One of the smallest players in the area, none made as big an impact for her team as Kharime Caratachea.

The Ripon graduate led the Indians (17-6) to a fourth straight Trans-Valley League championship this spring and has been named Manteca Bulletin All-Area Softball MVP for a second time.

The San Francisco State-bound hurler, also known as “Mims,” was dominant

in her senior campaign, racking up the seventh most strikeouts in the SJS with 224. She also posted a 16-5 record with a 1.58 ERA, allowed 94 hits and 14 walks, and pitched 142 of 152 innings for Ripon.

Offensively, Caratachea hit for a .352 average and drove in 10 runs.

She pitched two perfect games this year, including a seven-inning shutout of Hughson in which she struck out 15.

The unflappable ace had some of her best performances against other top squads. Ripon started the season with a 5-0 win over Manteca, which would later advance to the semifinal round of the competitive SJS Division III bracket. Caratachea struck out 12 in the two-hitter.

She also locked down eventual San Joaquin Athletic Association champion Linden, again striking out 12 in a two-hitter. Ripon won that marquee matchup, 2-1.

In TVL action, Caratachea pitched all nine innings in a thrilling 3-2 win over rival Escalon. She fired 13 strikeouts against four hits and three walks.

The Indians ended the regular season with another extra-inning win, edging out Riverbank, 3-2. Caratachea notched 14 strikeouts and scattered five hits in eight innings.

Two weeks later, Ripon survived a scare in its 4-1 second-round win over Union Mine, which scored the first run of the game in the top of the sixth inning before the Indians’ attack came alive.

Caratachea was steady as usual, tallying 11 strikeouts in the four-hitter.

Ripon was unable to get over the semifinal hump in its next game. The Indians fell 11-0 at Central Catholic, marking the third straight year that they ran into a powerhouse in this stage of the postseason.

Caratachea’s talents have not gone unnoticed, however. On top of repeating as All-Area MVP, she’s also a two-time All-TVL MVP, two-time MaxPreps All-SJS Team selection and one-time All-TVL Pitcher of the Year.

Here’s the rest of the Manteca Bulletin All-Area Team:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Luz De Luna, Lathrop, So.: The Spartans’ catcher played a big part in the best season in program history. She led area players with a .424 batting average and 25 RBIs. De Luna also had 28 hits, eight of which went for doubles, and plated 12 runs.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Nayellys Torres, Manteca, Sr.: Torres

goes out as the most accomplished pitcher in her school’s history. On top of setting the career strikeouts record at 497, she was part of several program milestones, such as its first postseason home win and first SJS semifinal appearance. The three-time All-Valley Oak League First Team selection went 13-7 as a senior, registering a 2.12 ERA with 148 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings. She is on her way to Dominican University.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Moncada, Manteca, So.: Torres put much trust in her young batterymate, and with good reason. The Buffaloes benefitted from Moncada’s athleticsm behind the plate, and she was also the offensive spark plug from the top of the lineup with a .389 average, three home runs and eight steals.

ALL-AREA TEAM

Pitcher: Ariana Fuentes, Lathrop, Sr.

Catchers: Mackenzie Nervis, East Union, Sr.; Izabelle Spurzem, Ripon, So.

Infielders: 3B/2B Maleiah Garza, Manteca, Fr.; 3B/C Alana Hernandez, Ripon, Jr.; SS Sienna Lowery, Manteca, So.; SS Addison Naranjo, Ripon, So.; SS Sienna Owen, East Union, Fr.; 1B Lily Pickering, East Union, So.

Outfielders: Mikayla Simpson, East Union, Jr.; Breanna Tyler, Sierra, Sr.; Ayva Wilkins, Manteca, Fr.; Jaycee Wilmshurst, Ripon, Sr.