The Mustangs almost ran the table in division play, completing a 17-1 season to finish five games ahead of the nearest competitor. Pioneer's success resulted in 10 all-league selections.

Pioneer players received three special recognition awards. Senior pitcher Robbie Nelson was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the division and first basemen Steve Matos was selected as the Senior of the Year. In addition, coach Jake Hernandez was recognized as Coach of the Year.

Five Mustangs were named to the all-league first team--center fielder Zane Bailey, designated hitter Mike Kaufmann, shortstop Andrew Schulz, second baseman Danny Ventura and catcher Eddie Hsieh.

Pitcher Andy Wright and left fielder Shaun Souza received all-league second team awards.

Nelson was the horse of the pitching staff, hurling 61 innings with a sterling 1.71 earned run average, 71 strikeouts and a record of 9-1. The Mustangs will miss Nelson's magic next year, but junior Wright will return to the mound where he was the second half of a solid one-two punch for the Mustangs. Wright put together a 1.81 ERA in 31 innings of work. He finished with a 6-4 mark and one save and was undefeated (6-0) in league games.

Seniors Matos and Kaufmann had the big bats and hit for power, driving in 28 and 22 runs, respectively, and each blasted a pair of homers. Kaufmann pounded out a .439 average and Matos led the team in doubles, hammering out 11.

Bailey led the Mustangs with 36 hits and most of those were in key situations to drive in 21 runs. The left-handed batter was a tough out, hitting .409 for the year. Schulz was solid defensively at his shortstop spot and hit .308, scoring 25 runs. Ventura anchored the other side of the Mustangs' defense up the middle with proficiency and was one of five Mustangs to blast a pair of home runs.

Hernandez will be glad to have at least a couple of his all-leaguers returning in juniors Hsieh and Souza. Hsieh demonstrated a lethal combination of power and speed. He poked two homers and a triple and led the team in stolen bases with 10. His defensive skills behind the plate were among the best in the league. Souza roamed the outfield, chasing down outs with his speed and keeping runners honest on the base paths with a strong and accurate arm. He also racked up six stolen bases while batting .322 and striking out only four times.

Over at Leland, the Chargers battled way to a second-place tie with a 14-7 record in the BVAL's Mt. Hamilton Division, and four players were honored with all-league selections.

Lance Gemette earned special recognition as Co-Sophomore of the Year. Juniors Danny Dyer and Matt Slaton were first team selections and a second team spot went to junior Kevin Battipede.

Shortstop Gemette was second on the team with a .351 batting average, hammering out 26 hits including seven doubles. He was second in stolen bases, swiping 15 in 17 attempts.

Slaton led the Chargers at the plate, batting at a .421 clip, and demonstrated power in his bat. He blasted seven round trippers and drove in 31 runs--tops for the team in both categories. He finished with a slugging percentage of .776.

Dyer distinguished himself on the mound with a 2.22 ERA (second on the team) and led the pitching staff with 51 strikeouts. He hurled three complete games and compiled a 5-4 mark in 10 starts.

Battipede was tough on the mound and solid at the plate. He put together a 3-1 record, picking up one save, and fired two complete games, including a shutout. He led the Chargers with a 1.57 ERA and struck out 41 in only 35 innings pitched. He pounded out 29 hits (second on the team) with a .349 average.

Softball

After a fast 11-0 start in non-league competition, youth and inexperience caught up with Leland in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division softball race and the Chargers finished league play at 6-8. However, the Chargers received one first team and two second team spots on the all-league team.

Junior shortstop Christina Saenz was a first team selection while junior pitcher Vanessa Truan and sophomore catcher Jessica Talaugon were on the second team.

Saenz was a threat at the plate, hitting .449 and striking out only four times on the year. She was the team leader in hits with 35 and RBIs with 19. She tied for the lead with four stolen bases.

Truan and Talaugon provided a solid battery for the Chargers.

Truan hurled 180 innings--all but two that the Chargers played--and compiled a 17-9 record. She recorded 225 strikeouts and finished with an 0.72 earned run average. She was consistent on the mound and kept the Chargers in every game, giving them a shot to win on any given day.

Talaugon could be counted on to put the ball in play, pounding out 19 hits, which was second on the team. She showed some pop as well, knocking out five doubles.

Two Pioneer Mustangs earned softball all-league honors in the Mt. Hamilton Division. Sophomore catcher Nicki Rebhan was a first team selection and junior center fielder and shortstop Katie Town was a second team pick.

Rebhan led the team in every offensive category and was selected as the Pioneer MVP by her teammates. She batted .329 and cut down opposing runners attempting to steal at a .925 pace. Town demonstrated superb defensive skills in both the infield and outfield but was particularly a threat to throw out runners at the plate from her centerfield post.

Volleyball

Junior Scott Lucas led Leland to the volleyball championship in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the BVAL with excellent and consistent play. He received special recognition as Junior of the Year for his efforts.

"He's one of the top performing individual volleyball players ever at Leland," said coach Jason Hilbert of Lucas, who was voted the offensive MVP of the squad by his teammates. Lucas powered 232 kills, which was tops on the team, and he also led the team with 116 blocks from his middle blocker position.

Senior outside hitters Tommy Phan and Sam Lee were named to the all-league first team.

"Phan was the best defensive player in the league, bar none," said Hilbert. He set a Leland record for digs with 162 and served up 33 aces on the year. Lee served as the team captain and was a solid all-around player who "did everything well." He was second on the team with 116 digs.

Senior middle blocker Derrick Truong and senior setter Chris Hong were selected as second team all-leaguers. Truong blasted 212 kills on the year and Hong made it all happen with his setting ability. "He brought everybody together and is the main reason we had so many kills," said Hilbert of Hong.

Over at Pioneer, senior setter Nam Nguyen was selected to the all-league in the Mt. Hamilton Division and was the only Mustang to receive all-league honors.