ESPNHS California

Pacifica’s Kyle Davis shows there more to the Mariners than nationally-ranked softball team. This week’s honor roll also includes Theron Kay from San Jose Valley Christian and Cody Snider of Dougherty Valley.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, May 19; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 23; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Donovan Bertonchini (Madera South)
He went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run, double and a career high seven RBIs in a 15-2 win over Porterville in a CIF Central Section D3 playoff game.

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Carson’s Darian Tautalafua ties the state record with 53rd career homer and has one game left to try and break it. Strikeout artist Cheridan Hawkins and multi-talented Alex Pingree also among this week’s best.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, May 19; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 23; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Vanessa Alvarez (Archbishop Mitty, San Jose)
The Cal-bound Monarchs star pitched a mercy-shortened no-hitter for her 12th shutout this year in a 10-0 CIFCCS D2 quarterfinal victory over WCAL rival Presentation.

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Five-foot-2 pitchers Benipayo and Lombardi deliver big performances for their teams. Plus, Melissa Taukeiaho hammers three homers in a game for the second time this season.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, May 12; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 16; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Sophia Benipayo (Concord)
The 5-foot-2 Benipayo made Berean Christian (Walnut Creek) pay and at the same time delivered the KO, homering, tripling, diving in three and scoring three times to lead the Minutemen girls to an 11-2 victory and a 12-0 season in Diablo Valley Athletic League play.

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Freshman throws a one-hitter to lead his varsity team to a league championship. This week’s best also includes J.D. Cisneros of Bakersfield Ridgeview (6-for-6) and Dalton Smith of San Diego University City.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, May 12; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 16; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Brady Aiken (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego)
The promising sophomore shut out Coronado in the Dons’ 5-0 Western League with 13 strikeouts in six innings. He has helped Cathedral Catholic to the No. 2 state ranking in Division III so far this season.

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Being a stat star is one thing, but S.F. Washington’s Christopher Hau put together his big game at AT&T Park. Also among this week’s best is pitcher Cody Valdez, who threw an eight-inning no-hitter and lost.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, May 5; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 9; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

T.J. Briggs (Freedom, Oakley)
He pitched six innings of two-hit ball and also drove in four runs in a 7-1 win over Antioch.

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Marjani Knighten of Fullerton Sunny Hills leads the pack with three homers as part of a 5-for-5 outing. Others among the best include L.A. Lincoln’s Angelica Felix and Monache’s Kaitlyne Thompson.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, May 5; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 9; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Dani Albini (San Marin, Novato)
In a 1-0 win over San Rafael, she tossed her first complete-game no-hitter this season (11 strikeouts) to go with three one-hitters and six two-hitters for the 17-1 Mustangs.

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Homers still piling up for hitting phenom Sierra Romero of Vista Murrieta. Others among this week’s best include Los Al’s Laufou, Hart’s Ziese and Millbrae Mills’ Giusti.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 28; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 2; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Lindsey Chalmers (California, San Ramon)
The Grizzlies’ sophomore pitcher that gave Cal-Hi Sports No. 3 Amador Valley of Pleasanton some trouble two weeks ago, gave Livermore even more trouble, tossing a one-hitter in a 4-0 victory.

Sophia Chiavatti (Foothill, Santa Ana)
Despite having just two hits in two official at bats, she managed to drive in six runs with a grand-slam home run and had a two-run double in the team’s 11-7 loss to El Modena of Orange.

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Fresno’s Hawkins sets section homer record in same game his coach gets win No. 600. Week’s best also includes another coach winning 800th game plus second no-hitter for Beckman’s Kaprielian and perfect games for Pleasant Grove’s Stilwell, East Union's Swift.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 28; includes some games as of Wednesday, May 2; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Paul Blackburn (Heritage, Brentwood)
With the Cal-Hi Sports caravan there to see his match-up with Cal-Hi Sports No. 9 state-ranked Deer Valley of Antioch and its Cal State Fullerton-bound ace Ricky Delgado, it was Blackburn that did the roasting and toasting. Despite an illustrious career that earned him a spot on the Oakland Athletics Area Code Games roster last summer, he had never pitched a no-hitter in high school. That is until he only needed 72 pitches and faced the minimum 21 batters, in a 6-0 no-no that included eight strikeouts and two double-play grounders that erased his two walks.

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Crescenta Valley has yet another big-time slugger in sophomore Hannah Cookson. This week's best also includes more homers from Michigan-bound Sierra Romero of Vista Murrieta, a five-RBI day that helps a coach win her 500th game and a promising freshman from Valley Christian of San Jose.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 21; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 25; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Marissa Chapa (Newark Memorial, Newark)
The Cougars’ ace bounced back from a loss to arch-rival and state-ranked James Logan (Union City) by pitching a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and also contributing two RBIs in a mercy-shortened 13-3 win over Irvington of Fremont.

Hannah Cookson (Crescenta Valley, La Crescenta)
Despite being just a sophomore, this Falcons’ slugger is among the state leaders with 43 runs batted in as she hit three homers and drove in five runs in a 16-0 win over Muir of Pasadena earlier this week and then hit two home runs and drove in four runs the next day in an 8-7 win over Hoover of Glendale. Cookson's biggest slugging accomplishment this season so far, though, is the two grand slams she hit in one inning of a game last week when Crescenta Valley beat Arcadia, 18-7. The two grand slams in one inning ties a state record first set in 2005 by Brigean Murphy of Los Angeles Ribet and tied in 2008 by Delaney Willard of Camarillo. It's also believed to be a tie for a reported national record.

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It's back-to-back no-hitters for duo from St. Bernard of Eureka. This week's best also includes a six-hit game by San Diego Clairemont's Luke Jarvis in which he also hit for the cycle plus a clutch homer by Jack Stinn of S.F. St. Ignatius that will shake up the next state rankings.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 21; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 25; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Josh Allen (Firebaugh)
It wasn’t a typo that Firebaugh defeated Avenal 42-0 in a baseball game last week. Allen went 5-for-6 at the plate in that game with five RBIs and also pitched a five-inning no-hitter with 12 strikeouts. Teammate Juan Garcia also had a career day at the plate as he scored six times and had eight RBIs.

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Scoring decision is the difference in Rodriguez of Fairfield pitcher not getting credit for sixth career no-hitter. Area Code standout Freddy Avis of Menlo School also is among this week’s best.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 14; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 18; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Angel Acosta (Gabrielino, San Gabriel)
Make it three no-hitters for the season for Acosta, who notched No. 3 on Wednesday of this week in a 8-0 win over South El Monte. Acosta, who also drove in a pair of runs with his bat, struck out 10 batters and raised his career strikeout total to more than 400.

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Rowland’s Kaylea Snaer still hitting homers at a record pace despite her team’s struggles. Farmersville duo who both had five hits in one game also among this week’s best.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 14; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 18; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Maggie Arriola (Garces, Bakersfield)
She hit for the cycle, going 4-for-4 at the plate and collecting four RBIs in a 18-0 win over North of Bakersfield.

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Strikeout kings once again steal the spotlight as San Pasqual’s Kevin Grendell nearly sets San Diego Section record with 20 in one game while Tracy’s Jonah Wesely starts out a five-inning no-hitter with 13 in a row.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 7; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 11; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Angel Acosta (Gabrielino, San Gabriel)
The strikeouts kept coming for Acosta as well in a 5-0 win by Gabrielino last week over Mountain View of El Monte. He ended with 16 although he did give up six hits. Acosta tossed a no-hitter in his previous start.

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It’s a 5-for-5 bonanza led by Exeter’s Brooke Coates and Fresno Edison’s Alma Ibarra. This week’s honor roll also includes a salute to state’s winningest coach as he earns 900th all-time triumph.

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school softball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, April 7; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 11; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Vanessa Alvarez (Archbishop Mitty, San Jose)
The Cal-bound Monarchs’ ace opened the Livermore Stampede with a five-inning perfect game in a 10-0 win over California of San Ramon. Despite getting roughed up by Amador Valley in a 8-1 loss in the semis, she still had solid numbers from the circle and at the plate. At the plate leading off, she was 10-for-18 with three doubles, two RBIs, five runs scored, a walk and three stolen bases.

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Among the best on this week’s baseball honor roll is one of the state’s top Class of 2013 football recruits plus Erik Barron of San Jose Mt. Pleasant (threw second straight no-hitter) and Luke Eubank of Newbury Park (threw second no-hitter).

Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school baseball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.

(After games of Saturday, March 31; includes some games as of Wednesday, April 4; Contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)

Erik Barron (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose)
Throwing a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts doesn’t get you into the state record book, but Barron did it after he had a no-hitter in his previous start and that certainly does the trick. Barron’s first no-hitter came in a 5-0 win two weeks ago against Evergreen Valley of San Jose. The second came in a 4-0 win last week over Oak Grove. The Cardinals also beat Oak Grove 24-0 in a recent game. Barron didn’t pitch in that game, but he hit and went 3-for-4 with six RBIs.

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