Nayellys Torres has been named to her third Valley Oak League first team, marking the end of an era for the Manteca softball team.

The graduated senior was at the center of some of the Buffaloes’ greatest moments in program history, including a run to their first-ever Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal this past spring. She’s one of just four Manteca Unified student-athletes to make the all-league first team.

VOL co-champion Oakdale (8-2, 22-7 overall) lassoed two of the major awards, as Pacific-bound catcher Presley Barnes garnered MVP honors and Raegen Everett earned Pitcher of the Year. It was the Mustangs who knocked off Manteca in a controversial semifinal, 2-1, on the way to the SJS Division III crown.

Freshman shortstop Samantha Nichols of SJS Division IV runner-up Central Catholic (8-2, 20-8) is Offensive Player of the Year, and Sam Nichols received Coach of the Year. Kimball junior shortstop/outfielder Kaeliana DePerio got Defensive Player of the Year.

Torres, signed to Dominican University, is the all-time career strikeouts leader for Manteca (6-4, 17-8) with 497, and that’s with a pandemic-shortened freshman year in which there were no postseason awards in the VOL.

She started all 10 of the Buffaloes’ league games this season, going 6-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings. Torres also keyed the attacking, hitting .385 with three doubles and five RBIs.

Sophomore teammates Sienna Lowery and Lauren Moncada also made the All-VOL

first team. Lowery is all-league again after getting on the second team last year. The shortstop hit .393 and had a .528 on-base percentage. Moncada, the Buffaloes’ catcher, led the team with a .517 batting average, .588 on-base percentage, 13 runs and three homers.

Manteca sophomore infielder Jocelyn Baptist (.294, six RBIs, five doubles) and freshman infielder Maleiah Garza (.303) are on the All-VOL second team. Freshman outfielder Ayva Wilkins received honorable mention.

East Union (3-7, 13-10) is represented by junior Mikayla Simpson on the all-league first team. She was the Lancers’ top hitter in VOL play with a .370 average and six RBIs. She also made eight pitching appearances.

East Union players on the second team are Alabama State-bound catcher Mackenzie Nervis (.320, three HRs,11 RBIs), freshman Sienna Owen (.345, six RBIs) and sophomore Liky Pickering (.300, two HRs). Sophomore Fallon Norman got honorable mention.

Sierra (0-1-, 4-15) has one all-league selection in senior Breanna Tyler (.300). Sophomore Val Villanueva made honorable mention.