Four local high school softball players were named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state team this past week.

SANTA GERTRUDIS ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL

Representing Santa Gertrudis Academy High School were Sophomore Second Baseman Ashley Perez and Freshman Pitcher Carla Noel.

Perez this past season, batted .571, tallied 44 hits (including 13 doubles, five triples and three homeruns) brought in 44 runs and had a .987 slugging percentage. As a pitcher Perez went 5-0, struck out 42 batters and allowed only three hits in 17 innings of work.

As the regular starter Noel went 18-4 this season, struck out 192 batters, had an earned run average of 0.25 and only allowed 52 hits and 29 runs. Noel also hit .471, smacked five home runs and brought in 26 runs.

Head Coach Olinda Salazar said she could count the number of defensive errors both of her all-state players committed this season with only one hand.

“Carla struck out people left and right but it wasn’t just that. Girls would try slapping the ball hard onto the ground against her, which normally you can’t defend against, but Carla would do a vertical leap and snatch the ball out of the air and still throw the batter out,” Salazar said. “Perez is just awesome all the way around no matter where I put her. She played pitcher and shortstop this season before settling into second base.”

Both Noel and Perez did their jobs at the plate as well.

“Carla struggled a bit at the end of the season but more times than not she found a way to get on base,” Salazar said. “Ashley was my clean up hitter and one of the top ten batters in the region. She consistently brought in runs left and right and I always knew she was going to hit the ball because she is a very patient batter who isn’t just going to try and hit it out of the field; she waited for her pitch and hit whatever she could to move our runners over.”

Academy has much to look forward to with Perez and Noel coming back these next couple of seasons.

“The experience and leadership they both have and are bringing back with them next year is going to be invaluable for us,” Salazar said. “If I could have nominated all of my girls I would have, but these two really stepped up for us this season.

The Lions went 25-5 overall this season and won the District 32-A title with a perfect 14-0 record. Academy made it all the way to the regional finals.

H.M. KING HIGH SCHOOL

Representing H.M. King High School are Senior Catcher Desiree Ayarzagoitia and Junior Shortstop Julia Sanford.

At the plate, Sanford had a .505 batting average, notched 47 hits (including 14 doubles, three triples and two homeruns), batted in 17 runs and had a slugging percentage of .785. Sanford was also successful in all 17 of her stolen base attempts. Defensively, Sanford had a fielding percentage of .910.

Ayarzagoitia hit .640 this season. In that span, she belted 55 hits (including 11 doubles, five triples and three homeruns), brought in 34 runs, stole 14 bases and had a .988 slugging percentage. Ayarzagoitia also accomplished an unblemished fielding average of 1.000 for the season.

“One of our most important things is working on our defense because the least amount of errors we commit is going to win the game for us,” Head Coach Nilda Garcia said about her all-state duo’s defensive performance this season.

Sanford and Ayarzagoitia also proved themselves at the plate.

“These two did great for us with their bats,” Garcia said. “They always adjusted to whatever type of pitching we were facing and started hitting the ball.”

The Lady Brahmas can look forward to another solid year at shortstop with Sanford coming back.

“Having Julia back next year will be a great asset,” Garcia said. “I think being one of our leaders is very important and I hope she takes it very seriously and helps pick up the responsibility of being a senior leader.”

One spot Garcia will have to fill in, however, is at catcher as Ayarzagoitia recently joined four fellow senior teammates in graduating.

“I am going to miss all of this year’s seniors,” Garcia said. “I think you end up missing every senior each year and you have to replace them which can be hard but we always manage to do so.” The Lady Brahmas finished in second place in District 31-4A with a 12-2 record and reached the area round of the playoffs this past season.