Softball Earns Eight All-Conference Nods
At the end of a 20-20 overall season, the LAMC Softball team finished 3rd in the Western State Conference with an 11-5 conference record. Eight standout Eagles earned All-Conference awards for their performances on the field.
1st Team All-Conference:
All three of the Eagles' 1st Team All-Conference selections were freshmen. They are expected to be key components to Mission's offensive production in 2019 as returning sophomores.
Ashley Silva had a tremendous season as a starting 1st baseman and right fielder for Mission. In Western State Conference games, she batted .545 with an .864 slugging percentage. In addition, she ranked 5th in the WSC in on-base percentage at a phenomenal .667. Her overall season statistics comprised 49 hits including nine doubles, three triples, and four homeruns, with 19 RBI and 24 walks. She led the team and finished 9th in the state in runs scored with 49.
Sydney Caballero played 3rd and 1st base for the Eagles this year. Another of Mission's most consistent hitters, she batted .420 in conference with a .482 on-base percentage and a .560 slugging percentage. Throughout the overall season, she collected 52 hits including 11 doubles, a triple, and two homeruns, with 33 RBI and 10 walks.
Center fielder Alyanna Martinez played every inning for the Eagles in the 2018 season. In WSC play, she batted .400 with a .550 on-base percentage and a .533 slugging percentage. Overall, she tallied 38 hits on the season with four doubles and three homeruns, while leading the team in triples (4) and stolen bases (8). She additionally picked up 26 RBI and 21 walks.
2nd Team All-Conference:
Sophomore Carmen Vargas returned to the circle for the Eagles this year after earning WSC All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2017. Her numbers improved dramatically in 2018, ending with a 5-1 conference record (10-9 overall) and a 3.5 ERA. She finished 10th in the WSC with three shutouts, and gathered 40 strikeouts in 117 total innings of the work.
Gabriela Monge followed suit with an impressive freshman campaign on the mound. She closed her season with a 4.17 conference ERA and three key wins that contributed to Mission's 3rd place record. In 103.1 innings pitched, she struck out 39 and made no errors on the year, leading the team with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Sophomore utility player Isabel Mercado transitioned to the outfield this year after a freshman season on the infield. She batted .333 in conference with a .396 on-base percentage and .458 slugging percentage. She led the team and finished No. 46 in California with 12 doubles, adding two triples and 27 RBI to her overall season stats. She has since signed to play for La Sierra University, an NAIA school in Riverside.
Mabel Calderon, a sophomore transfer from GCC, earned the starting shortstop position and a spot in the meat of the lineup due to her run production. In WSC games she batted .435 with a .536 on-base percentage and a .674 slugging percentage. Her overall season numbers included team-leading 34 RBI and seven homeruns, along with five doubles, 18 walks, and 35 runs scored.
Honorable Mention
Kristal Bendfeldt, another sophomore transfer from Glendale, contributed to the team mostly in a designated hitter role, with some catching and 3rd base. She batted .387 in conference with a .472 on-base percentage and .516 slugging percentage. Throughout the year she collected 23 hits with four doubles, 17 RBI, 15 walks, and 16 runs scored. She has committed to continue her softball career next year at North Central College, an NCAA Div. III school in Illinois.