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Ripon Christian’s Crivello, Tameling earn MVP for SAL spring sports
All-SAL spring
Luke Crivello delivers a pitch for Ripon Christian in a Southern Athletic League contest. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

 Ripon Christian’s Luke Crivello and Mason Tameling were named spring sports MVPs after leading their teams to outright championships in the Southern Athletic League.

The school is returning to the Trans-Valley League as a full-time member in the fall.

Crivello was a two-way standout on the baseball team (12-2 SAL, 22-9 overall) as an ace pitcher, a middle infielder and a productive hitter.

The senior started half of Ripon Christian’s 14 games on the mound, finishing with a 1.40 earned run average with 47 strikeouts, 18 hits allowed and 14 walks in 35 innings. At the plate, he hit for a .353 batting average with 17 runs, 10 batted in and 12 stolen bases. Defensively, the middle infielder had a .926 fielding percentage, committing just two errors while turning four double plays.

Tameling emerged as the go-to weapon on the boys volleyball team (10-0, 19-8), but he was just as

All-SAL spring
Ripon Christian’s Mason Tameling comes up with the block against visiting Orestimba in Southern Athletic League action.
important in defense. The 6-foot-2 sophomore outside hitter paced the Knights with 104 kills (3.9 per set) and 60 digs in league matches. He also served 19 aces.

John de Visser (baseball) and Kevin Tameling (volleyball) received Coach of the Year for their sports. It’s the eighth for de Visser.

Here’s a look at the rest of Ripon Christian’s all-league awardees:


Baseball

Seniors Dustin Hoekstra and Grant Sonke are no strangers to the All-SAL list.

Both are three-time all-league selections, and Hoekstra was MVP last year. Hoekstra pitched and played second baseman for the Knights, boasting a tidy 0.56 ERA in league. He also struck out 56 against 19 hits and 12 walks allowed in 37 1/3 innings. Offensively, he hit .295 with 18 runs, 14 RBIs, four doubles, a triple and 14 steals.

A catcher and center fielder in previous seasons, Sonke moved to third base for his final act with Ripon Christian. He was again the Knights’ fire starter on offense, sporting a .426 average with team-highs in hits (20), runs (19), RBIs (17) and steals (18). He also clubbed two doubles, a triple and a homer.

Junior catcher Josh Buffalow is a two-time all-leaguer. He hit .375 with 17 RBIs and led RC with eight extra-base hits — all doubles — in league games.

Senior Kayden Anderson received honorable mention.


Boys volleyball

The Knights successfully defended their SAL throne despite losing their top players from the previous season to graduation.

Joining Tameling on the all-league team are five other Knights, with two others getting honorable mention.

Setter/right-side hitter Preston Zuidervaart and libero Zach Varni were the senior leaders. Zuidervaart netted 31 kills, 31 aces, 11 blocks and 184 assists. Varni pitched in 54 digs.

Also making all-league are junior right-side hitter Isaiah Vander Woude (60 kills, 11 blocks), sophomore middle Darren Van Groningen (60 kills, 20 blocks, 22 aces) and junior setter Joel Hendricks (98 assists, 29 aces). Sophomores Daniel Lambdin and Isaac Venema earned honorable mention.