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Turlock outfielder Crivelli named league MVP
Carter Crivelli
Turlock’s Carter Crivelli slides home in the fourth inning of the Bulldogs’ 3-2 win over the Downey Knights on April 12. Crivelli was named the Central California Athletic League’s MVP for the season (ALEX MORALES/The Journal).

Turlock High’s baseball team, which cruised to the Central California Athletic League title this season, dominated the postseason awards, with center fielder Carter Crivelli taking the most prestigious prize — league MVP.

In addition, the Bulldogs (21-9) had the Offensive Player of the Year in catcher Owen Miller; Pitcher of the Year in Mason Baker; and Mike Souza was named the loop’s Coach of the Year.

Mason Baker
Outfielder Mason Baker celebrates with his Turlock teammates after throwing out Downey’s Jaxon Rowland at home plate to secure the Bulldogs’ 3-2 win over the Knights. Baker was named CCAL Pitcher of the Year (ALEX MORALES/The Journal).

For the season, the 6-foot, 160-pound Crivelli hit .424 (28-for-66) and had an on-base percentage of .567, with 26 runs scored and 10 runs driven in. He also stole 11 bases in 12 attempts.

During CCAL play, the right-hander turned it up a notch, hitting .512 (21-for-41) with an OBP of .625. He also scored scored 19 runs in 15 league games and drove in eight. He was a perfect 8-for-8 on steal attempts in CCAL action and fanned just twice.

The Bulldogs defeated McClatchy (Sacramento) 4-2 in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs, but were eliminated the following round after a 6-1 loss to Franklin (Elk Grove). Crivelli went 2-for-5 in the postseason, with a run scored and an RBI.

“Based on how league went, I was kind of expecting it, but I was still kind of surprised to be named MVP,” said Crivelli. “Last year was a little rough for me. I wasn’t hitting as well and not getting on base as much. The whole goal this year was to get on base, give myself a chance to take a bag, and give my teammates an opportunity to hit me in.”

Crivelli hopes to attend San Diego State in the fall, where he plans to major in accounting. However, he hasn’t decided if he’ll attempt to walk on to the baseball team.

“I’m still debating,” said Crivelli. “I’ll be playing ball over the summer, and that might make me want to play some more and try to walk on. If I don’t play, it would be the first time in my life that I haven’t played a sport.”

Owen Miller
Turlock catcher Owen Miller connects on a pitch during the Bulldogs' 10-0 victory over Modesto that clinched a share of the Central California Athletic League title on April 26. Miller was named CCAL Offensive Player of the Year (KATIE DAY/Turlock Journal).

Miller hit a robust .403 (31-for-77) this season, with 26 RBIs and 21 runs scored, and an on-base percentage of .578. In league, the stout 5-10, 215-pounder hit .516 (16-for-31), with 17 RBIs and 12 runs scored, while handling the catching duties for a staff that had a team ERA of 1.77.

Baker, meanwhile, was 5-1 for the season with a 0.99 earned run average. In 42 1/3 innings pitched, the 6-1, 175-pound right-hander struck out 38, walked 22 and yielded just 36 hits. During league play, Baker was a perfect 4-0 with an ERA of 0.33. In his four CCAL starts, he gave up 14 hits, while fanning 22 and walking 10.

Three Turlock players — outfielder Carson Gonzales, infielder Tyler Castro, and pitcher Andrew Lujan — were named to the CCAL’s first team. Pitman Nathan Cervantes, an infielder, and Alejandro Trujillo, a utility player, also were first-team honorees.

Utility player Daniel Mazon of Pitman was a second-team selection, while teammate Jackson Way, a sophomore, was an honorable mention. Turlock junior Josh Ramirez joined way on the honorable mention list.

The CCAL title was the first for Souza, who took over the program from Sean Gilbert the previous season. In his two seasons at the helm, Souza is 36-21-1, with a league record of 23-7, and two trips to the section playoffs.