By Albert Ledezma
Sports Editor
Baseball:
Dalton Duarte
First base- Junior
Dalton Duarte was an offensive juggernaut for a team that finished last in most offensive categories in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Duarte finished the season leading the conference in home runs (16) and second in slugging percentage (.671). And, he finished first in RBIs (39) for the team.
Duarte not only hits for power, he boasted an impressive .297 batting average, was second on the team in walks (20) and posted a .376 on-base percentage. He also finished the season with three, multi-homerun games.
Duarte’s most notable performance was the series against Cal State Stanislaus as he went off by going 10 for 17 at the plate, hitting five home runs, two doubles, and driving in 12 in the four-game series. He received a CCAA baseball player of the week nod for this performance.
Men’s Basketball:
Jonathan Nichols
Guard- Senior
Senior Jonathan Nichols shined for the men’s basketball team as he was the catalyst for their return to the playoffs for the 2017-2018 season. Nichols finished as the 10th best offensive player in the conference as he averaged 13.5 points, made 391 total points, and made 40 3-pointers.
Nichols wasn’t selfish with his shooting, as he finished ninth in assists in the conference with 89. He also finished second on the team in steals (19) and rebounds-per-game (5.83).
His impressive offensive performances did not go unnoticed as he received two CCAA player of the week awards and notched an All-CCAA second team recognition.
Men’s Golf:
Andrew Banuelos
Junior
Pico Rivera native Andrew Banuelos was the top performer for the men’s golf team this season with impressive scores during tournament play. For the season, his shots-per-rounds averaged 75.35, which was second on the team.
At the Dennis Rose Invitational, Banuelos shot a season-best 69 in the final round, to help him place fifth in the tournament. His performance landed him a CCAA golfer of the week award.
During the CCAA championships, Banuelos shot a 221 during the three-round tournament, placing him tied for ninth with teammate Raynard Belmonte.
Men’s Soccer:
Adam Vargas
Mid-field-Junior
With teammate Leonardo Nogueira following close behind in most statistical categories, mid-fielder Adam Vargas edges him for best performer on the men’s soccer team.
Vargas led the team in goals with seven, finished second in assists (5), and competed in all 21 games for the team.
Vargas’ offensive prowess wasn’t only impressive for the team, as he finished in the top 10 in points, goals, shots, and assists in the conference.
Vargas received two CCAA men’s soccer player of the week nods and All-CCAA second team honors.
Women’s Basketball:
Nautica Morrow
Guard/Forward-Junior
It is to no surprise that Nautica Morrow was the best performer for the women’s basketball team this season. The junior transfer led the team in points, assists, and steals. She finished second in scoring in the conference as she averaged 17.9 points, finished with 520 total points, and placed 10th in field goal percentage (.373) and assists (85).
She wasn’t only an offensive threat; her defense was superb as well. She led the conference in steals with 97 and finished fourth on the team in rebounds with 114.
Morrow was recognized for her performance as she received First Team All-CCAA honors. She is the only athlete from either the men’s or women’s basketball team to receive the highest individual award.
Morrow scored a season-high 25 points three times. In one of those performances, she shot 44 percent from the field, dished seven assists, and tallied five steals.
Women’s Soccer:
Clarissa Chavez
Forward- Junior
Despite a rough 2017 season, junior Clarissa Chavez was the best performer for the team. She played in all 16 games, scored a team-best of three goals, tied for second in assists with two, and accumulated a total of eight points for the season.
Softball:
Alyssa Valinches
Pitcher-Senior
Despite a rocky start to the 2018 season, senior Alyssa Valinches found her groove and didn’t look back. In her 26 appearances, she posted a 3.46 ERA, had an 8-16 record, and pitched a total of 165.2 innings.
Not only was she the best pitcher on the team, she was also one of the most dominant pitchers in the whole conference. She pitched an unheard of 20 complete games (second in the conference), had three dominant shut-outs, all while striking out 126, third-best in the conference.
Valinches has tapped a CCAA softball player of the week award for one her pitching performances.
Valinches had several outstanding outings as she pitched three complete-game shutouts, while allowing less than three hits in each game, and striking out a combined 28 batters.
Track and Field:
Mariah Walker
Senior track and field sensation Mariah Walker runs away with being the best performer for the team this season. Walker has the seventh fastest time in the 100-meter for the CCAA with a time of 12.16. She finished eighth in the 60-meter with a 7.75 effort during the NAU Tune-Up.
Walker not only does well individually, she performs in the 4×100-meter relay team where she has helped this squad finish in the top 10 multiple times during the season. She also helped the squad to All-CCAA honors for placing third at the CCAA championships.
Volleyball:
Tati Yandall
Outside Hitter- Sophomore
Long Beach native Tati Yandall was a force to be reckoned with during the 2017 season. Yandall started in all 26 games and participated in 106 sets. She was the team’s category leader in kills (321) and serves (33). She ranked seventh in the conference in kills and led the CCAA in service aces with 33.
Yandall also finished in the top 10 in average points-per-set with 3.59 in the conference. This stat also topped the CSUDH volleyball team. Defensively, she made 219 total digs and 26 total blocks.
Her outstanding performance earned her a second-team All-CCAA honor, the first All-CCAA recognition in her collegiate career.
