Among this week’s best performers from throughout the state are senior Chanler Powell of Benicia (Sac-Joaquin Section) and sophomore Dominic Fletcher of Cypress (Southern Section). Photos: Courtesy Powell family & Mark Tennis.
Two softball sluggers with three homers in one game from already this week – Kristen Williams of Temecula Chaparral and Saige Pye from Stockton St. Mary’s – are among this week’s best. In baseball, brother of Oregon tight end hits two homers and helps pitch a no-hitter.
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As has been customary for many years, we collect the state stat stars in support of the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book & Almanac. The book has been published seven times (the most recent, though, was 2009) and is as official as a state record book can be since no other exists. To report a State Stat Star of the Week of your own, please email details to markjtennis@gmail.com.
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(Mostly for games played April 14-April 18 but including some from this week; thanks to CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett for continued contributions to this feature and to the state record book.)
SOFTBALL
Jezabelle Quintana (Savanna, Anaheim)
Just a sophomore, she had three innings of no-hit relief on Tuesday against Anaheim before doing even better on Thursday by pitching a perfect game against Magnolia. Named as the OCVarsity Athlete of the Week, she also had four hits, including two doubles at the plate, during the week.
Aris Metcalfe (King Drew Medical, Los Angeles)
With three stolen bases earlier this week against West Adams Prep of Los Angeles, she has earned herself a spot in our Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book for stolen bases in a season. She now has a reported 54 stolen bases while being caught just once all season. Already with seven steals and six steals in single games earlier this year, she needs 22 more stolen bases to set the single season state record, which currently is 75 stolen bases set back in 2007 by Cherith Simmons of Canoga Park Faith Baptist. King Drew Medical teammate Imani Johnson had 73 steals last season when Metcalfe had 62.
Kristen Williams (Chaparral, Temecula)
Since going 4-for-4 in her first game, the senior standout for the Pumas has been raking hits all over the yard. She had her best game yet on Thursday of this week with three home runs and seven RBI in a 10-1 blasting of Temecula Valley. For the season, Williams also pushed her home run total to 10. She also has 30 RBI and is hitting .400. She will play next at Idaho State.
Julie Roach (El Segundo)
She had quite a few days at the Whittier Christian Tournament as she went 8 for 13 with three home runs and 15 runs batted in to earn MVP honors. Her best performance came during a win over Wilson of Long Beach in which she homered twice, including a grand slam.
Saige Pye (St. Mary’s, Stockton)
While out at lunch earlier in the day, we came across this performance from Wednesday and while we weren’t eating pie we decided to go ahead and include it this week’s report. Pye hit three home runs and drove in seven as the Rams defeated Edison of Stockton 20-0.
Brynne Fitzpatrick (Valley Christian, San Jose)
Recording nearly every out via the strikeout, she finished with 18 during a 6-0 win over Mt. Pleasant of San Jose. Fitzpatrick has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the Bay Area in recent weeks.
Hayley Copeland (Esperanza, Anaheim)
No stranger to being listed here, the South Carolina-bound standout allowed just one hit while striking out 13 during a 1-0 win for the Aztecs over Villa Park in Century League play.
Isabella Berouty (Rolling Hills Prep, San Pedro)
Not only did she pitch and combine with Amber Patterson for a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts, but she also was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate with two home runs and five runs batted in during a 11-0 win over Animo earlier this week.
Chanler Powell (Benicia)
She had quite the week last week as she went 8-for-11 (.727 BA) with three home runs and 11 RBI to lead the Panthers past Vallejo 12-0 and Vanden of Fairfield 6-4. Included in those totals was one grand slam, two three-run homers and three doubles. It also was a big week for Chanler off the field as she signed a scholarship offer from Texas Southern University.
Briana Valencia (Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro)
In a five-inning game from earlier this week, she led the home run attack with two and drove in four runs as the Polar Bears clobbered Diego Rivera 28-2. They hit eight home runs as a team.
Whitney Mesi (Katella, Anaheim)
Mesi made a mess of the Santa Ana Valley batters coming up to face her in a five-inning game last week. She pitched a no-hitter and struck out 10 as Katella won 18-0.
Jenna Vargas (Point Loma, San Diego)
Lopsided final scores tend to have at least one big time state stat star worthy performance and it was Vargas during the Pointers’ 23-0 win over La Jolla in five innings. She went 4 for 4 with two home runs and six runs batted in.
Rachel Metzger (Garces, Bakersfield)
She hit two home runs in an 11-1 win over East Bakersfield to become the Central Section’s all-time softball home run leader, according to section historian Bob Barnett. Rachel’s homers were the 32nd and 33rd of her career. She surpassed Demi Walker of Corcoran, who hit 32 from 2007-10.
Cristiona Caccamise (Patrick Henry, San Diego)
Going a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate, she homered twice and drove in five runs during a 14-0 win over Serra of San Diego in five innings.
Brianna Tautalafua (Carson)
Home runs are nothing new for this slugger as she hit two home runs and drove in four runs during a 12-3 win over Centennial of Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Spring Jamboree. That improved her season total to 17.
Kiannah Molina (Sierra Pacific, Hanford)
She slammed two home runs for the Golden Bears while driving in five in a 11-4 win over Fowler in the Fowler Easter Classic.
Kassidy Simons (Moorpark)
From yet another from performance earlier this week, she allowed just one hit while striking out 14 during a 6-0 win over Westlake of Westlake Village. In the same game, she also had an RBI double. And in another game last week, Simons pitched a shutout and homered in a 6-0 win against Paso Robles.
Gina Pagan (Miramonte, Orinda)
Starring in the circle and at the plate, Pagan led the Matadors to a 5-4 victory against Acalanes of Lafayette. With her arm, she struck out 13 batters. At the plate, she had a three-run homer and went 2-for-4.
Kiannah Molina (Sierra Pacific, Hanford)
She slammed two home runs for the Golden Bears while driving in five in a 11-4 win over Fowler in the Fowler Easter Classic.
Jaylee Villareal (San Joaquin Memorial, Fresno)
Had a career high of 7 rbi’s, by hitting 2 home runs and one going for a grand slam as they beat Edison 12-6 in a league game.
Note: Taft’s 41-game consecutive win streak came to an end against Dinuba 4-2 in the Clovis Easter Classic. After winning the last 15 games in 2013 and 26 consecutive wins this season, the talented team set a new Central Section record, surpassing the old record of 35.
Jacob Gatewood of Clovis had his first five-hit game. Photo: Scott Kurtz (Courtesy Student Sports).
BASEBALL
Eric Tapper (La Mirada)
With first place on the line in the Suburban League he didn’t let Glenn of Norwalk get that great of a tap on the baseball as he pitched a no-hitter during a 5-0 win.
Micah Hall (Beyer, Modesto)
If not for an error, he would have had a perfect game but this junior right-hander settled for a no-hitter with seven strikeouts last week during a 15-0 win over Modesto.
Dylan Dreyer (Pinewood, Los Altos Hills)
The senior infielder had a home run and a double in a 3-for-3 outing with a season-high four RBI when the Panthers beat Harker Academy of San Jose 17-0 earlier this week. For the season after that game, Dreyer was batting .694 on the season. Even in a 2-0 loss to San Mateo, he walked twice and singled.
Eric Anderson (Sanger)
He pitched the first no-hitter of his career in a 7-inning game with eight strikeouts in an 8-0 win over Reedley in the Fresno Easter Classic.
Michael Carr, Grant Littlejohn & Jack McCarthy (San Juan Hills)
They combined to pitch the first no-hitter in program history as Carr pitched the first five innings and struck out seven before Littlejohn and McCarthy each pitched an inning during a 1-0 win over Redondo at the Ryan Lemmon Invitational.
Sam Mundt (Central Catholic, Modesto)
Showing he can play baseball as good as he can play football, the brother of University of Oregon tight end Johnny Mundt had two home runs and drove in six runs as the Raiders defeated Johansen by a football like final score of 24-0 on Monday. He also pitched the final innings of the combined no-hitter.
Sam Sanchez (Rolling Hills Prep, San Pedro)
Despite the game going just five innings, he went a perfect 4 for 4 and hit for the cycle. He also drove in four runs and scored four runs during the 17-1 win over Contreras Learning Center.
Hazahel Quijada (San Gorgonio, San Bernardino)
While this junior left hander might give you a hard time in pronouncing his name, he has been even harder for teams to hit as he struck out 17 batters during a 7-2 win over Rialto. With the win, he improved to 6-1 with a 0.74 ERA while striking out 64 in 38 innings.
Dominic Fletcher (Cypress)
A sophomore outfielder and younger brother of 2013 all-state standout David Fletcher, Dominic has been in the midst of a strong season. He had an RBI triple this week in a 6-3 win over Yorba Linda. Earlier this month, before spring break, he went 2-for-3 with a double and homer in a 8-3 win against Tustin, followed by 3-for-3 with two doubles in a 12-3 loss to the Tillers and then 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI in a 6-1 win against West of Torrance.
Albee Weiss (Agoura, Agoura Hills)
Outscoring Royal of Simi Valley on his own, he homered twice and drove in six runs during a 9-5 win in Marmonte League play. Weiss will play next at Cal State Northridge.
Jacob Medina (Arroyo, San Lorenzo)
In two games at the Atascadero Easter Classic, Medina came through with three straight homers. His first was a two-run blast in his final at-bat when Arroyo topped Westlake of Westlake Village 9-4. He then hit two more in his first two appearances when the Dons beat Channel Islands of Oxnard 9-3. Those two homers came with two on and then one on base.
Alex Zarate (Branham, San Jose)
Not only did he hit his fourth home run of the season, but he also struck out a season-high 14 and didn’t allow a run to get the win on the mound during a 4-0 win over Sobrato of Morgan Hill.
Jassen Oliver (Liberty, Bakersfield)
He had a season high for hits as he went 5 for 5 for the Patriots in a 14-7 triumph over Sylmar. Included among Oliver’s hits were two triples and one double. He also had four RBI.
Michael Porras (Live Oak, Morgan Hill)
Swinging a lively bat, he doubled and tripled during a four-hit game that saw him drive in five runs during a 13-1 win over Silver Creek of San Jose.
Tanner Pruett (Orestimba, Newman)
Continuing his impressive season, this senior left hander had 13 strikeouts and no walks while allowing just three hits during a 9-0 win over Waterford.
Mitch Coombs (Valhalla, El Cajon)
With little room for error, he threw a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts during a 1-0 win over Carlsbad at the Mike Morrow Lions tourney. That made this week’s honor roll since Carlsbad was a State Top 20 team at the time.
Rickie Garcia (Redwood, Visalia)
He had a fine day at the plate when he went 3 for 3, with all three hits being doubles, and scored two times in a 10-0 win over South Bakersfield.
Jacob Gatewood (Clovis)
The big-time MLB prospect and USC signer went 5 for 6 at the plate when the Cougars lost 7-6 to Clovis North of Fresno. Gatewood’s five hits ties a school record. This performance came before the Cougars went undefeated at the Fresno Easter Classic.
Brian Hammer (Fowler)
Another from the CIF Central Section to collect five hits in a game, Hammer went 5-for-5 at the plate, scored three times and had three RBI in a 12-0 win over Parlier.
Dominic Pedersen (Saint Vincent de Paul, Petaluma)
While the Mustangs lost to Stuart Hall-San Francisco 7-6, sophomore catcher Pedersen had the best offensive game of his two-year career by going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four runs batted in. The multiple home run game was the first by a Mustang in 88 games since former Mustang K.C. Pedersen hit three home runs in a season opening 17-3 (five inning) win against Valley Christian-Dublin on March 2, 2011.
Paul Muyskens is the Stockton office assistant editor for Cal-Hi Sports and can be seen around town also working for the Stockton Ports and University of the Pacific. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Paul and Mark on Twitter: @CalHiSports
