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Sierra’s Morrow named top offensive player in VOL
Central Catholic’s Wentworth gets MVP; Manteca’s Watson earns 3rd first-team spot
All-VOL baseball
Troy Morrow celebrates after scoring a run for Sierra in a Valley Oak League home game against Oakdale. - photo by Wayne Thallander
JONAMAR JACINTO
The Bulletin
Published: Jun 1, 2024, 5:25 AM

 Sierra third baseman Troy Morrow was voted Offensive Player of the Year, Manteca center fielder Rex Watson made the All-Valley Oak League baseball team for a third time.

The two recent graduates are among the Manteca Unified products to earn all-league honors.

Ripon resident and Clemson commit Tyler Wentworth of co-champion Central Catholic (11-4 VOL, 23-9 overall) is the MVP after getting the same award for football and basketball earlier in the school year. The Raiders are in the California Interscholastic Federation Division III Northern Regional final today at top-seeded Oakmont of Roseville. It’s a rematch of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship.

Central Catholic catcher Fernando Alaniz garnered Defensive Player of the Year. Oakdale sophomore Landon Schutte is Pitcher of the Year. Oakdale’s Joey Machado and Central Catholic’s Danny Ayala are Co-Coaches of the Year. Oakdale (11-4, 23-9).

All-VOL baseball
Sierra’s Troy Morrow beats the tag to second base on a steal against visiting Manteca.

Morrow ended his impressive senior campaign for Sierra (7-8, 14-11) hitting .500 in league with team-highs in runs scored (18), hits (24), doubles (eight) and stolen bases (11). He also racked up nine RBIs, hit a triple and a home run.

Sierra junior pitcher Wyatt Bauer also made the first team. He went 1-3 in five league appearances, recording a 4.00 ERA to go with 39 strikeouts in 28 innings.

All-VOL baseball
Manteca center fielder Rex Watson gets under a short pop fly.
Watson, headed to San Diego, came into his final year as the reigning Offensive Player of the Year. He had an other productive season, hitting .392 with 20 hits, 13 runs, 11 RBIs, six doubles, two homers and six steals. Manteca (8-7, 19-9-1) finished fourth in the VOL.

Freshman pitcher/third baseman Nathan Slikker and junior catcher Preston Smith were other Buffaloes named to the first team.

Slikker had a 4-2 VOL record with a 1.39 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings. He was also Manteca’s top clutch hitter with 16 RBIs to go with a .311 average, two doubles and four triples. Smith paced the Buffs with a .405 batting average, knocking in 10 runs.

Third-place East Union (8-7, 17-11) has three first-team selections in freshman first baseman Joe Alvarez, sophomore outfielder Jackson Fay and junior shortstop/pitcher Blake Mount.

All-VOL baseball
East Union’s Blake Mount follows through on his swing before taking off for first base. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Fay was the offensive ignition from the top of the Lancers’ order, hitting .452 in league with 21 runs and 21 steals. Mount hit .348 with 14 RBIs and was 3-1 with a 2.20 and 30 strikeouts from the mound. Alvarez recorded a .341 batting average, hit a home run and drove in 12 runs.

Making the All-VOL second team for East Union was senior catcher Carson Sanders (.233, 12 runs). Senior pitcher Zach Grabowski, sophomore third baseman Kirk Simoni and sophomore infielder Brayden Camara received honorable mention.

Manteca junior outfielder Christopher Chavez (.372, 16 runs) and sophomore infielder Noah Navarro (.263) were named to the second team. Freshman pitcher Jeremy Cross and junior infielder Jace Quitasol earned honorable mention.

Senior infielders Andruw Navarro (.359, 10 RBIs) and Angel Valdez (.298, 11 RBIs) and sophomore outfielder Jacob Morrow (.372, 10 RBIs) are Sierra’s second-team representatives. Junior pitcher/first baseman Collins Schluer made honorable mention.