The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

First-game grand slam gets Ellis going

By Mike Barnhart

A decisive grand slam home run in the first game proved to be the start of an outstanding senior season of softball for Samantha Ellis of Fremont High School.

After opening the season with that game-winning blast at Monta Vista, Ellis slugged five more home runs during El Camino Division play, leading the Firebirds to an 11-1 division record and the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's El Camino championship.

Division coaches recently acknowledged Ellis' batting production and senior leadership with one of three Most Valuable Player awards and a spot on the all-El Camino first team. In addition to tabbing Fremont's left-handed-hitting first baseman as MVP Offense, the coaches named Christina Montez of Wilcox as MVP Defense and Akemi Lagier of Santa Clara as MVP Pitcher.

Ellis, who hopes to continue her softball career this fall as a walk-on player at UCLA, was one of four Firebirds selected to the first team, joining junior shortstop Samantha Jennings, sophomore third baseman Celine Kealiinohomoku and freshman catcher Justine "J.T." Wozniak.

Other first-team selections were Montez, Elizabeth Foster and Samantha Parra of Wilcox; Lagier, Lauren Maslak, Jennifer Americano and Lauren Cole of Santa Clara; Anne Widera and Christie Cory of Palo Alto; Laura Ruddy, Jacqueline Gragnola and Lisa Brenner of Saratoga; Elizabeth Rea of Gunn; and Lauren Taylor of Los Altos.

Fremont freshman pitcher Tieni Householder received second team honors and junior pitcher Candi Latini and freshman second baseman Jessica Lopez of Fremont were picked to the honorable mention list.

In the De Anza Division, Homestead first baseman Olivia Hartoon earned a place on the all-league first team.

Henderson a top pick

Senior Emily Henderson, whose pitching helped lead The King's Academy to the Private Schools Athletic League championship, has been selected as the league's Most Valuable Player. Henderson also was one of five Knights named to the All-PSAL first team. The others were junior outfielder Makenna Hampton, sophomore catcher Niki McDowell, freshman infielder Rachel Witkovski and freshman outfielder Becca Bliss.