


Here’s a look at who turned out to be the top high school softball players in the county. The Monterey Herald’s All-County Softball team.
Dani Amendola, Alvarez >> A four-time member of the all-county softball team and the county’s all-time strikeout leader, Amendola won 14 games in the regular season for the Eagles, striking out 248 hitters in 155 innings. A three-time CCS champion, Amendola became more of a force at the plate as well this past spring, hitting a team high .384. She also led Alvarez in walks (10), compiling a .458 on-base percentage with 28 hits.
Anaiyah Brown, Monterey >> A transfer, Brown shored up the Toreadores’ outfield, while quietly hitting .392, with a .475 on-base percentage in the regular season. Brown led the Toreadores in stolen bases (9) and triples (4), while scoring 30 runs and driving in 14. The junior threw out a handful of runners on the base paths from the outfield.
Kelsie Domenighini, Salinas >> Compiling a team-leading .493 on-base percentage, the junior hit a team-high four homers, driving in 18 runs. More than half of Domenighini’s hits for the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division co-champions went for extra bases. She also walked a team-high 15 times for the Cowboys.
Jasmine Estrada, Alisal >> Clutch at the plate all season, the senior drove in a county-leading 43 runs for the playoff-bound Trojans, while collecting a team-leading 16 multiple-hit games. Estrada finished with 43 hits, leading Alisal in doubles with 12, while scoring 31 runs, finishing with a .561 on-base percentage. She also stole eight bases.
Alex Giammanco, Pacific Grove >> Having thrown a pair of no-hitters this year, Giammanco won 15 games in the regular season for the Mission Division champions. The junior struck out 155 hitters in 122 innings, posting a 2.23 earned run average. At the plate, Giammanco led the Breakers in homers (5) and runs batted in (26), while hitting .333.
Savannah Hardy, Pacific Grove >> A repeater on the all-county team, Hardy hit .548 with a team-high .628 on-base percentage for the Breakers, walking a team-high 12 times. A member of the All-County basketball team, Hardy led the team in doubles with 12, while hitting two homers, driving in 24 runs, scoring 29 and collecting 40 hits.
Abi Jones, Salinas >> Dominant in the circle, Jones won 15 games during the regular season with a 1.01 earned run average for the Gabilan Division co-champion Cowboys. Jones, who will pitch next year at Grand Canyon University, struck out 186 hitters in 117 innings during the regular season. At the plate, she hit .333 with three homers and 18 runs batted in.
DeNae Lee, Monterey >> The power-hitting catcher ripped 10 homers in 25 games for the Gabilan Division co-champion Toreadores, driving in 38 runs. Lee, who has committed to play softball at Utah next year, hit .465 with a .538 on-base percentage. More than half of her hits went for extra bases. Behind the dish, the junior had a .970 fielding percentage.
Ella Myers, Monterey >> Bound for UC Santa Barbara on a softball scholarship to pitch, Myers’ hitting numbers warrant consideration for double-duty. A four-time member of the all-county team, Myers hit .552 with a .629 on-base percentage. She hit nine homers in 21 games, drove in 28 runs, scored 39 and stole eight bases. In the circle, Myers was 12-2 in 18 appearances with a 0.90 earned run average. An all-state wrestler, she struck out 142 hitters in 93 innings.
Avery Munoz, King City >>Hitting in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, the sophomore was the catalyst for the Central Coast Section Division V champion Mustangs at the plate. Munoz hit .459 for King City, with 11 doubles and seven triples. She collected 45 hits, scored 50 runs, walked 25 times, and drove in 25 runs, compiling a .587 on-base percentage and a .745 slugging percentage.
Analysia Rocha, Palma >> The freshman made a splash in her first season, hitting a team-high .394 for the CCS Division IV finalists, finishing with a .494 on-base percentage. Rocha hit a team-high six homers, leading Palma in runs batted (27), hits (26), runs scored (17), walks (12) and triples (6). Of her 26 hits, 19 went for extra bases this past spring.
Gigi Rossi, Salinas >>Hitting near the top of the order, the junior hit a team high .403 for the Cowboys, leading the team in hits and doubles. Rossi showed deceptive power at the plate with a pair of homers, driving in 17 runs for Salinas. She also led the team in hits (29) and runs scored (19).
Nicole Tapson, Carmel >> A senior and repeater on the all-county team, Tapson hit a team-high .533, while compiling a .643 on-base percentage this past spring for the Padres. Tapson was among the section leaders in stolen bases with 21, while scoring 52 runs for Carmel. She walked a team-high 23 times, driving in 20 runs.
Artie Carrillo, King City coach >> Improvement in the win column for the third consecutive year ignited the Mustangs on a historic run in the Central Coast Section playoffs. King City went out and won the program’s first CCS softball title by outscoring three teams 36-7 in Division V. Along its path was a 16-0 win over top-seed Independence of San Jose and an 11-4 title clinching victory over No. 2 seed South San Francisco.
Honorable mention >> Amity Hearne, King City; Alizah Carrillo, King City; Avery Munoz, King City; Kassandra Hernandez, Soledad; Arlette Mosqueda, Soledad; Sabrina Hardin, Stevenson; Nadia Patel, Stevenson; Maria Hall, Stevenson; Micah Smith, Alisal; Nevaeh Lopez, Alisal; Ella Lee, Pacific Grove; Isis Turner, Pacific Grove; Lilly Gaona, Pacific Grove; Lily Beals, Carmel; Chloe LeMaster, Carmel; Ava Manigiapane, Carmel; Chloe Zavala, Greenfield; Nathalie Soto, Greenfield; Ryanna Elliott, Monterey; Taylor Page, Monterey; Eastin Jennings, Monterey; Ava Thompson, Salinas; Sam Merillana, Salinas; Jaslyne Coronado, Salinas; Sophia Cardinale, Palma; Alexa Meza, Alvarez; Michelle Wallace, Alvarez; Lizbeth Ramirez, Alvarez; Iliana Perez, North Salinas; Gabriel Perez, North Salinas; Delyah Magdaleno, Rancho San Juan; Mariana Camarena, Gonzales; Bailey Hostetter, Marina; Jayla Navarro, Marina.