Oakdale High varsity baseball coach, Hondo Arpoika, had some wise words of advice for his standout individuals this year.
“I told them that the better they do as a team, the more individual accolades they will get this season,” Arpoika said on Sunday. “And we had quite a few players receive all league recognition or all star participation.”
Those are the sorts of things Valley Oak League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championships can do for you.
Oakdale, which claimed the co-VOL crown on May 6 and the blue SJS banner on Memorial Day, landed three selections for the 22nd Annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary All Star Classic (juniors and seniors) at John Thurman Field in Modesto.
Two of those three also qualified to see action in the 22nd Annual High School Baseball/Softball All Star game (seniors) in Stockton.
Combine the all-star honors with 10 selections for All VOL status, and Oakdale baseball had all the accolades they could ask for this season.
“I thought they gave everything they had this year,” Arpoika said. “These recognitions come from producing well and having teammates produce well to get this team to where we finished.”
Brennon Williams was named the VOL MVP after incredible pitching and clutch hitting throughout the league season. His fellow ace, Russell Longworth, made first team All League recognition and will join Williams at the Stockton Baseball/Softball All Star affair later this month.
Williams, Longworth and junior second baseman Kody Simons (second team all league infield) will take on the Rotary Classic in Modesto on June 25 as well.
Junior leadoff hitter Mark Ortiz was named a first team All VOL outfielder while second team honors went to junior Andy Morris (infield), senior Matt Butler (pitcher) and sophomore Spencer Thomas (outfield).
Junior Lance Branch was named an honorable mention catcher while upstart freshman Bryce Dyrda was selected as an honorable mention pitcher.
Oakdale is expected to return 10 of their 16 players for a shot at a sixth consecutive conference title and third straight Section banner in 2012.
“I told them that the better they do as a team, the more individual accolades they will get this season,” Arpoika said on Sunday. “And we had quite a few players receive all league recognition or all star participation.”
Those are the sorts of things Valley Oak League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championships can do for you.
Oakdale, which claimed the co-VOL crown on May 6 and the blue SJS banner on Memorial Day, landed three selections for the 22nd Annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary All Star Classic (juniors and seniors) at John Thurman Field in Modesto.
Two of those three also qualified to see action in the 22nd Annual High School Baseball/Softball All Star game (seniors) in Stockton.
Combine the all-star honors with 10 selections for All VOL status, and Oakdale baseball had all the accolades they could ask for this season.
“I thought they gave everything they had this year,” Arpoika said. “These recognitions come from producing well and having teammates produce well to get this team to where we finished.”
Brennon Williams was named the VOL MVP after incredible pitching and clutch hitting throughout the league season. His fellow ace, Russell Longworth, made first team All League recognition and will join Williams at the Stockton Baseball/Softball All Star affair later this month.
Williams, Longworth and junior second baseman Kody Simons (second team all league infield) will take on the Rotary Classic in Modesto on June 25 as well.
Junior leadoff hitter Mark Ortiz was named a first team All VOL outfielder while second team honors went to junior Andy Morris (infield), senior Matt Butler (pitcher) and sophomore Spencer Thomas (outfield).
Junior Lance Branch was named an honorable mention catcher while upstart freshman Bryce Dyrda was selected as an honorable mention pitcher.
Oakdale is expected to return 10 of their 16 players for a shot at a sixth consecutive conference title and third straight Section banner in 2012.
