LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Twenty six student-athletes were recognized as the NFCA announced its 2024 Cal JC All-America teams on Wednesday afternoon.
For the second straight year, the South Region’s Palomar College paced all schools with four recipients, while the North was headlined by College of San Mateo and Cosumnes River College with three honorees apiece. Fullerton College in the South Region also boasted three winners, while three other teams across the two regions had two players selected and seven more schools scored one each.
Palomar placed three infielders and an outfielder on the South Region All-America team. First baseman Breanna Lutz (.504, 49 R, 64 H, 23 2B, 6 HR, 53 RBI, .843 SLG), second baseman Josephine Heuberger (.424, 44 R, 61 H, 7 2B, 8 3B, 8 SB, 1.000 FLD in 104 chances), third baseman Itzell De Los Rios (.471, 56 H, 19 2B, 4 HR, 42 RBI) and right fielder Faith Steffany (.358, 33 R, 3 2B, 20 RBI, 12 SB) represented the Comets, who swept Compton on Saturday in a best-of-three, first-round 3CFA Southern California Regionals series.
San Mateo had pitcher Kennedie Magorian (15-3, .65 ERA, 7 CG, 106 IP, 125 K, .147 OPP AVG), second baseman Vanessa Lang (.398, 41 R, 51 H, 8 2B, 27 RBI, 28-29 SB) and outfielder Ari Williams (.435, 30 R, 54 H, 14 2B, 4 HR, 47 RBI, 14 SB) selected. The Bulldogs breezed past Merced in their opening-round playoff series last week.
Pitcher Tatiana Blas (25-3, 1.16 ERA, 24 CG, 12 SHO, 192.2 IP, 34 BB, 208 K, .179 opp. AVG) and shortstop Malia Babasa (.420, 33 R, 58 H, 8 2B, 22 RBI 24 SB) were joined by their Cosumnes teammate Abigail Woodfill (.407, 18 R, 48 H, 12 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 30 RBI), who was the North’s DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher honoree. The River Hawks dispatched Monterey Peninsula to advance in the playoffs.
Fullerton placed both of its primary pitchers — Macy Brandl (21-2, 1.13 ERA, 18 CG, 8 SHO, 149.1 IP, 35 BB, 160 K) and Allyson Fuentes (17-2, 1.38 ERA, 14 CG, 3 SHO, 131.2 IP 16 BB, 98 K) — on the South team, along with outfielder Alyssa Garcia (.372, 20 R, 32 H, 3 2B, 4 3B, 19 RBI, 5 SB). The Hornets advanced in the playoffs with a sweep of Antelope Valley.
On the South squad, shortstop Xiomei Geluz (.450, 55 R, 58 H, 9 2B, 8 3B, 25 RBI, 27 SB) and DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher Jordyn Villanueva (.451, 32 R, 51 H, 6 2B, 37 RBI, 7 SB) represented Long Beach City College, while Mt. San Antonio College’s Morgan Kneubuhler (.479, 37 R, 58 H, 12 2B, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 1 PB, 7 CS) was the All-America catcher and teammate Alyssa Rubalcava (.429, 28 R, 54 H, 15 2B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, plus 10-2, 2.98 ERA, 3 CG, 2 SHO, 65.2 IP, 40 K) earned Joan Joyce Utility/Pitcher honors, with her designation on all collegiate All-America teams renamed last season to honor the late NFCA Hall of Famer. Cerritos College outfielder Jazmine Macias (.434, 53 R, 59 H, 16 2B, 4 HR, 30 RBI, 50-51 SB, 6 outfield assists) and Cypress College pitcher Kaitlyn Reynolds (34-7, 1.19 ERA, 26 CG, 13 SHO, 252 IP, 46 BB, 152 K, .200 opp. AVG) rounded out the region’s 13 selections.
San Joaquin Delta College pitcher Ariel Nava (27-3, 1.33 ERA, 26 CG, 10 SHO, 2 SV, 200.1 IP, 53 BB, 205 K, .197 opp. AVG) and outfielder Caitlynn Campbell (.485, 53 R, 64 H, 12 2B, 8 3B, 17 HR, 53 RBI, 14 SB) were the other teammates to make the North team. San Jose City College catcher Deja Jimenez (.424, 53H, 23 RBI, 11 2B, 22 SB), Hartnell College first baseman Olivia Robledo (.427, 24 R, 50 H, 12 2B, 2 HR, 32 RBI), Cabrillo College third baseman Kasydi Bennett (.372, 34 R, 42 H, 12 2B, 4 3B, 27 RBI, 19 SB), West Valley College outfielder Brianna Chambers Lee (.362, 22 R, 42 H, 6 2B, 30 RBI, 11 SB) and Fresno City College’s Giana Quintanar (.354, 18 R, 40 H, 7 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, plus 7-5, 1.71 ERA, 10 CG, 3 SV, 118.2 IP, 122 K), the Joan Joyce Utility/Pitcher, comprised the rest of the region squad.
NFCA Cal JC All-America athletes must be nominated by their NFCA-member head coaches and are voted for by the coaches in their region to receive this prestigious accolade.
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