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Local quartet makes Cal-Hi Sports all-state teams
Cal-Hi Sports All-State Team
Kharime Caratachea winds up for the pitch in a Trans-Valley League game for Ripon. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

 Four recent grads from area schools have been named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State teams for spring sports.

Kharime Caratachea of Ripon is the lone area representative on the 41st annual All-State Softball, capping off her impressive prep resume. The San Francisco State-bound pitcher was named to the small-schools first team.

Manteca alumnus Rex Watson made the 42nd All-State Baseball Team as a medium-

Cal-Hi Sports All-State Team
Manteca alumnus Rex Watson follows through on a base hit. - photo by Wayne Thallander
schools first-team outfielder. Third basemen Dawson Downs (Ripon) and Grant Sonke (Ripon Christian) were both selected to the small-schools first team.

Caratachea and Watson were both tabbed as Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVPs for their sports.

Caratachea is a two-time All-Area MVP, two-time All-Trans-Valley League MVP and two-time MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team member after spearheading Ripon to its fourth straight league championship. She was one of the Section’s top hurlers, going 16-5 with a1.58 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 142 innings.

Watson led Manteca to its first postseason appearance since 2019 and hit a game-winning, walk-off homer in the Buffaloes’ opening-round victory. The three-time All-Valley Oak League first-team center fielder hit .414 for the season and went out with career-highs in hits (41), homers (five) and RBIs (29).

Cal-Hi Sports All-State Team
Ripon third baseman Dawson Downs looks to throw to first against host Escalon. - photo by SEAN KAHLER
Downs and Sonke were named the Bulletin’s Co-Offensive Players of the Year.

Sonke played an integral part in Ripon Christian reaching the SJS Division VI final, amassing 41 runs, 42 hits, nine doubles, four homers, 27 RBIs and 36 steals with a .438 batting average. Downs was the area’s top hitter with a .460 average, .590 on-base percentage and seven jacks.

Corona junior Seth Hernandez was recognized as the Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year. Kate Munnerlyn of St. Francis is Ms. Softball. 

Cal-Hi Sports All-State Team
Grant Sonke fields the ball for Ripon Christian in a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game.