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Nicole Fullerton was one of only two returning starters on Branham's varsity softball team, and her presence was key in the Bruins' success this season.
The coaches in the league recognized that fact and honored Fullerton by selecting the senior pitcher as the Most Valuable Player in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
The Bruins rode the arm of Fullerton to the division championship. She finished the season with a 13-4 record, including a 7-0 mark and 0.00 earned run average in division play. Fullerton compiled an eight-game winning streak, including the seven division wins and a first round win in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, where she didn't allow a single earned run. In addition, she hurled a no-hitter against Del Mar.
Fullerton was joined as a BVAL MVP by sophomore Jackie Hill of Leigh in the Mt. Hamilton Division and freshman Holly Dauenhauer of Evergreen Valley in the West Valley Division.
Another Bruin, Kacey Foltz, received special honors as Freshman of the Year in the Santa Teresa Division. Rob Piper won Coach of the Year honors in the division.
Sophomore of the Year honors went to Willow Glen's Michele McCollum, who compiled a 15-5 record including a first round CCS win. McCollum stuck out 125 batters while giving up a mere six walks on the year. She had an ERA of 0.43 and helped lead the Rams to an 18-9, 7-3 season, finishing only two games behind Branham in the league standings.
Piedmont Hills' Trish Jessen and Andrea Bartolohes were selected as Senior of the Year and Junior of the Year respectively in the division.
Earning places on the all-league first team were K. Foltz, McCollum, senior Jennifer Allsup of Branham; seniors Analisa Baum, Marina Mendez and Kelley Snyder of Willow Glen; seniors Amelia Mendez and Sabrina Sanchez of Silver Creek; and seniors Nicole Ortega and Natalia Sanchez of Piedmont Hills.
Second team all-league honors went to sophomores Jaime Foltz and Holly Griggs and freshman Audrea Lopez of Branham; seniors Mikka Dixon and Nicole Garcia and junior Caitlin Edmunds of Willow Glen; junior Jennifer Rivera of Gunderson; sophomore Christina Villalta of Silver Creek; and junior Raquel Acosta, sophomore Christina Gonsalves and freshman Marissa Masangcay of Piedmont Hills.
The strong arm of MVP Hill, with a record of 22-6, helped lead Leigh to the Mt. Hamilton Division championship and eventually to the CCS Division II championship. Clovis Mirassou of Leigh was honored as Coach of the Year.
The Longhorns finished only one game ahead of Leland in the Mt. Hamilton Division race and Sophomore of the Year Christina Saenz was instrumental in keeping the Charges in the race all year.
Joining Saenz on the all-league first team were Charger teammates seniors Kelly Harrison and Liz Perez. Harrison was at the center of the Chargers success this year, firing her way to an 18-5 record including two wins in the CCS Division I playoffs. Center fielder Perez contributed numerous outstanding defensive plays throughout the season as well as coming through with a consistent offensive output.
Nabbing spots on the second team were seniors Jaime Vranich and Ashley O'Brien of Leland.
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