Lady Tigers roar for half of Desert League honors after CIF title run, taking top three awards

Imperial softball dominates All-League selections, good showing from sneaky Palo Verde

IMPERIAL, Calif., (KYMA, KECY) - Despite no seniors on the roster in 2023, the Imperial Tigers made it known that they were going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

Once the end of the spring season awards came around, there was no doubt the selections would come pouring in for the Tigers after a perfect league slate and a CIF title to go along with it - putting the rest of Imperial Valley softball on catch up mode moving forward.

Although there was a good showing of All-League selections for a surprising Palo Verde squad and a young, emerging Southwest group, the Tigers brought home each of the top honors and 10 of the 20 selections.

ALL-DESERT LEAGUE SOFTBALL

Desert League Player of the Year

Hannah Johnson - Imperial

The standout sophomore was one of several underclassmen to breakout for the Lady Tigers en route to a championship season. Johnson had the league's second-best clip at the plate, hitting .420 with her 42 hits and 18 RBIs. Plus, her .504 on-base percentage led her to scorching the base paths with a league-leading 37 stolen bases and 35 runs scored. She also was solid in the field at second base with a .925 fielding percentage - behind her fellow sophomore teammate who was the Pitcher of the Year.

Desert League Pitcher of the Year

Jayden Rutledge - Imperial

To continue the pattern, Rutledge stood out as another sophomore to lead the way for the Tigers - both at the plate and in the circle. Her work in the circle climbing above the rest after tossing 120.2 innings where she sported a 3.02 ERA with 93 punch-outs. Rutledge was calm and cool in the clutch, only allowing three earned runs between the CIF semifinal and CIF final, leading to a title.

Desert League Coach of the Year

Ashley Caro - Imperial

In just her second year at the helm, Caro was able to mold together a fierce group of young competitors that refused to lose. The Tigers withstood a tough schedule early on in the season which primed them for league play where they went a perfect (9-0) and then took that into the postseason. The rest is history after winning a CIF crown and coming up just a few runs away from reaching a state final with no seniors on the roster.

All-Desert League 1st Team

Mirella Barron - Imperial (Freshman)

• .417, 43 hits, 26 RBIs, 0.572 slugging %, 1.042 OPS

Andrea De La Trinidad - Imperial (Junior)

• .400, 38 hits, 16 RBIs, 0.589 slugging %, 1.056 OPS

Hannah Johnson - Imperial (Sophomore)

• .420, 42 hits, 18 RBIs, 35 runs, 0.640 slugging %, 1.144 OPS, 37 stolen bases

Annika Lara - Imperial (Junior)

• .350, 14 hits, .435 OBP, 0.910 OPS, 13 stolen bases

Jayden Rutledge - Imperial (Sophomore)

• .422, 38 hits, 23 RBIs, 0.700 slugging %, 1.232 OPS
• 120.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, 93 K's

Cali De La Rosa - Palo Verde (Senior)

• .390, 30 hits, 11 RBIs, .453 OBP, .923 fielding %

Irina Lainez - Palo Verde (Junior)

• .254, 16 hits, 6 stolen bases

Arianna Lee - Palo Verde (Freshman)

• .246, 14 hits, 12 RBI, .421 slugging %

Sophia Sauceda - Southwest (Sophomore)

Kaydence Wiewel - Southwest (Freshman)

All-Desert League 2nd Team

Kimberly Gamboa - Calipatria (Senior)

Clarissa Davila - Imperial (Freshman)

Madelaine Magdaleno - Imperial (Freshman)

Mariana Pesqueira - Imperial (Junior)

Reagan Ray - Imperial (Freshman)

Alexa Robles - Imperial (Junior)

Madison Dagnino - Palo Verde (Senior)

Cadence Krisell - Palo Verde (Senior)

Jocelyn Colley - Southwest - Junior

Delylah Santiago - Southwest (Sophomore)