Rothanzl, Chenault and Maumausolo Earn Conference's Top Honors, Five More Players Named to First Team All-Conference

After leading the conference in several key statistical categories, Allan Hancock College softball players Jessica Rothanzl and Katie Chenault received the Western State Conference Gold Division's highest honors from coaches on Thursday. Rothanzl was named the Player of the Year, Chenault earned Pitcher of the Year, and head coach Scia Maumausolo was named Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a perfect run through conference and the program's second straight outright conference title. In addition, five Bulldogs, Missy Regalado, Teanna Silveira, Megan Love, Michaela Valencia and Judith Salazar were voted to the All-Conference First Team. Freshmen Ashley Ruiz and Monique Hoobery received honorable mention honors.

Rothanzl leads the conference and ranks among the top 10 in the state with a .538 batting average, 10 home runs, 58 RBI, 56 hits, .577 on-base percentage and .942 slugging percentage. The sophomore, who along with Chenault signed National Letters of Intent to Cal State Northridge, broke program records for most RBI in a single-season, most career RBI (111), most career doubles (27), and highest single-season batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Righetti High School graduate was an All-Conference First Team and All-Southern California selection as a freshman.

Chenault was named Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year. The sophomore leads the state with 369 strikeouts, one shy of the program record she set last year, and 32 victories. She has 24 games with 10 or more strikeouts and ranks second in the state with a 0.66 ERA. She ranks sixth and seventh all-time in state history for most strikeouts in a season with the postseason still to come.

Maumausolo earned her first Coach of the Year honor in her sixth season with the Bulldogs. She picked up career win #100 earlier this season and has 109 entering the postseason. More than half of her wins have come in the last two seasons. With a 33-2-1 overall record, the Bulldogs will start the postseason on a 31-game winning streak. Maumausolo guided the Bulldogs to their first 30-win season since 1999.

Regalado, who started every game at shortstop this season, was named to the First Team for the second straight year. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate is hitting .355 with three home runs, 28 RBI, 12 stolen bases, 11 doubles and 29 runs scored.

Salazar, a freshman center fielder, ranks second in the conference with 43 RBI. The Righetti High School graduate finished third on the team with a .415 batting average, second with 44 hits, and led the team with 14 doubles and four triples. She added three home runs.

Valencia, who returned from a one-year absence, started every game at second base. The leadoff hitter led the conference with 36 runs, 24 stolen bases and 28 walks. She finished the regular season hitting .255 with four home runs and 24 RBI.

Silveira was a hit-producing machine at the bottom of the order all season. The freshman catcher finished second on the team with a .431 batting average and .511 on-base percentage. She scored 30 runs, hit two home runs, two triples and finished with 25 RBI.

Love, a sophomore, earned her first All-Conference First Team selection after finishing with 20 stolen bases, 15 RBI, 33 runs and a .316 batting average. The Cabrillo High School graduate missed the first two games of the season, but started every game the rest of the way in right field and hitting in the second spot in the order.

Ruiz started every game at third base for the Bulldogs. The Nipomo High School graduate hit .266 with two triples, 8 RBI and 23 walks. She had an on-base percentage of .448.

Hoobery hit .217 with two doubles and 7 RBI for the Bulldogs as a freshman.

The Bulldogs are ranked fourth in the state and third in the Southern California Regional this week. Hancock, which is headed to the playoffs for the second straight season, will learn its seed and opponent in the Regional Playoffs on Saturday, April 25. The first round of the playoffs will take place next Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3.