Fullerton, Cypress Split Post-Season Softball Honors

Fullerton and Cypress shared the Orange Empire Conference softball title this season and the same was true in the post-season awards.

Fullerton outfielder Deborah Hargrave and Cypress third baseman Michelle Bailon were the co-most valuable players and Brad Pickler of Cypress and Lisa Bassi of Fullerton were the co-coaches of the year.

Hargrave, from Fullerton High, hit .364 and led the conference with 18 runs scored. Bailon, from Santa Fe Springs St. Paul High, hit .453 and didn’t strike out in a conference game.

Sheryl Anderson of Rancho Santiago was the conference pitcher of the year. She had a 14-6 record and a 1.18 earned-run average.

In baseball, Cypress’ switch-hitting catcher Craig Kuzmic was named the Orange Empire Conference’s player of the year.

Don Sneddon, who led Rancho Santiago to the conference title, was named coach of the year and Rancho Santiago pitcher Heath Bell and Riverside’s Cody Trask were selected co-pitchers of the year.

Kuzmic batted .410 and led the conference with 59 runs batted in, and Bell was 8-0 with nine saves and a 2.17 ERA.

The teams:

Softball first team: Pitchers--Sheryl Anderson (Rancho Santiago), Jamie Wilkes (Cypress); catcher--Selena Aquino (RS), Natasha Sisco (Fullerton); infielders--Michelle Bailon (C), Autumn Gwinner (C), Lynette Velazquez (F), Treva Whitaker (Saddleback); outfielders--Deborah Hargrave (F), Rockie Vandiver (C), Jessica Walker (C). Utility--Kelly Wilkerson (F).

Softball second team: Pitchers--Jennifer Cessna (Irvine Valley), Mandy Dorow (Riverside); catchers--Carrie Ritchey (Orange Coast), Kelly Humphries (C); infielders--Jill Cardiel (Golden West), Melissa Cruz (RS), Tami Harris (IV), Chris Puccio (F), Aimee Weathers (C); outfielders--Kristy Bonwell (F), Kiki McAulay (F), Sandra Mulder (C), Jill Tantardini (C), Molly Sinclair (OC).

Baseball first team: Starting pitchers--Mike Palumbo (S), Matt Ward (RS); catcher--Brian Logan (F); relief pitcher--Brian Greene (C); first baseman--Kirk Bolling (S); infielders--Greg Dobbs (R), Nick Garcia (F), Josh Reding (RS), Joe Secoda (RS), Erik Sobek (RS), Corrie Willkie (S); outfielders--Jeff Bajenaru (R), Kevin Burford (RS), Greg Ferrell (S), Rick Gonzalez (RS); utility--Greg Jacobs (C); designated hitter--Jaeme Leal (R).

Baseball second team: Starting pitchers--Ron Aparico (C), Jeff Bowman (RS), Pat Versluis (S); relief pitcher--Ryan Poe (S); catchers--Casey Flanigan (GW), Chet Savage (R); first baseman--Kevin Duck (RS); infielders--Randy Case (C), Travis Clutter (OCC), Nick Punto (S), Craig Ritter (OCC), Ken Sundstrom (GW); outfielders--Bo Bryant (F), Scott Daeley (C), Bobby Kielty (R), Johnny Nguyen (S), Ryan Ruiz (S), utility--Kevin Stuart (GW); designated hitters--Brian Flanagan (C), Jason Radwan (S).