The Register’s 2015 All-County softball team.
FIRST TEAM
Taylor McQuillin
Mission Viejo, Sr., P
The Register’s pitcher of the year. Read about McQuillin.
Alyssa Palomino
Mission Viejo, Sr., OF
The Register’s player of the year. Read about Palomino.
Katya Duvall
Los Alamitos, Sr., P
A torn ACL kept Duvall out of the circle her junior season, but the right-hander made up for the lost time as a senior. Boasting some of the best control around, Duvall was the Sunset League pitcher of the year, guiding the Griffins to a 9-0 mark in league with a sub-1.50 ERA. Los Alamitos reached the Division 1 quarterfinals. Duvall and fellow All-County first-teamer Brianna Betschel of Canyon will join forces at Ohio State in the fall.
Hailey Hilburn
Canyon, Sr., P
She won a career-high 23 games and pitched Canyon to its second consecutive Division 1 semifinals appearance. Hilburn tossed 205 innings and averaged one strikeout per frame. Maybe most impressive was how much Hilburn improved at the plate. A season after hitting .279, the Utah-bound righty shot her average up to .407, leading a loaded Canyon lineup with seven home runs and nine doubles.
Dejah Mulipola
Pacifica, Jr., C
For the first time in her varsity career, Mulipola was the veteran in Pacifica’s battery. The Mariners junior was instrumental in Hannah Boos’ development in the circle as Pacifica earned the No. 2 seed in the Division 1 playoffs. While her defense was always top notch, her bat developed into one of the county’s deadliest. The Arizona-bound junior will be one of the favorites to capture the Register’s county player of the year award in 2016.
Paulina Anasis
Canyon, Sr., Inf.
Anasis makes her second consecutive first-team appearance. The Northwestern-bound third baseman finished with a .431 average, 44 hits, 33 RBI, 26 runs and six homers – all career-highs. Hitting in the No. 3 hole all season, Anasis was a major reason why Canyon boasted one of the most feared lineups in the Southern Section.
Mackenzie Boesel
Orange Lutheran, Jr., Inf.
Boesel was an extremely valuable leadoff batter: she could hit for power and average, but also take the free base if her pitch wasn’t there. The shortstop posted a .462 average and finished with team highs in doubles (13), home runs (8) and RBI (37). She struck out twice in 113 plate appearances. With incredible range at shortstop, Boesel will be one of the top returning players in the county in 2016.
Shay Knighten
Sunny Hills, Sr., Inf.
One of the slickest fielding middle infielders in the area, Knighten also led Sunny Hills in every major offensive category. The Oklahoma-bound shortstop batted .494, drove in 30 runs and scored 34. She racked up 12 doubles and hit seven home runs, while striking out only twice in 108 plate appearances. Behind Knighten, the Lancers shared the Freeway League title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division 2 playoffs.
Ali Wester
Edison, Sr., Inf.
The Chargers finished in third place in the always-competitive Sunset League, but Wester impressed so much as a senior, she was named the league’s co-MVP alongside Los Alamitos’ Jenna Holcomb. Wester’s .520 batting average was among the county’s highest, as were her 52 hits and 30 runs scored. She was 27-for-27 in stolen base attempts. That speed will likely see her make the transition from the infield to the outfield when she starts playing for Notre Dame next season.
Brianna Betschel
Canyon, Sr., OF
An all-County second-team selection in 2014, Betschel posted career numbers across the board as a senior, making her one of the county’s most productive leadoff hitters. The speedy center fielder finished with team-highs in batting average (.439), hits (50), runs (26) and stolen bases (17). She’ll continue her playing career at Ohio State next season.
Faith Canfield
Pacifica, Sr., OF
Canfield has been a four-year starter for one of the country’s premier softball programs. She started at center field or shortstop during the season, and along with Dejah Mulipola, gave Pacifica arguably the best 1-2 leadoff combo in Orange County. Canfield will begin playing for Michigan in the fall, and she should contribute early on for the NCAA runners-up.
Morganne Flores
Mater Dei, Sr., DH
One of the area’s top defensive catchers, Flores was also the heart of the Mater Dei lineup. The Washington-bound senior led the Monarchs with a .439 average, 32 RBI and five home runs. In a crucial part of the season, Flores went 5 for 8 down the stretch against Santa Margarita and Orange Lutheran to help the Monarchs capture the Trinity League championship.
Jenna Holcomb
Los Alamitos, Jr., Utility
The junior was the Sunset League co-MVP along with Edison’s Ali Wester. The lightning-quick Holcomb hit close to .500 over the second half of the season and showed some of the best range in the outfield from center field spot. She will return as one of the county’s top players next season, and she has committed to the University of Tennessee.
Camyrn Ybarra
Mission Viejo, So., Utility
The third baseman proved to be one of the county’s most difficult outs the second half of the season, racking up huge numbers in league and postseason play. Ybarra finished second on the Diablos in hits (41), average (.423) and home runs (8), and led the Division 2 runners-up in the playoffs with nine hits and a .562 average. The sophomore’s three-home run outing against El Toro was one of the area’s top single-game performances of the season.
RELATED:
Softball player of the year: Alyssa Palomino, Mission Viejo
Softball pitcher of the year: Taylor McQuillin, Mission Viejo
Softball coaches of the year: Ybarra & Mascarenas, Mission Viejo
All-County softball: Second team
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
