More Softball Players of the Year

State Sophomore of the Year Coral Williams (left) was a dominant presence late in the season at Norco. At right, is State Junior of the Year Ayla Tuua of Sacramento Destiny Christian. Photos: Line Drive Media & Jordan Georgeson / Gold Country Media.


Two of these honorees — Ayla Tuua for juniors and Coral Williams for sophomores — also were both close to being the Ms. Softball State Player of the Year. The freshman winner is another one coming up from the Inland Empire while the medium schools and small schools top honors are going to the Northern California communities of Salinas and Woodlake.

For more on Ms. Softball State Player of the Year Taelyn Holley,
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Congratulations to the following five players also who also have been selected this week as Cal-Hi Sports State Players of the Year.
Cal-Hi Sports intern Isai Gutierrez contributed to these writeups.

JUNIORS:
Ayla Tuua (Destiny Christian, Sacramento)

It’s now three for three for Ayla being recognized as one of the Cal-Hi Sports state players of the year. This time, it’s for juniors after she was the winner last year among sophomores. Tuua was not the state freshman of the year before that, but was State Small Schools Player of the Year.

This year’s Gatorade State Player of the Year recipient, which has to be mentioned is selected before the season is completed, was naturally considered for Ms. Softball. Destiny Christian, however, and its star player were eliminated in the first round of the CIF NorCal D2 playoffs by King’s Academy of Sunnyvale.

Regardless of that loss, Tuua remains highly regarded as a Class of 2026 national recruit and she once again put up spectacular numbers.

After Ayla led Destiny Christian (which was known at Capital Christian before the start of the 2024-25 school year) to a 21-2 record and the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D4 title, she had a .500 batting average with six homers, 30 runs scored and 26 RBI. It’s for her pitching and velocity (70 mph), however, is what she’s best known for. Tuua had gone 12-0 with a 0.46 ERA and had 163 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings before the NorCal playoffs.

Due to her presence and the team having a win over SJS D2 runner up Rocklin, it was thought Ayla and her team would be in the CIF NorCal D1 playoffs, but the Lions were put in D2 and then lost in their next game.

A commitment to LSU has been on Tuua’s resume for more than a year and she has kept a weighted GPA of 4.15 in the classroom, according to the Gatorade release. She also has volunteered in her community by crocheting and donating beanies to local hospitals for newborn babies.

Tuua’s other honors so far also include Sacramento Bee All-Metro Player of the Year and West Coast Preps Sacramento Softball Athlete of the Year. She is only the third from Sacramento to have ever been named State Junior of the Year after Amy Windmiller from Mira Loma in 1989 and Jolene Henderson of Sheldon in 2008. Two other previous CIF SJS winners have been Anjelica Selden of Vanden (Fairfield) 2003 and Alicia Hollowell of Fairfield 2001.

Recent State Juniors of the Year: 2024 – Taelyn Holley (Murrieta Murrieta Mesa); 2023 – Miali Guachino (Temecula Great Oak); 2022 – Ryan Maddox (Fresno Clovis North); 2021 – Jessica Oakland (Mountain View St. Francis); 2020 – No selection (pandemic); 2019 – Nicole May (Pleasanton Foothill); 2018 – Kinzie Hansen (Norco); 2017 – Megan Faraimo (San Diego Cathedral Catholic); 2016 – Camryn Ybarra (Mission Viejo); 2015 – Mia Camuso (Redding Shasta); 2014 – Taylor McQuillin (Mission Viejo); 2013 – Johanna Grauer (Pleasanton Amador Valley); 2012 – Gabrielle Maurice (Modesto Beyer); 2011 – Melissa Taukieaho (Etiwanda); 2010 – Lauren Chamberlain (Lake Forest El Toro); 2009 – Taylor Edwards (Murrieta Vista Murrieta).

State Freshman of the Year Dailynn Battee of Etiwanda is shown running at first base while playing for the Corona Angels travel ball team. Photo: Line Drive Media.


FRESHMEN:
Dailynn Battee (Etiwanda)

We are sticking with the Inland Empire for the state’s top freshman honor. Norco only has one winner ever as a freshman and that was the great Kinzie Hansen for 2016. Etiwanda has its first honoree in the category. The region’s previous winner was Ramsey Suarez of Great Oak (Temecula) for 2019. Prior to that, the only two were back-to-back honorees Kamerin May of Corona Santiago for 2006 and Taylor Edwards of Vista Murrieta for 2007.

So what’s the big deal about Battee? Well, for starters, she came into the season as a freshman already well known among major colleges and considered one of the top Class of 2028 prospects in the nation, according to Line Drive Media founder Brentt Eads. She had made two USA All-American age group teams before even stepping on to the Etiwanda campus (2021, 2022).

Etiwanda didn’t update its final stats on MaxPreps, but before the team’s two CIF Southern Section D1 playoff games, Battee was batting .557 with 39 hits, 11 homers and 32 RBI. She had a walk and a single in the team’s playoff win vs La Habra and then a single in a 4-0 loss to Temescal Canyon that ended the season for her and her team.

Prior to the playoff loss, Etiwanda was a top 10 team in the state rankings and still ended with a 23-4 record. Battee led the team in hits, homers, runs scored (31) and batting average. There were other freshmen in the state with 11 homers (one with 14), but none of them played CIFSS D1 competition. Dailynn also had the highest batting average among any freshmen from CIFSS D1 playoff teams.

Pitchers Rylee Silva from Lutheran of Orange and Emily Yoon from El Dorado of Placentia were also considered for the state’s top freshman player of the year honor.

Recent State Freshmen of the Year: 2024 – Abby Ford (JSerra, SJ Capistrano); 2023 – Taylor Faga (Hollister); 2022 – Kai Minor (Orange Lutheran); 2021 – Brynne Nally (Garden Grove Pacifica); 2020 – No selection (pandemic); 2019 – Ramsey Suarez (Temecula Great Oak); 2018 – Cydney Sanders (San Marcos); 2017 – Nicole May (Pleasanton Foothill); 2016 – Kinzie Hansen (Norco); 2015 – Danielle Williams (Pleasanton Amador Valley); 2014 – Taylon Snow (Chino Hills); 2013 – Zoe Marrott (Moraga Campolindo); 2012 – Amanda Lorenz (Moorpark); 2011 – Tera Blanco (Huntington Beach Marina); 2010 – Ali Aguilar (Orangevale Casa Roble); 2009 – Nancy Bowling (Simi Valley Royal); 2008 – Dani Gilmore (Woodland Hills El Camino Real).

SOPHOMORES:
Coral Williams (Norco)

For the fourth time since 2017, the vaunted Norco program has produced the State Sophomore Player of the Year. Williams follows Kinzie Hansen and Sarah Willis of the Cougars going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 and then in 2021 it was slugger Mya Perez who gained the honor.

During almost all of the season, Williams split time with junior teammate Peyton May as the starting pitcher for Norco. In the CIF Southern Section D1 playoffs, however, she clearly was the ace and in the CIFSS D1 championship game vs El Modena of Orange, Coral shined by taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning. She finished with a one-hitter and nine strikeouts in a 3-0 victory.

“Those are the moments that she lives for,” head coach Rick Robinson told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. “No stage is too big for her, and she really proved it on that night.”

For the season, Williams racked up a 17-0 record with a 0.70 ERA and she struck out 152 batters in 110 innings. She also had a perfect game against Corona in a league game and a no-hitter vs Esperanza of Anaheim at the Michelle Carew Classic.

The local paper recently named Coral as its Player of the Year and of course we know that it is the same paper that didn’t select Taelyn Holley of Murrieta Mesa, which did select Holley as a junior. For the state honors we do, Williams fit best as state sophomore of the year with Holley having the all-time state list totals that we valued more. We’re pretty sure everyone agrees that both Inland Empire girls are great players deserving of recognition.

Recent State Sophomores of the Year: 2024 – Ayla Tuua (Sacramento Capital Christian); 2023 – Mya McGowan (Poway); 2022 – Cambria Salmon (Beaumont); 2021 – Mya Perez (Norco); 2020 – No selection (pandemic); 2019 – Savannah Pola (Santa Ana Godinez); 2018 – Sarah Willis (Norco); 2017 – Kinzie Hansen (Norco); 2016 – Vanessa Strong (Oakley Freedom); 2015 – Holly Azevedo (San Jose Pioneer); 2014 – Katie Kibby (Vacaville); 2013 – Alyssa Palomino (Mission Viejo); 2012 – Johanna Grauer (Pleasanton Amador Valley); 2011 – Gabrielle Maurice (Modesto Beyer); 2010 – Nancy Bowling (Simi Valley Royal); 2009 – Ally Carda (Elk Grove Pleasant Grove).

Abi Jones turned a magical week of wins for Salinas in the CIF NorCal D2 playoffs into a statewide player of year honor. Photo: shscowboyvarsitysoftball / Instagram.com.


MEDIUM SCHOOLS:
Abi Jones (Salinas)

Salinas had never won a CIF Northern California softball title before, but that changed this season thanks in large part to the senior leadership and postseason dominance of Jones. With clutch performances from the circle, she helped lead the Lady Cowboys to the NorCal Division II championship.

After sharing the league title with Monterey, the two teams met again in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs, and it was Jones who pitched her team to a 3-2 win. That win set up a matchup against powerhouse St. Francis of Mountain View. While Salinas came up short, the squad still earned a berth to the CIF NorCal Division II regional bracket thanks to their performances throughout the season.

Jones saved her best for last in the regional final against Liberty of Brentwood. She tossed a complete-game two-hitter with 12 strikeouts, no earned runs, and just one walk in a 4-1 victory. That performance capped a three-game regional run that also included wins over Casa Grande of Petaluma, which featured last year’s Medium Schools State Player of the Year, Lila Partridge, and King’s Academy of Sunnyvale, which had knocked out Destiny Christian and Gatorade State Player of the Year Ayla Tuua, in the first round.

Jones finished the season with a 1.20 ERA and had 223 Strikeouts in 151 1/3 innings. Opposing hitters batted only .147 against her all year, and she allowed just six home runs across 26 appearances.

As with many of these state players of the year, Abi also was a contributor with bat in hand. In the win vs Casa Grande, she had an RBI single. And in the title game win vs Liberty, she went 1-for-1 with one RBI. Jones batted .309 for the season with 25 hits and eight RBI.

Jones is headed to Grand Canyon University to continue her academic and athletic career. She had earlier committed to San Jose State.

The city of Salinas is home to one of the all-time greats in softball in pitcher Monica Abbott. She is from North Salinas, which was never considered medium schools in her years there. There is one former State Medium Schools Player of the Year from the city, however, with Notre Dame’s Kim Reeder capturing the honor in 2005.

Recent Medium Schools State Players of the Year: 2024 – Lila Partridge (Petaluma Casa Grande); 2023 – Randi Roelling (Modesto Central Catholic); 2022 – Riley Wickum (Sutter); 2021 – Brooklyn Carrion (La Habra Whittier Christian); 2020 – No selection (pandemic); 2019 – Lexi Webb (Oakdale); 2018 – Maile Newman (Torrance West); 2017 – Brooke Yanez (Ventura Buena); 2016 – Nicole Bates (Ceres); 2015 – Rachel Garcia (Palmdale Highland); 2014 – Kylee Perez (Martinez Alhambra); 2013 – Rachel Garcia (Palmdale Highland); 2012 – Nisa Ontiveros (Bakersfield Ridgeview); 2011 – Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield Rodriguez); 2010 – Courtney Ceo (Lake of the Pines Bear River); 2009 – Jenna Rich (El Segundo); 2008 – Erin Arevalo (Manteca East Union).

Woodlake’s Audrina Rodriguez, who finished the season 23-0 in the circle, holds two home run balls she hit in one game this season. Photo: X.com.


SMALL SCHOOLS:
Audrina Rodriguez (Woodlake) Sr.

A historic season for Woodlake ended with the school’s first-ever CIF SoCal regional softball title and a second straight section crown, and in the circle for nearly all of it was senior standout Rodriguez.

The pitching ace led the Tigers through the playoffs with both her arm and, at times, her bat. In the CIF SoCal Division IV championship against Pioneer Valley of Santa Maria, Rodriguez went the distance while allowing just two earned runs and striking out four in a 4-3 victory.

In the regional semifinals against University of Irvine, Rodriguez struck out seven in a complete-game win as the Tigers pulled away in an 18-8 contest. She also contributed at the plate in that one, with two RBI, a double, and three runs scored. That win came just days after helping the Tigers secure the Central Section Division IV title.

Over the course of the season, Rodriguez dominated with a perfect 23-0 record with the team’s only loss in a 30-1 season coming in a game she didn’t pitch. Audrina also finished with a 0.66 ERA and 207 strikeouts across 127 innings. According to MaxPreps, she ranked among the top 35 pitchers nationally and No. 2 in California for strikeouts and also threw three no-hitters.

Her impact wasn’t just in the circle, she also hit .544 with 27 RBIs and 34 runs, contributing to Woodlake’s dominant 30-1 record.

Since 1985, when the first Cal-Hi Sports State Small Schools Player of the Year honor was determined, there has been only three previous winners from the CIF Central Section. The last was Sydney Kuma from Washington of Easton in 2019. The other two are from the 1990s — Michelle Gates of Chowchilla (1996) and Michelle Perez of Fowler (1992).

Rodriguez, who is currently uncommitted, has proven she has the talent and work ethic to compete at the next level.

Recent Small Schools State Players of the Year: 2024 – Olivia Bauer (Sutter); 2023 – Ayla Tuua (Sacramento Capital Christian); 2022 – Natalie Gleason (SJ Capistrano Capistrano Valley Christian); 2021 – Anabel Teperson (Kentfield Marin Catholic); 2020 – No selection (pandemic); 2019 – Sydney Kuma (Easton Washington); 2018 – Lindsey Walljasper (Manteca Sierra); 2017 – Livy Schiele (La Jolla Bishop’s); 2016 – Kailia Searcy (Lancaster Paraclete); 2015 – Zoe Casas (San Bernardino Aquinas); 2014 – Grayce Majam (Pine Valley Mountain Empire); 2013 – Zoe Casas (San Bernardino Aquinas); 2012 – Cheridan Hawkins (Anderson); 2011 – Elizabeth Caporuscio (Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World); 2010 – Sammy Albanese (Palo Alto Castilleja); 2009 – Jessica Moore (Sutter).

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


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