2013 Daily News All-Area Team

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Player of the Year: RACHEL GARCIA, Highland, Soph.

In two seasons, Garcia has already ascended to a performance level that many area pitchers never reach in a four-year career.

As dominant as she was in the circle, finishing 22-2 with a 0.50 ERA, 302 strikeouts and 24 walks in 139 innings, including nine consecutive shutouts during one stretch, Garcia might have been even more impressive at the plate.

The Gatorade state Player of the Year hit .709 (56 for 79) with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 22 runs and 44 RBIs, striking out three times in 83 plate appearances. She had more extra-base hits (26) than outs (23).

Garcia joined Valencia graduates Jordan Taylor (2007) and Jessica Spigner (2008) as the area's only players to receive Gatorade state recognition.

The UCLA commit had 16 starts allowing one hit or fewer, securing Golden League MVP and Div. III first-team recognition. She also recorded at least nine strikeouts in every outing, including a season-high 17 in a 3-0 triumph March 15 over Serrano.

Her only regular-season loss was a 2-0 setback March 16 against fellow sophomore pitching standout Caitlyn Brooks and Burbank in the second of two head-to-head showdowns in the High Desert Classic semifinals.

Garcia pitched a two-hitter to defeat the Notre Dame-bound Brooks 2-0 in the Hart tournament final March 9.

In a 1-0 victory May 9 at Lancaster, Garcia accounted for the lone run with a seventh-inning home run and threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts.

An ankle injury limited Garcia in the first round of the playoffs, but she still pitched eight innings in relief and struck out 10, before Highland fell 6-4 to Downey in nine innings, snapping a run of 16 consecutive victories. It marked the second year in a row the Bulldogs suffered an extra-inning postseason setback.

In 270 career innings, Garcia has struck out 572 batters and walked only 31. She is 27-1 in league in two seasons, including 26 straight victories.

Coach of the Year: PETE ACKERMANN, Oaks Christian

After receiving California Coaches Association state honors last year, Ackermann -- winner of three division titles -- put together one of the most impressive playoff runs in his career to reach the Southern Section Div. II semifinals as a wild-card entry. Following a .500 stretch during a 14-game span midway through the season, Oaks Christian (25-8) won seven in a row -- including a 2-1 first-round upset of No. 2 Moorpark -- to reach the final four, before losing 2-1 in nine innings to two-time champion Chino, just the Lions' second loss in eight semifinal appearances in Ackermann's tenure.

Newcomer of the Year: REBECCA DUNCAN, Royal, Fr.

Following a stellar four-year run by Nancy Bowling -- now at Arizona -- would be a lot to ask for any pitcher, let alone one making her varsity debut. But Duncan, a Marmonte League first-team pick, demonstrated she was up to the challenge, finishing 22-5 -- the second-most victories among freshmen in the state -- with 165 strikeouts and a 1.68 ERA, in addition to opponents batting .179 against her. She won 14 consecutive decisions at one stretch and led Royal to a 5-0 victory over Woodbridge with a two-hitter in the first round of the Div. II playoffs. Duncan also hit .282 and drove in six runs.

FIRST TEAM

McKenna Arriola, El Camino Real, Jr.
After recovering from an early season injury, Arriola hit .541 with 33 runs, 23 RBIs with 12 stolen bases, receiving West Valley League and All-City honors after leading the Conquistadores to the league championship and the playoff quarterfinals.

Kristina Brackpool, Valencia, Sr.
The Vikings' captain and one of the area's clutch hitters throughout her career, Brackpool led Valencia in home runs and RBIs, signing with Penn State and securing Foothill League and Div. I first-team recognition.

Caitlyn Brooks, Burbank, Soph.
The Notre Dame commit was 25-3 with a 0.78 ERA and 309 strikeouts in 170 innings, in addition to hitting .526 with 12 home runs, 42 runs and 35 RBIs to earn Pacific League MVP and Div. III first-team honors.

Hayley Chamberlain, Camarillo, Sr.
The Scorpions' leadoff hitter and Houston signee secured Pacific View League honors and Div. I first-team recognition after hitting a career-best .533 with 39 runs, 20 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.

Shelbie Franc, Camarillo, Sr.
A repeat Pacific View League first-team selection, the New Mexico-bound Franc hit .404 with 29 runs, 23 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, helping the Scorpions share the title with Oxnard and win 17 consecutive games at one stretch.

Marissa Harmon, Highland, Sr.
A Golden League and Div. III first-team honoree, the Adams State-bound Harmon hit .514 with four home runs, 11 runs and 26 RBIs for the champion Bulldogs. The veteran catcher was instrumental in sophomore pitcher Rachel Garcia's success.

Katie Hooper, Burbank, Sr.
The Cal State Northridge signee returned from a knee injury to hit .481 with five home runs, 21 runs and 21 RBIs, earning Pacific League first-team recognition.

Maddy Jelenicki, Saugus, Jr.
After a year of baseball, Jelenicki returned to softball and earned Foothill League and Div. I first-team honors, hitting .576 with nine home runs, 32 runs, 31 RBIs and one strikeout in 89 plate appearances.

Amanda Lorenz, Moorpark, Soph.
Produced one of the best offensive seasons by any player in the state, hitting .625 with 17 home runs, 45 runs, 40 RBIs and a 1.375 slugging percentage, striking out three times in 99 plate appearances to secure Marmonte League MVP and Div. II first-team honors.

Chloe Pendergast, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
The Cornell commit went 11-2 with a 1.24 ERA, in addition to hitting .438 with three home runs, 18 runs and 26 RBIs, receiving Mission League and Div. III first-team recognition.

Brittany Solis, Chaminade, Sr.
A Southern Section honoree in two sports following Div. I recognition in soccer, the Central Florida-bound Solis received Mission League and Div. III first-team honors. The Eagles' leadoff hitter and shortstop was a catalyst during the team's league championship run.

Lexi Sorensen, West Ranch, Soph.
The Foothill League's top pitcher was also one of the area's most improved, winning eight of her final nine starts to finish 20-9 with 135 strikeouts, leading the Wildcats to back-to-back championships and a trip to the Div. I quarterfinals.

Kylie Sorenson, West Ranch, Sr.
The first player to earn back-to-back Foothill League MVP honors since Valencia's Jordan Taylor (2007-08), the Stanford-bound Sorenson hit .433 with eight home runs, 15 doubles, 38 runs and 27 RBIs to earn Div. I first-team honors after the Wildcats captured consecutive titles.

Kelly Spear, Oaks Christian, Jr.
The talented shortstop helped the Lions reach the Southern Section Div. II semifinals as a wild-card entry, hitting .451 with four home runs, 15 doubles, 32 runs and 29 RBIs to earn Tri-Valley League and Div. II first-team recognition. Was instrumental in Oaks Christian winning its first 11 games.

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An ankle injury limited Garcia in the first round of the playoffs, but she still pitched eight innings in relief and struck out 10, before Highland fell 6-4 to Downey in nine innings, snapping a run of 16 consecutive victories. It marked the second year in a row the Bulldogs suffered an extra-inning postseason setback.

In 270 career innings, Garcia has struck out 572 batters and walked only 31. She is 27-1 in league in two seasons, including 26 straight victories.

Thanks for posting - I wondered what happened. Not only did Garcia average more than 2 K/IP, she struck out 60% of the batters she faced this year.

Congrats to all!

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Daily News East vs West Senior All Star game today (Tuesday) at Birmingham HS 3pm, HR Derby 2pm