Softball: Trio of Falcons named 1st Team All-South Coast Conference

File Photo: Richere Leduc was one of three Falcons named 1st Team All-South Coast Conference
File Photo: Richere Leduc was one of three Falcons named 1st Team All-South Coast Conference

All-Conference Team

For the second season in a row, the sophomore duo of first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS) and pitcher Samantha Islas (California HS) have been voted 1st Team All-South Coast Conference. The two are joined by sophomore second baseman Alyssa Sotelo (El Rancho HS) on the 1st Team, while freshman catcher Jimena Velazquez (Fullerton HS) was a 2nd Team selection. Earning Honorable Mention honors were sophomore outfielder Alyssa Capps (Downey HS) and freshman outfielder Jazmine Macias (La Mirada HS).

Islas, the conference's Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, posted a 14-2 record with one save during conference play and won the last eight games over a 10-day period. She tossed 86 innings and surrendered just 63 hits, while striking out 50 batters and recorded a 1.22 ERA. Islas also tossed five complete games in conference play and did not allow a run in eight of her conference appearances. She also had one plate appearance and clubbed a double against Compton College.

As for Leduc, who joined Islas as also being All-State selections in their freshman years, led the team with a .453 batting average in conference play and recorded seven doubles, two home runs and drove in 18 runs, which tied for second on the team. Leduc had eight multiple-hit games and drove in a season-high four runs against Rio Hondo College. Sotelo batted .410 in conference action and led the team in hits (34) and stolen bases (11), tied for the team lead in runs scored (20) and added five doubles, a triple, two home runs and drove in 18 runs. Sotelo also capped off the season with  hits in 13 of the last 14 games, including 12 multiple-hit games in conference action and a trio of three-hit games.

Velazquez led the team in RBI in conference play with 26 along with five home runs and was second on the team with a .415 batting average. She had a trio of three-hit games, which included driving in a season-high five runs against East Los Angeles College. Velazquez also went 3-for-3 with four RBI in a big win over Long Beach City College. She didn't commit her first error on the year until the final regular season game.

Capps, a two-year starter in center field, batted .377 in conference play, with two doubles, a triple, seven RBI and eight stolen bases. She drove in the eventual game-winning runs with a two-run triple against El Camino College and had hits in 16 of the team's 24 conference games. She also played error-free defense and recorded a pair of outfield assists. Macias batted .375 in conference play and led the team with 10 doubles, while tying for the lead in runs scored (20) to go along with two home runs, 12 RBI and six stolen bases. Macias capped off the regular season with a trio of multiple-hit games (7-for-10) with four extra base hits and recorded 11 multiple-hit games in South Coast Conference play.