Valley’s Villamar earns Sunrise Player of Year honors

It’s easy to look just at Lorena Villamar’s hitting and pitching statistics and see some of her contributions to the success of Valley’s softball team.

But it took being around the Vikings on a daily basis to know exactly what the senior brought to the table.

“She provided that leadership,” Valley coach Leslie Samson said. “She wanted the rest of the team to play up to her level. She demanded that out of them. It’s something that I hope carries over into next season.”

Villamar, who helped the Vikings to their first Northeast League title in softball, is the Sunrise Region Player of the Year.

“She was one of our best first basemen,” Samson said. “In our spring break tournament, she played third base and was outstanding. In the region tournament, we had to put her in the outfield and she did well. Whatever was good for the team was fine with her.”

Villamar led the Vikings in hitting with a .430 average and 22 RBIs. Valley finished 15-10, including a 12-0 Northeast record.

“She wants to absolutely kill the ball every swing,” Samson said. “Sometimes I was hoping the infield would back up because she could kill someone.”

Also the team’s No. 1 pitcher, Villamar had a 10-7 record, a 2.09 ERA and 63 strikeouts in nearly 104 innings.

“She got the ball because of her control,” Samson said. “She keeps batters on their toes because she can move the ball in and out. You never knew exactly where she was going to put it.”

Valley sophomore shortstop/pitcher Mickayla Romero joined Villamar on the All-Sunrise Region team.

Foothill’s Shelbie Medrano, who led her team to the region title and a third straight state tournament berth, was named the Pitcher of the Year in the region.

Also on the all-region team are Silverado catcher/infielder Mikayla Thielges, Las Vegas infielder Bri Guzman, Green Valley catcher Annamarie Smith, Liberty pitcher Breanna English, Basic pitcher Lacey Romo, Coronado catcher Devin Choltko and Chaparral infielder Kendy Reynoso.

The Northeast’s all-league first team comprises Villamar, Romero, Guzman, Reynoso, Valley catcher Cristina Medina and outfielder Zoe Galindo, Las Vegas pitcher/utility Tiffani Taylor and infielder Nikki Diaz and Rancho infielder/pitcher Amber Marlett.

On the Southeast all-league first team are Medrano, Romo, Choltko, Smith, English, Thielges, Foothill designated player Kylie Ishikawa, Green Valley infielder Shelby Vickers and outfielder Lace Jordan and Liberty infielder Megan Patras.

Samson is the Northeast League’s Coach of the Year. Green Valley’s Lauren Taylor won the honor in the Southeast.

The Sunset Region does not select an all-region team in softball, only all-league teams.

Spring Valley infielder/outfielder Jasmine Wilson was the Southwest League’s Most Valuable Player and Durango’s Nicole Herrera the Most Valuable Pitcher.

Joining them on the All-Southwest first team are Bonanza catcher Brittany Spencer and outfielder Nicolette Lind, Clark pitcher Elisa Dawson and catcher Jasmine Fukuda, Durango shortstop Jaexie Balilea, Desert Oasis catcher Emily Heinz, Pahrump Valley infielder Taylor Raymer and Sierra Vista infielder Ashley Krumme.

Durango’s Toni Del Toro is the Southwest’s Coach of the Year.

In the Northwest, Centennial shortstop Johnna Brown was named the league’s MVP and Shadow Ridge’s Mandy Harmon the Most Valuable Pitcher.

Also selected to the first team were Arbor View catcher/infielder Chelsea Venable, Centennial infielder Katie Lee and pitcher Lindsay Konopelko, Cheyenne catcher/pitcher Lexi Galindo, Cimarron-Memorial pitcher Carrie Sheehan and infielder Starlyn Thomas, Legacy outfielder Darcey Cochran, Palo Verde infielder Lauren Stover and Shadow Ridge infielders Ashley Huddleston and Rae-Ann Bohm.

Shadow Ridge’s Cindy Winter was named the Northwest Coach of the Year.