The Los Angeles Times 1998 All-Valley Softball Team

Cara Blumfield / El Camino Real

Bats/throws: R/R

5-5, Jr., Infielder

* All-City Section shortstop helped Conquistadores to 4-A Division final by batting .513 with 31 runs batted in. But as good as she was offensively, she was better on defense. Selected West Valley League most valuable player.

*

Meredith Cervenka / Crescenta Valley

Bats/throws: R/R

5-8, Fr., Pitcher

* Selected Pacific League most valuable player. Was region’s only unbeaten pitcher in regular season and finished 18-1 with 0.23 earned-run average. In one stretch, hurled 72 consecutive shutout innings. Batted .378.

*

Kelley Cook / Glendale

Bats/throws: R/R

5-9, Sr., Infielder

* Helped Glendale rally late in season to qualify for Southern Section Division I playoffs. Batted team-best .414 and led Dynamiters in nearly every offensive category. Signed with NCAA champion Fresno State.

*

Kristi DiMarco / Palmdale

Bats/throws: R/R

5-8, Sr., Outfielder

* Arguably region’s most dominant baserunner. Surpassed 100-hit, 100-stolen base mark for career early in season. Batted .427 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 36 stolen bases.

*

Jennifer Durost / Highland

Bats/throws: R/R

5-4, Sr., Infielder

* Second baseman, headed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, batted .381 with 22 RBIs. Teamed with Jennifer Smith to form region’s best middle infield. Was key factor in Highland reaching Division I quarterfinals for first time.

*

Christina Enea / El Camino Real

Bats/throws: R/R

5-4, Fr., Catcher

* Shined in first season of varsity competition. Batted .506 and led City Section players in region with eight home runs. Ranked second on Conquistadores with 29 RBIs. Was All-City 4-A selection.

*

Sara Hall / Calabasas

Bats/throws: R/R

5-9, So., Catcher

* Batted team-best .473 with 11 doubles and 25 RBIs for Coyotes, who captured first league title in more than two decades. Behind plate was rarely challenged by baserunners.

*

Melinda Moulden / Crescenta Valley

Bats/throws: R/R

5-10, Jr., Utility

* Repeat All-Valley selection played first base and was Falcons’ No. 2 pitcher. Became one of region’s most feared hitters. Led Falcons with .391 batting average, four home runs and 23 RBIs.

*

Kellie Nordhagen / Hart

Bats/throws: R/R

5-6, Sr., Infielder

* Third baseman was one of region’s best fielders. Anchored Indians’ infield and helped lead them to first Foothill League title since 1992. Repeat All-Valley selection batted .288.

*

Amber Slaton / Quartz Hill

Bats/throws: R/R

5-9, Sr., Infielder

* Four-year varsity starter was heart of Quartz Hill’s defense at shortstop. Played key role in Rebels’ drive to first Division II title. Batted .295 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. Was 2-0 as pitcher.

*

Jennifer Smith / Highland

Bats/throws: R/R

5-6, Sr., Infielder

* Rhode Island-bound shortstop was leading hitter on the region’s best-hitting team. Batted .430 with 30 runs and 18 RBIs for Bulldogs (24-6), who set school record for victories.

*

Coy Ray and Ben Meyer / Quartz Hill

Co-coaches of the year

* Partners for 11 seasons, Ray and Meyer guided Rebels to second appearance in section final and first championship. Unseeded Quartz Hill (24-3-2) upset Nos. 2, 3 and 4 seeded teams to win Division II title.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

1998 ALL-VALLEY SOFTBALL, SECOND TEAM

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Jaclyn Aranda, Village Christian

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Was 22-2 with 276 strikeouts in 162 innings; batted .494 with 27 RBIs

*

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Amanda Fortune, Hart

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Foothill League player of year was 15-5 with 0.60 ERA

*

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Amy Rosson, Calabasas

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Had 229 strikeouts in 141 innings for Frontier League champions

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Olaya Salazar, Quartz Hill

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Batted .326 with 26 RBIs for Division II champions

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Jemma Santos, Louisville

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Mission League player of year batted .382

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Lauren Watson, Valencia

YEAR: Fr.

COMMENT: Defensive force led Vikings to first playoff appearance

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Sandra Aken, Harvard-Westlake

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Shortstop had five home runs and 20 RBIs for Div. IV semifinalists

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Becca Baldridge, Crescenta Valley

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: San Jose State-bound shortstop anchored infield

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Amanda Melton, Saugus

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Michigan State-bound shortstop batted .337 with 21 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Melissa Rawson, Highland

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: First baseman batted .359 with four home runs and 36 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Alena Valdez, Paraclete

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: High Desert League MVP batted .356 with 18 RBIs

*

POSITION: OF

NAME, SCHOOL: Julie Watson, Saugus

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Defensive standout batted team-best .363

*

POSITION: UTL

NAME, SCHOOL: Patty Del Real, Kennedy

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Batted .618 with 26 RBIs; was 12-6 with 0.98 ERA

*

1998 ALL-VENTURA COUNTY SOFTBALL TEAM , FIRST TEAM

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Cindy Ball, Camarillo

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Marmonte League most valuable player was 12-1 and batted .436

*

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Kathryn Nevard, Camarillo

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Marmonte league most valuable pitcher was 9-5 with 0.50 ERA

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Amber Rodarte, Buena

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Field general batted .419 with seven doubles

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Mackenzie Vandergeest, La Reina

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Region’s best catcher batted .512 with 31 RBIs and 30 runs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Kristin Combe, Thousand Oaks

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Baylor-bound shortstop batted .405 with 22 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Tracie Hall, Simi Valley

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Second baseman batted .350 with 19 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Oli Keohohou, Newbury Park

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Versatile player batted .516 with 47 hits--24 for extra bases

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Jessica Mendoza, Camarillo

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Stanford-bound middle infielder batted .477 with team-high 42 hits

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Cindy Muran, Newbury Park

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Exceptional shortstop batted .483 with 20 RBIs and 21 runs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Rhianna Rogers, Rio Mesa

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Channel League most valuable player batted .457 with 17 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Colleen Spencer, Thousand Oaks

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Southern Mississippi-bound second baseman batted .402

*

POSITION: OF

NAME, SCHOOL: Chrissy Davie, Agoura

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Purdue-bound center fielder batted .400 with five doubles, four triples

*

POSITION: UTL

NAME, SCHOOL: Lori Tande, Simi Valley

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Split time between pitcher and shortstop; was 12-1 with 0.54 ERA

*

Player of the year: Mendoza.

Pitcher of the year: Ball.

Coach of the year: Miki Mangan (Camarillo).

SECOND TEAM

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Danielle Field, La Reina

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Had 86 strikeouts in 90 innings and was 12-2 with 0.39 ERA

*

POSITION: P

NAME, SCHOOL: Brittney Green, Simi Valley

YEAR: So.

COMMENT: Was 11-6 with 0.99 ERA and batted .299 with four triples

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Meaghan Finnerty, Moorpark

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Batted .407 with four doubles, four triples and 18 RBIs

*

POSITION: C

NAME, SCHOOL: Sarah Koppel, Westlake

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Batted .469 with .688 slugging percentage in Marmonte League play

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Jessica Brown, Rio Mesa

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Batted .360 and scored 20 runs for Channel League champions

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Kris Herman, Buena

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Fifteen of first baseman’s 27 hits went for extra bases

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Julie Jensen, Oak Park

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Shortstop batted .409 and led Eagles to playoff spot

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Laura Moreno, Rio Mesa

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Batted .425 with eight doubles, four triples and 21 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Candace Roberts, Newbury Park

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Third baseman batted .395 with 16 RBIs

*

POSITION: INF

NAME, SCHOOL: Julia Tamai, Cornerstone Christian

YEAR: Sr.

COMMENT: Div. VI player of year led Eagles to first Southern Section title

*

POSITION: OF

NAME, SCHOOL: Davis Beck, Moorpark

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Batted .438 with 35 hits and helped Moorpark reach Division III playoffs

*

POSITION: OF

NAME, SCHOOL: Stephanie Hall, La Reina

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Regents’ second-best hitter batted .356 and scored 19 runs

*

POSITION: UTL

NAME, SCHOOL: Jill Borchard, Camarillo

YEAR: Jr.

COMMENT: Played center field and first base, batting .259 with nine sacrifice bunts