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Lathrop’s Santillan named WAC Offensive Player of the Year
All-WAC spring teams
Jerico Santillan spikes the ball from the back row in Lathrop’s Western Athletic Conference home match against Mountain House. - photo by Wayne Thallander

Jerico Santillan did not always get to play his preferred position at Lathrop, but his versatility and selflessness were key for the Spartans the past two seasons.

Whether it was at setter or outside hitter, Santillan made a positive impact and was rewarded with the Offensive Player of the Year award in the Western Athletic Conference.

First-time champion Mountain House (14-0 WAC, 28-5 overall) racked up the other major awards, as setter/outside hitter Adithya Gundlapalli received MVP while Michelle Laban is Coach of the Year.

Santillan made the All-WAC second team as an outside hitter last year when Lathrop won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship. He got to start his senior campaign at setter, where he is most comfortable, but the Spartans (12-2, 21-8) had a need for a secondary attacker.

He was second on the team with 90 kills in conference matches this past season. He also had a team-high 38 service aces to go with 191 assists.

Freshman outside hitter Gabriel Fa’ali’i and senior libero Lucas Baluyut were named to the All-WAC first team. Fa’ali’i amassed 165 kills, 26 aces and 90 digs. Baluyut, who recently earned honorable mention for the All-SJS Team, netted 335 digs and 35 aces.

Sophomore outside hitter Marco Palomares made the all-conference second team. Christian Buerster and Alexander Vere received honorable mention.

All-WAC spring teams
Jasper Tover delivers the pitch for Lathrop in a non-league game with Stagg. - photo by Wayne Thallander

Baseball

Four-year starter Jasper Tovar repeats as an all-conference first-team selection. The senior infielder/pitcher is joined by fellow Spartans A.J. Duenez and Omare Cross.

Freshman Julian Cazares from co-champion Los Banos (12-2, 13-8) is MVP, while Roy Gardner Mountain House (12-2, 18-10) is Pitcher of the Year. Los Banos’ Patrick Fuentes got Coach of the Year.

Tovar pitched and played shortstop for Lathrop (6-8, 7-11). He went 2-3 with a 2.12 ERA in seven league appearances, striking out 57 while walking 11 and scattering 38 hits in 46 1/3 innings. Offensively, he hit .458 with 14 runs scored and 14 steals.

All-WAC spring teams
Lathrop’s A.J. Duenez comes down with the ball on a high pickoff throw at second base in a non-league game with Stagg. - photo by Wayne Thallander
Duenez, also a pitcher and middle infielder, was Lathrop’s hop hitter with a .470 batting average, 15 RBIs and 20 steals. On the mound, he was 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings.

Cross contributed a .439 average and a team-high six doubles.

Juniors Adrian Zuniga and Anthony Gallardo made the second team. Matthew Rankin and Jamie Sifuentes earned honorable mention.

 

Softball

Junior Ariana Fuentes represents Lathrop (3-11, 4-11) on the All-WAC first team. She pitched in 12

All-WAC spring teams
Lathrop’s Ariana Fuentes throws the pitch against Ceres. - photo by Wayne Thallander
conference games, going 3-4 with a 3.30 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. Fuentes also hit for a .394 average.

Freshman Luz De Luna was named to the second team.

Tennessee Chattanooga-bound Abi Pikas of Pacheco (8-6, 16-11) was voted MVP. Belen Ruiz of Grace Davis (1-13, 2-14) was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Moxie Barton of WAC tri-champion Los Banos (11-3, 16-9) is Pitcher of the Year. Allison Noble of Mountain House (11-3, 15-11) and Charlie Pikas are Co-Coaches of the Year.