SALINAS—Lauren Castro incited fear into the hearts of softball players around the league all season.
Gilroy High’s senior ace was a force to be reckoned with and was named the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division’s Most Valuable Pitcher and First Team All-League Monday. And she earned every bit of the honor.
Castro racked up 153 strikeouts through 169.5 innings for the Mustangs this season and pitched all but one game. Through those games, she went the distance all but one time when she threw 5.1 innings against Live Oak in the season opener and boasts a 2.60 ERA. Castro pitched seven shutout wins for Gilroy, including the season finale against Christopher High on May 12. She was one of 12 local players to earn postseason awards.
But Castro isn’t the only talented pitcher in town.
Her Cougar counterpart Mackenzie Holt also earned First Team All-League honors. Holt, a 4-year softball player, tossed nearly every game for her squad, too.
Holt’s senior teammate Brook Loesch earned Second Team All-League honors, along with juniors Nikki Villanueva and Michaela Decker. Mustang sophomores Maddy Cox and Liezl Clark were also named to the Second Team.
Gilroy High freshmen Adrianna Figone and Makenna Weiler, along with Christopher senior Karli Martinez and junior Patti Soria all received honorable mentions.
Nicole Dan of Gilroy and Haley Berube from Christopher were named to the Pursuing Victory with Honor sportsmanship team.
