The Menlo College softball team set a program record with 31 wins and could extend that during the Golden State Athletic Conference playoffs, which is on the horizon.
Before the title quest commences, though, Menlo had four players honored on the all-GSAC team: Bryce Etzler, Victoria Cervantes, Lauren Harrison, and Sarah Reyes.
Etzler has put up a stellar season in a return to the diamond following an injury-riddled 2016 campaign. Her all-GSAC honors at first base make her one of five infielders in the conference to be so honored.
She leads all Menlo hitters with a .411 batting average, with one home run and 17 runs batted in. Her 13 doubles rank fifth best in the conference, and her batting average of .431 is tied for the best mark in the GSAC.
Her presence in the third spot in the lineup has helped Menlo record the second best batting average as a team in the conference. She also owns a .986 fielding percentage.
Cervantes has been nothing short of dominant in her freshman season and the pitcher was rewarded with a spot on the all-conference team.
Cervantes sports a 14-7 record in 27 games (21 starts), with nine complete games and two shutouts, both coming in the final four weeks of the season.
She has tossed 123 2/3 innings with 62 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .270 against her. Her 1.81 ERA was the sixth best in a single season in Menlo history and ranked fourth best in the conference.
The team’s earned run average of 2.59 is the best mark in the past decade, thanks in large part to Cervantes.
Harrison grew up playing with Cervantes in Escondido, and she joins her freshman teammate on the All-GSAC Team.
Harrison solidified the leadoff position for the Oaks this season, hitting .388 with 15 runs batted in. She also recorded five doubles, three triples, and lead the Oaks with 14 stolen bases.
She made appearances in every conference game this season for the Oaks, and hit .391 in those conference games, and failed to make an error in a GSAC game.
Reyes earned her spot on the all-GSAC team because of her versatility. She’s arguably one of the best two-way players in the league.
Her offensive numbers are impressive, hitting .362 with seven home runs and 36 runs batted in, the best run-producing numbers on the team.
Equally as impressive were the numbers against conference opponents: three homers with 26 RBIs, eight more RBIs than any other player in conference play.
As a pitcher, Reyes tossed 84 innings en route to a 6-4 record with a 3.58 earned run average.
Vanguard, the conference’s regular season championship, led the way with six all-GSAC selections.
The playoffs begin in Costa Mesa (hosted by Vanguard) on May 2, and the Oaks have the second game that morning.
Menlo takes on William Jessup at 11:30 a.m. The winner meets either Vanguard, San Diego Christian, or Hope International.
The loser will have to play the same day against the loser of the San Diego Christian and Hope International game.
By Menlo Athletics
By Menlo Athletics
By Menlo Athletics