Calallen's Alaunah Almaraz leads 2024 Caller-Times All-South Texas Softball Team
It's the second consecutive year the Caller-Times All-South Texas team will come out after an area squad has won a state championship.
Calallen won its second straight Class 4A state title in early June, and made some more history for the program and for South Texas softball. That state title also came with Weslaco winning the Class 6A title, giving the Valley its first state title in any girls sport.
Here's a look at this year's All-South Texas Softball team led by Calallen slugger Alaunah Almaraz.
MVP
Alaunah Almaraz, sr., Calallen
Almaraz has been a mainstay for the Wildcats since her freshman season and will leave the program as one of its most decorated players and with two state championship rings. Almaraz was again one of the most feared hitters in the state, hitting a scorching .568 but also smacked 33 extra base hits with 17 of those home runs. She also drove in 58 runs and scored 44 runs and had two strike outs at the plate. “She is a leader by example in all that she does and is always pushing her teammates to be their best and to stay in the game in the dugout.”
Newcomer of the Year
Parker Malone, fr., Veterans Memorial
Malone was a key reason the Eagles embarked on their longest playoff run since the school opened nearly a decade ago. Helping to shore up the infield at second base, Malone hit .318 with 13 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 38 RBIs.
Coach of the Year
Paula Salinas, Veterans Memorial
Salinas was not stranger to success when she took over the softball program at Veterans Memorial in 2015, but over the course of the next nine seasons, the Eagles struggled to make playoff runs. That ended this season as Veterans Memorial won the District 29-5A title and reached the regional semifinal for the program’s longest playoff run to date. It might be the catalyst for the squad for the future.
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First Team
Infielders
Alyssa Burdge, sr., Veterans Memorial
Of note: A mainstay in the Eagles lineup hi .480 with a 1.071 slugging percentage with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 53 RBIs.
Adriana Mireles, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Of note: Hit .608 with five doubles, three triples, scored 69 runs and had 44 stolen bases.
Megan Geyer, sr., Calallen
Of note: Hit .505 with 10 doubles, one triple, three home runs, scored 41 runs, had 37 RBIs and a .967 fielding percentage.
Alexia Alegria, sr., Hebbronville
Of note: Hit .500 with 50 runs, 14 doubles, 10 triples, four home runs and 35 RBIs. Had three strikeouts in more than 120 plate appearances.
Pepper Rodriguez, sr., IWA
Of note: A TAPPS first team all-stater for two straight seasons, hit .490 with five home runs.
Outfielders
Aylah Mata, sr., Carroll
Of note: The speedy Mata hit .441 with 20 Rbis, scored 57 runs and had 17 stolen bases with a .956 fielding percentage.
Kiley Flores, jr., Carroll
Of note: Hit .465 with 15 doubles, eight triples, one home run and had 38 RBIs and 50 runs.
Jada Zepeda, jr., Veterans Memorial
Of note: The speedy Zepeda hit .453 with nine doubles, four triples and 23 RBIs.
Ayla Gonzales, jr., Bishop
Of note: Hit .547 with 19 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 49 RBIs, 46 runs and 11 stolen bases.
Maddie Perez, sr., London
Of note: The two-way player hit .523 with nine home runs, 56 RBIs, 64 runs, 24 walks and 35 stolen bases. Also had a 4-2 record as a pitcher.
Pitchers
Sidney Castillo, so., Woodsboro
Of note: One of the area’s top pitchers had a 23-4-1 record with a 0.553 ERA with 300 strikeouts in 139 1/3 innings. Also hit .500 with 39 RBIs and a .953 fielding percentage.
Jamie Burch, sr., Sinton
Of note: The 30-4A MVP was 20-8 this season with 231 strikeouts and a 1.487 ERA.
Jordyn Thibodeaux, so., Calallen
Of note: Compiled an 18-1 record with 0.933 ERA to go with 153 strikeouts and 48 walks in 93 innings. Recorded 15 shutouts and five no-hitters.
Kylee Ward, so., Ingleside
Of note: The stellar sophomore compiled a 20-4 record with a 2.30 ERA with 175 strikeouts and also hit .445 with 30 RBIs.
Kadence Trevino, jr., Hebbronville
Of note: Recorded a 19-9 record with 211 strikeouts in 150 innings, and hit .426 with nine doubles, five home runs and had 28 RBIs.
Catcher
Talia Maldonado, sr., Veterans Memorial
Of note: Hit .485 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, six home runs and 52 RBIs.
Utility
Brookelynn Meador, jr., Calallen
Of note: Returned after knee injury to hit .474 with 12 home runs, 51 RBIs and scored 49 runs and a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Demiree Stafford, jr., Tuloso-Midway
Of note: An all-around athlete that hit .483 with five doubles, eight triples, seven home runs, scored 37 runs with 25 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.
Second Team
Infielders
Braelyn Bailey, so., Calallen; Brooke Castillo, jr., Alice; Izzy De Los Santos, jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Taygen Delagarza, fr., London; Kaeleigh Mendez, so., Carroll; Taylor Reyes, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Leilani Smith, so., Ingleside; Karina Trevino, jr., Robstown
Outfielders
Isabella Campos, xx, Miller; Mia Flores, sr., Calallen; Faith Monsevais, sr., King; Stephanie Salinas, sr., Alice
Pitchers
Meredeith Cavazos, xx, Veterans Memorial; D’Andra Fernandez, so., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Madison Gummelt, so., Tuloso-Midway; Skyler Ramos, xx, Riviera
Catcher
Alyah Medrano, sr., Sinton; Aubrey Gilchrist, sr., Tuloso-Midway
Utility Players
Alyson Gomez, xx, Three Rivers; Audryna Alamaraz, sr., Calallen; Clarissa Valdez, sr., Carroll; Emilee Holmes, so., Veterans Memorial
Third Team
Infielders
Eva Gallegos, xx, London; Jazaelynne Lewis, so., Refugio; DeeAndra Maldonado, sr., Alice; Mariana Molina, so., San Diego; Mackenzie Mounts, jr., Calallen; Carol Rodriguez, jr., Ingleside; Aubrielle Saldana, so., Bishop; Theresa Salinas, jr., Hebbronville; Ella Srubar, so., Orange Grove
Outfielders
Avari Andrade, so., Tuloso-Midway; Melissa Deleon, sr., Refugio; Kayden Trevino, so., Calallen
Pitchers
Audrey Diercks, jr., Gregory-Portland; Madalyne Dykes, so., Rockport-Fulton; Natalia Escobedo, so., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Jolie Mann, so., Skidmore-Tynan; Kenna Ruiz, fr., George West
Catcher
Karina Alarcon, jr., Hebbronville; Addie Aleman, so., IWA; Ariel Flores, jr., Robstown; Cristela Trevino, jr., Alice
Utility
Kalia Flaherty, jr., Rockport-Fulton; Maddie Mauricio, jr., Gregory-Portland; Jiana Olguin, jr., Robstown; Jaselle Salinas, xx, Miller
Honorable mention
Cereese Espinosa, so., San Diego; Audrey Galindo, jr., Premont; Sara Henning, sr., Refugio; Angelina Hernandez, jr., Mathis; Julisa Hernandez, jr., Rockport-Fulton; Lilliana Hernandez, sr., IWA; Shelby Hovda, jr., Tuloso-Midway; Makayla Jaramillo, jr., George West; Dalisa Luera, fr., San Diego; Ava Martinez, fr., Ray; Amanda Muniz, jr., Bishop; Natalie Munoz, sr., Rockport-Fulton; Kailey Pena, jr., Hebbronville; Jasmin Ramirez, so., Bishop; Allison Ramos, jr., Flour Bluff; Kylie Rodriguez, so., Ray; Natalie Sanchez, jr., King; Trinity Silguero, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Madison Trevino, so., Tuloso-Midway; Ciara Valadez, jr., Alice; Talina Valdez, so., Carroll; Mikaela Vargas, sr., Premont; Makayla Velasco, jr., Orange Grove; Cedie Wills, fr., Refugio; Aniya Zena, fr., Woodsboro
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Meet the 2024 Caller-Times All-South Texas Softball Team
