Nine Ramona softball players receive all-league honors

Valley League softball coaches selected nine Ramona High School players for all-league recognition while choosing Ramona coach Cori McDonald the league’s Coach of the Year.

Hanah Bowen received honor as the league’s Player of the Year and was joined on the first team by Jordyn Fick and Alexa Neil. Izzy Ekstam, Alissa Hiener, and Sara Whelehon were among the second-team selections.

Ashley Kurtz, Ashley Pittman, and Jamie Roe received honorable mention designation.

“It was huge,” McDonald said of having nine all-league selections. “I think going 10 and 0 in league and being undefeated, the coaches recognized the ability of our players.”

Ramona had an overall season record of 20-10, including a CIF Division I playoff win and two playoff losses.

“We literally have 13 kids on our team who can be starters on any other team in our league,” McDonald said. “We really had confidence in every single player. It was tough as a coach to figure out the starting lineup when you have so much depth on the bench.”

The other coaches determined that three Bulldogs were worthy of first-team recognition.

“Pretty spectacular considering it’s a freshman and two sophomores,” McDonald said.

Bowen and Fick were the sophomores, Neil was the freshman.

Bowen and Fallbrook senior Brooke Koran were both considered for player of the year and both were considered for pitcher of the year. Bowen who batted .679 in league competition.

“She offensively did probably just as much for us if not more than defensively,” said McDonald. “She definitely is a well-rounded player and definitely deserving of Player of the Year.”

Bowen plays third base when she is not on the mound. Koran was Fallbrook’s only pitcher during league play and Bowen was one of three Ramona pitchers to start league games, so the coaches selected Koran as the league pitcher with the greater overall contribution.

Koran’s two league losses include 7-1 and 5-3 games against Ramona. Fallbrook was the only team to hold Ramona to fewer than 10 runs in a Valley League game and the Fallbrook contests were the two narrowest margins of victory for the Bulldogs during their undefeated league season.

Bowen posted a 4-0 league record with one save in four starts and one relief appearance. One of those wins was a perfect game thrown against Mission Vista.

Hiener also threw a perfect game against Mission Vista.

“It was pretty awesome that Hanah Bowen and Alissa Hiener both threw a perfect game in league,” McDonald said. “That really shows the depth on our team.”

Neil also started on the mound for Ramona during league play. She normally is a shortstop.

“It’s huge for a freshman to come in and play such an integral part on our team,” McDonald said. “She made some great plays for us.”

Neil was Ramona’s leadoff hitter.

“Alexa set the tone for the entire game,” McDonald said.

Neil’s offensive statistics included three home runs.

“She can drop down a bunt and beat it out, but she can also hit a home run,” McDonald said.

Fick plays center field.

“Jordyn is also very fast, can beat out a bunt,” McDonald said.

Fick batted second in the lineup; Bowen hit third.

Ramona’s second-team selections were all juniors. Ekstam played third base and was also the designated player who batted but did not play the field, Hiener played second base when she wasn’t pitching, and Whelehon was Ramona’s left fielder.

Kurtz was a junior who played first base. Pittman, Ramona’s only all-league senior, was a catcher and designated player. Roe, who was a sophomore, also played catcher.

The 2015 season was McDonald’s third as Ramona’s head coach.

“I definitely appreciate being recognized by my fellow coaches,” she said of her Coach of the Year honor. “It helps to have a good coaching staff,” McDonald said. “It’s nice to be recognized, but I really feel like it’s more a group effort.”