Despite often being pitched around, Addison Amaral is putting together a magical year at the plate for the University of Notre Dame, leading the softball team in eight different offensive categories.

The sophomore shortstop Notre Dame High in Salinas is chasing the triple crown for the Fighting Irish, leading the team in hitting (.386), home runs (7) and runs batted in (38).

Hitting in the No. 3 spot in the batting order, the Salinas native is hitting 68 points higher than her nearest teammate, having driven in 19 more runs.

Amaral has started all 45 games for Notre Dame, leading the team in runs scored (25), doubles (10) and on-base percentage (.490). She’s also drawn a team- high 24 walks and has eight steals.

Moving over from second base this spring to play shortstop, the 5-foot-8 Amaral sports a .953 fielding percentage, having handled 121 of 127 chances in the field.

Named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference freshman team last fall, Amaral led the Fighting Irish in home runs, runs batted in and doubles last year, hitting .340 overall.

The Herald’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2023, Amaral earned all-county honors in softball and volleyball while at Notre Dame in Salinas.

Solid first outing for Salinas’ Jensen >> Moved back to the starting rotation at least for now, Salinas High grad Ryan Jensen had a strong first outing for the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul.

The hard-throwing right-hander, with a fastball that approaches the century mark, Jensen did not allow an earned run in 4.2 innings, striking out six in a 100-pitch outing.

A former No. 1 draft choice out of Fresno State by the Chicago Cubs in 2019, Jensen has spent the last two years in the Twins’ organization.

A starter in his first two years in the minors, Jensen has been primarily used as a reliever in the Twins’ organization. He’s also spent time in the Cubs and Mariners minor league systems.

Having earned all-county honors in baseball and football at Salinas, the 27-year-old has a 11-25 career minor league record with 334 strikeouts in 277 innings of work.

Toole finding his stroke >> Erasing a slow start at the plate, Stevenson grad Trent Toole has put together a college career-high seven-game hitting streak for the Villanova baseball team.

Spending time at first base, the sophomore is 8-for-18 during the hitting streak, erasing an 0-11 start, raising his average to .280 this spring.

Toole has scored eight runs in seven starts, having appeared in 24 games for the Wildcats with four RBI. He’s been hit five times — second on the team — compiling a .432 on-base percentage.

The Herald’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2022, Toole earned all-county honors in football, basketball and baseball — just the third male athlete to ever achieve that.

Panziera extends consecutive streak >> Marley Panziera, a Salinas High grad, is the only player on the UC Davis softball team to have started all 41 games this spring, extending her streak of consecutive starts to 46.

The Aggies’ shortstop has been an iron woman this season, shoring up the middle of the defense, having turned seven double plays.

Panziera is hitting .250 for Davis, with three homers and 15 runs batted in. The sophomore has 10 extra base hits and has scored 13 runs, compiling a .310 on-base percentage.

Last year Panziera made 33 starts, mostly at second base for the Aggies. She has already surpassed all of her college career highs offensively, except for home runs, having hit four last year.

A member of The Herald’s All-County softball team in 2023, Panziera was a multi-sport athlete at Salinas.

A teammate of Panziera’s at Davis is former Hollister infielder Gia Felice, who has started 34 games at third base, hitting .261 with 12 runs batted in.

Johnson-Toney Football Camp >>The Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County will showcase the 13th annual Johnson-Toney free football camp.

The camp, for boys and girls ages 9-14, will be held June 24-27 at the Cal State Monterey Bay soccer fields, with boys and girls ages 15-17 slated for July 22-25 at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.

Ron Johnson and Anthony Toney, who both played for the Philadelphia Eagles, have been a part of the camp since its inception when it was called the Herm Edward Football Camp.

The camp is non-contact, mirroring the NFL Play 60 Character Camp. Coaches will teach basic football skills, as well as gratefulness, self-control, loyalty, honor, truthfulness and integrity.

The youth camp is limited to 300 participants, with the high school portion limited to 100 players. Deadline to register is June 23. Register on-line at bgcmpc.org

Coaches needed >>Salinas is looking for a boys and girls cross country coach, a girls’ water polo coach and a girls’ volleyball coach for this coming fall. Go to art.hunsdorfer@salinasuhsd.org

Marina is looking for varsity, JV and freshman head coaches this coming fall for girls’ volleyball. Go to edjoin.org

Officials needed >>Peninsula Sports Incorporate is looking for high school and middle school officials for all sports this season. Varsity officials are paid $100 a game.

There is an immediate need for officials in the fall for football, flag football, volleyball, field hockey and water polo. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.