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All-Star Roundup: Denair softball players shine in Leonardo Family Memorial All-Star Game
Hilmar’s Labno honored for third Merced County All-Star selection
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The Southern Athletic League All-Stars earned a 5-4 win over the TVL in the opening game and a 3-0 victory over the CC in the title match of the seventh annual Leonardo Family Memorial All-Star Game in Livingston (Photo contributed).

Some of the area's top softball talent came together in Livingston on Tuesday to take part in the seventh annual Leonardo Family Memorial All-Star Game.

This year’s classic saw the Trans-Valley League, Southern Athletic League, Western Athletic Conference and the Central California Conference face off in a tournament-style format.

Participating were 11 players between the Denair, Hughson and Hilmar programs. Representing this year’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII runner-up Coyotes on the SAL team were Makayla Dayton, Havyn Boucher and Braelyn Marroquin. On the TVL were the Huskies’ Kylie Tangney, Presley Wells, Grace Leedom, Allison Moring and Emma Carne, as well as the Yellowjackets’ Sophie Stivers, Camryn Mattos and Destiny Denys.

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Left to right: Makayla Dayton, Braelyn Marroquin and Havyn Boucher represented Denair on the Southern Athletic League All-Star team, who on Tuesday won the seventh annual Leonardo Family Memorial All-Star Game in Livingston (Photo contributed).

By the end of the day, though, it was the small but mighty Southern League taking the crown, with the Denair, Delhi, Gustine, Waterford, Stone Ridge Christian, LeGrand and Mariposa stars joining forces to string together a 5-4 win over the TVL in the opening game and clinching the title with a 3-0 victory over the CCC.

The Coyotes had their prints all over the SALs success. Dayton struck out two batters over three shutout innings, Marroquin reached twice with a hit and a walk and scored once, while Boucher worked a walk. Each also contributed with some solid defensive plays.

The day capped off the most successful softball season Denair High has ever seen, making it to the postseason for the first time in 17 years and advancing to their first ever section title game. The Huskies and Yellowjackets, meanwhile, each earned postseason wins this season.

The festivities marked the final time that Dayton, Boucher, Leedom, Stivers, Denys and Mattos wore their respective uniforms, as they each graduated days prior.

 

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The Hilmar baseball program were represented by five players and head coach Frank Hilliard’s coaching staff at Saturday night’s Merced County All-Star Game at Merced College (Photo contributed).

Yellowjackets represented at Merced County showcase

Top baseball stars from across Merced County came together at Merced College on Saturday night for the 15th annual All-Star Game. On the North team was a pack of Yellowjackets — five players and the entire Hilmar High coaching staff.

Led by skipper Frank Hilliard, whose Hilmar  team advanced to the second round of this year’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoff tournament, suiting up and taking the diamond was John Labno, Bradley Chipponeri, Kayleb Amaya, Marlin Kindberg and John Lopez. The five players marked the most from one program out of any other team represented  in the North dugout.

Though the South pulled out a 15-8 win, Labno still took home hardware of his own, being presented a plaque during the pregame festivities for being a three-time All-Star. Labno joined Chipponeri, Amaya and Kindberg in wrapping up their high school careers.

Labno, Lopez and Amaya each collected hits in the effort, while Chipponeri and Kindberg took the mound.

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Hilmar first baseman John Labno was presented with a plaque ahead of this year’s Merced County All-Star Game to commemorate his third selection to the annual showcase (La Lumiere Art and Photography).