Saratoga News

Vikings are All-Americans

West Valley players win all-conference honors

By Dick Sparrer

Allison Andrade was quite a player and Maggie Del Rio was quite a pitcher for the West Valley Community College women's softball team this spring.

And the coaches of the Coast Conference must have agreed. Because the two players earned special honors recently when the coaches selected their South Division all-conference team.

Andrade and Sheri Savko of Monterey Peninsula College shared the conference player of the year award, and Del Rio was named the pitcher of the year in the division.

Del Rio and Kelly Beal of San Jose City College were two of three pitchers in the South Division honored with places on the all-conference first team.

Catcher Lynee Velasco, first baseman Tamara Tate, infielders Andrade and Brian Neitert, outfielders Teresa Mendez and Amber Manning and utility player Sarah Dudley (Willow Glen) were West Valley players selected to the all-conference first team.

West Valley's veteran coach, Les Hearn, was tabbed the Coast Conference South Division coach of the year.

Catcher Rockie Villa, infielder Angela Dunhour and outfielder Melissa Taku were other San Jose City College players picked to the all-conference first team.

Winning secondteam honors for San Jose were outfielder Megan Farnsworth and utility player Christy Smith.

Four West Valley players and San Jose's Taku went on to claim spots on the Louisville Slugger All-American team.

Andrade, Mendez and Dudley were West Valley players honored with places on the All-America first team, and Velasco claimed secondteam honors.

Taku also earned a berth on the second team.

Baseball

All-conference first baseman Julian Harris helped the West Valley baseball team earn a berth Northern California Regional bracket of the state playoffs.

Harris was named to the all-conference first team in the South Division of the Coast Conference.

Pitchers Anthony Novelli, a starter, and Dan Foley, the Vikings' closer, were named to the all-conference second squad along with teammates Dan Howell at catcher and Melvin Souza and Donovan Minero in the outfield.

Infielder Erik Bakich and utilityman Mike Nunez were San Jose City College players selected to the all-conference first team. Catcher Jason Franks, outfielder Mike Bowlin and designated hitter Kevin Yee were Jaguars picked to the second team.

Outfielder Brandon Macchi of Mission College was another first-team pick in the South Division. First sacker Troy Marcyes (Leigh) nailed a berth on the second team. Macchi also won a place in the outfield on the all-state team.

Over in the North Division of the Coast Conference, Jeremy Cunningham (Monta Vista) and Scott Grover (Los Gatos) of De Anza were each named to the first team. Cunningham was selected as an all-conference pitcher and Grover was picked as a utility player.

Track

Jackie Hotchkiss of San Jose City College heaved the discus to an individual first, and Isireli Naikelekelevesi and Juan Pablo Miramontes of West Valley each ran to thirds at the State Community College track and field championships held recently at Citrus College.

Hotchkiss whirled the discus 155-1 to win the women's title in the event at the state meet.

Naikelekelevesi was third in the 800 meters in 1:51.47, and Miramontes was third in the 10,000 meters in 31:29.29 to help the Vikings to a team sixth in the meet.

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