LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ohlone College led all programs with three selections, Fresno City College, Palomar College and Cypress College each had two selections as the NFCA announced the 2016 NFCA CalJC All-American teams on Thursday evening.
To view a complete list of the 2016 NFCA CalJC All-Americans, please click HERE.
Ohlone topped the North Region, while Palomar and Cypress headlined the South Region. Leading the way for Ohlone is first baseman Mckayla Saavedra with a Coast-North best .508 batting average and 60 hits to go along with nine doubles four homeruns, 31 RBI and 23 runs. Along with a .989 fielding percentage (3rd), Saavedra is second with a .567 on-base percentage and fourth in slugging at .686. Also taking home honors for the Renegades is repeat All-American Haley Keahi. The sophomore shortstop is batting .444 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs 43 RBI and 41 runs scored. She tops the conference in doubles and is second in long balls, RBI and slugging (.887). Samantha Dean rounds out Ohlone’s selections. She is batting .438 with 60 hits, 12 doubles, 48 runs and 43 RBI. Her hits rank second, while run and RBI are third-best in the league.
Earning All-American honors for Palomar College are infielder Brienna Dunckel and catcher Bailey Romano. Dunckel leads the Pacific Coast Conference with 70 hits, 58 runs and 29 stolen bases. Her .490 batting average and five home runs rank second, while her .513 on-base and .678 slugging percentage are fourth and fifth best. Romano hit .406 with 12 doubles, 23 RBI, 29 runs scored and threw out eight would-be base stealers.
Garnering recognition for Cypress College is two-time All-American utility player Taylor Pierce and outfielder Justice Walker, who led the Chargers to a No. 1 regular season ranking in the Southern California Poll and a No. 2 overall ranking in the state poll. Pierce, who spent time as an infielder and pitcher, hit .452- third in the Orange Empire- with nine doubles, six homers, 41 RBI and 31 runs scored. In the circle, she is 14-3 with four shutouts, 85 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA, ranking second, third and second in the latter three categories, respectively. Walker chipped in with a .407 average, 55 hits, eight doubles, five triples and four dingers. Her triples and 47 runs rank second in the league and she is third in hits and stolen bases (27).
Sarah Santana was a one-person wrecking crew at the plate and in the circle for Fresno City. She led the Central Valley Conference with 36 wins in the circle, while topping the league in almost every offensive category – .504 batting average, 71 hits, 15 home runs, 65 RBI, 55 runs and a .901 slugging percentage. Her teammate, infielder Renee Ortega hit .418 with 56 hits, eight triples and 44 runs scored. She led league in three-baggers, was second in hits, fourth in average and fifth in runs scored.
Cabrillo College’s Jamie Sugimota rounds out the infield honorees in the North, posting a Coast-South Conference best .432 batting average, 11 home runs, 34 runs scored, 43 RBI and .847 slugging percentage. She has a good eye at the plate drawing a league-high 31 walks for a .558 on-base percentage.
College of the Redwoods’ Kyla Clapham, College of the Sequoias’ Ashley Guzman and Cosumnes River College’s Amber Wright make up the outfield selections. Clapham is batting a Gold Valley-best .447 with 55 hits and a .504 on-base percentage. In addition, she has 10 doubles, five triples, 35 runs scored and a .610 slugging percentage, all ranking in the top five. The speedy Guzman leads the Central Valley with eight triples, is second with 56 hits, fourth in batting average (.418) and fifth in runs scored (44). Wright tops the Big 8 with a .455 average, 61 hits, 48 runs and a .486 on-base percentage.
Rounding out the North Region is catcher Harlee Donovan of the College of San Mateo. Donovan provided power at the plate for the Bulldogs with a Coast-North Conference-best 16 long balls, 57 RBI and 1.024 slugging percentage. She also leads the league with 60 runs scored, 30 walks and a .585 on-base percentage helping the Bulldogs earn a No. 1 overall ranking in the final regular season state poll.
Moving on over to the rest of the South Region, Mt. San Antonio College’s Tiffany Kennedy-Cummings earns the nod at pitcher. Kennedy-Cummings posted a miniscule 0.89 ERA, held her opponents to a .159 batting average and posted seven shutouts- all South Coast Conference bests. Her 14-2 mark with 122 strikeouts ranked second and third, respectively.
Joining Dunckel in the infield are Santiago Canyon College’s Emili Olague, Cerritos College’s Jenny Collazo and College of the Canyons Kiana Holder. Olague powered her way to the honor, pacing the Orange Empire with a cool .504 batting average, 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 114 total bases, 27 walks, .579 on-base percentage and a .992 slugging percentage. Collazo was tops in the South Coast Conference in several offensive categories- runs (49), doubles (17), triples (4), home runs (8), RBI (52), slugging percentage (.769). She also hit .403 and swiped 15 bases. Holder, a first baseman, hit .455 with a Western State-Blue Conference-high 51 RBI and 61 hits. She doubled 11 times, hit seven home runs and scored 29 runs.
Finalizing the South Region is All-American outfielders Raelani Camez of El Camino College and Erica Serfoss of Antelope Valley College. Camez hit just south of .500 to lead the South Coast Conference with a .496 average and 65 hits. She is third with 46 runs, 18 stolen bases and .656 slugging percentage. The fleet-footed Serfoss leads the Western State Blue Conference with a .496 batting average and 21 stolen bases to go along with 57 hits, five doubles, 22 RBI and a .517 on-base percentage.