All-Foothill League baseball, softball awards highlighted by Ricardo Ojeda and Kate Penberthy
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The Foothill League announced its all-league selections for baseball and softball for the 2023 season.
Valencia swept the big awards this spring. Lance Mittelman was named league MVP and Ricardo Ojeda, who threw the program’s first perfect game this year, was named Pitcher of the Year. Ojeda struck out 12 batters in 72 pitches in a 7-0 win over Taft High on March 3.
Mittelman finished the year batting .452 with 33 hits, 15 RBI, 12 doubles, 11 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .684. Ojeda went 8-2 from the bump with an ERA of 0.53 and 89 strikeouts.
First Team selections: Pablo Rodriguez, Canyon, Sr.; Kyler Freude, Castaic, Sr.; Joji Sakata, Castaic, Sr.; Aaron Gonzalez, Castaic, Sr.; Wyatt Crosby, Golden Valley, Sr.; Brayden Jefferies, Hart, Jr.; Troy Cooper, Hart, Jr.; Zach Plaschaert, Saugus, Sr.; Evan Jaquez, Valencia, Sr.; Aidan Buntich, West Ranch, Jr.; Ty DePerno, West Ranch, Sr.
SOFTBALL
Hart senior Kate Penberthy was named the league’s MVP after batting .529 and tallying 46 hits, 32 RBI, 16 doubles and eight homers. She was walked 16 times. Valencia sophomore Carly Kearns went 11-1 from the circle in 18 appearances with an ERA of 1.32 and racked up 72 strike outs in 85 innings. She only walked five batters all season.
First Team selections: Jessica Carr, Canyon, So.; Tenley Sweet, Hart, Sr; Alexis Lopez, Hart, Jr.; Sophia Parra, Hart, Jr.; Madison Campeau, Saugus, Sr.; Sami Stadtlander, Saugus, Sr.; Ally Wolf, Valencia, Jr.; Hope Seper, Valencia, Jr.; Addison Snyder, Valencia, Sr.; Krista Viereck, West Ranch, Jr.