charles Lindsey (www.cskphotography.net)
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM PITCHERS
Blake Craft (Yuba City) Sr.
Hazyl Gray (Vanden, Fairfield) Fr.
Kylee Potes (Las Plumas, Oroville) Jr.
Alessandra Samperio (Mary Star, San Pedro) Jr.
Ilona Sullivan (Mountain View) Sr.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM INFIELD
Alexis Bishop (San Marin, Novato) Jr.
Alexa Campbell (Westlake, Westlake Village) Sr.
Lewa Day (Armijo, Fairfield) Sr.
Katie Hicks (Northgate, Walnut Creek) Jr.
Kailyn Lorberter (Warren, Downey) Sr.
Kaylee Pond (Acalanes, Lafayette) Sr.
Sierra Phelps (Lemoore) Sr.
Rylie Price (Independence, Bakersfield) Soph.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM OUTFIELD
Viviana Gamez (Newark Memorial, Newark) Sr.
Janae Hernandez (Heritage, Menifee) Sr.
Piper Neri (Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach) Jr.
Payton Quinonez (Mission Oak, Tulare) Soph.
Macy Spearman (Chico) Jr.
Deja Westbrook (Arcadia) Sr.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
(Hitting-Pitching-Fielding combinations)
Alexa Garcia (Dinuba) Sr.
Lily Martinez (Brawley) Sr.
Ryann Orange (Torrance) Fr.
Savannah Serrata (Sultana, Hesperia) Jr.
Cassidy West (Mission Bay, San Diego) Sr.
Two of those on first team for small schools are Jessie Fontes (left) of Simi Valley Grace Brethren and Alanda Cardon from Calaveras of San Andreas. Fontes, committed to Arizona, had another stellar season for Lancers. She had a 0.36 ERA in the circle with 264 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings while she batted .530 with seven homers and 36 RBI. Cardon, committed to Texas-El Paso, helped Calaveras reach CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D5 final. She batted .596 for season and for career had 194 hits and 182 RBI. Photos: gbhslancers.com & calaverasenterprise.com.
SMALL SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM CATCHERS
Olivia Alves (McKinleyville) Sr.
Alanda Cardon (Calaveras, San Andreas) Sr.
Ryleigh Carricaburu (Woodcrest Christian, Riverside) Jr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM PITCHERS
We were pleased recently to discover that Central Valley Christian (Visalia) pitching standout Rylie Atherton is the granddaughter of CIF Southern Section girls basketball-multisport coaching legend Eleanor Dykstra, who won more than 1,000 combined games at Valley Christian (Cerritos). Photo: @cvcsoftball / Twitter.com.
Rylie Atherton (Central Valley Christian, Visalia) Jr.
Avery Croxall (East Nicolaus, Nicolaus) Jr.
Helen Hayes (Kern Valley, Lake Isabella) Sr.
Janessa Jasso (Dos Palos) Sr.
Grace Luderer (Louisville, Woodland Hills) Jr.
Hailey Peterson (Sutter) Jr.
Amelia Weber (Western Christian, Upland) Fr.
Sydnie Wimpee (Nordhoff, Ojai) Sr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM INFIELD
Samantha Baer (Monte Vista Christian, Watsonville) Sr.
Tehya Bird (Cloverdale) Jr.
Genesis Johnson (Notre Dame, Riverside) Soph.
Lilly Mejia (Ripon) Jr.
Deijah Pangilinan (St. Patrick-St. Vincent, Vallejo) Sr.
Savannah Price (East Nicolaus, Nicolaus) Jr.
Amanda Ramirez (Flintridge Sacred Heart, La Canada) Sr.
Rachel Warrens (High Tech San Diego) Sr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM OUTFIELD
Preslie Hewitt (East Nicolaus, Nicolaus) Sr.
Kiyaira Hicks (Adelanto) Sr.
Nicole Norman (Louisville, Woodland Hills) Sr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
(Hitting-Pitching-Fielding Combinations)
Brooklyn Carreon (Whittier Christian, La Habra) Fr.
Jessie Fontes (Grace Brethren, Simi Valley) Jr.
Jordyn Hutchins (Woodland Christian) Jr.
Sydney Kuma (Washington, Easton) Sr.
Hannah Ortega (Linden) Soph.
Kadyn Smith (Bakersfield Christian) Soph.
Anabella Strach (Escalon) Sr.
Sydney Thomason (Ripon) Soph.
SMALL SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM CATCHERS
Lexie Duran of Big Bear had four no-hitters, 222 strikeouts in 122 innings for the Bears. The sophomore also hit for a .667 average and had 46 RBI. Photo: bigbeargrizzly.net.
Aneesa Almaguer (Fowler) Soph.
Taylor Erickson (Nordhoff, Ojai) Sr.
Sadi Hartman (Kern Valley, Lake Isabella) Sr.
Alexis Soto (Calvary Chapel, Santa Ana) Soph.
Elizabeth Thomas (Ripon Christian) Jr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM PITCHERS
Tayler Genera (Whitney, Cerritos) Sr.
McKenzie Gonsalves (McKinleyville) Sr.
Lexie Duran (Big Bear, Big Bear Lake) Soph.
Tawni McCarty (Waterford) Jr.
Jessica Pavloff (Carmel) Sr.
Hailey Yoshida (Westridge, Pasadena) Fr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM INFIELD
Brennah Bronk (Poly, Pasadena) Sr.
Lily Castillo (Wasco) Jr.
McKenna Daley (Ripon) Jr.
Sarah Farnsworth-Leong (Grace Brethren, Simi Valley) Soph.
Darcy Gillen (Sutter) Jr.
Riley Grigsby (East Nicolaus, Nicolaus) Sr.
Gabby Herrera (Linden) Jr.
Chloe Stewart (Webb, Claremont) Jr.
SMALL SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM OUTFIELD
Jessica Clements (Santa Catalina, Monterey) Jr.
Madison Clark (Calaveras, San Andreas) Fr.
Cleo Smith (Etna) Jr.
Kaleena Yra (St. Patrick-St. Vincent, Vallejo) Soph.
SMALL SCHOOLS
SECOND TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
Mia Barrozo (Santa Paula) Jr.
Raegan Breedlove (Central Valley, Shasta Lake) Jr.
Caroline Evans (St. Joseph Notre Dame, Alameda) Soph.
A.J. Farfan (Calvary Christian Academy, Chula Vista) Fr.
Ally Hersh (Kennedy, Richmond) Jr.
Shelby Maier (Bishop’s, La Jolla) Sr.
Savannah Scripter (Paraclete, Lancaster) Sr.
State Medium Schools
Player of the Year: Lexie Webb (Oakdale)
State Small Schools Player of the Year:
Sydney Kuma (Washington, Easton)
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
