Clipboard: County well represented at NCAA softball regionals

Five former Herald all-county softball players, who honed their skills on high school campus' around Monterey County, took part this past weekend in the NCAA Regionals across the nation.

Among the Fab Five are three players from Notre Dame of Salinas – which is closing its doors this year after 60-plus years.

Former Spirit Tori Cervantes made her second NCAA tournament appearance – this time as an outfielder for St. Mary's, which is in the Eugene Regional.

Also in the Eugene bracket is host Oregon, where former Herald Female Athlete of the Year Addison Amaral has found herself at shortstop, third base, and first base this spring.

Rounding out Notre Dame's trio of Division I softball players is Samantha Rey, an outfielder for Central Florida, who took part in the Tallahassee Regional.

A teammate of Cervantes at St. Mary's is Alvarez product Victoria Castillo, while Abi Jones is pitching for Grand Canyon, which was in the Lincoln Regional.

Cervantes, who is among the Top 10 in five different offensive categories at St. Mary's, is hitting .280 in her final season, with a .370 on-base percentage.

Castillo is having a career senior season for the Gaels, hitting .347 with a pair of homers in 35 starts for the West Coast Conference champions.

Amaral, who transferred from Notre Dame in South Bend, is hitting .260 with a homer and 11 runs batted in for Oregon, sporting a .370 on-base percentage.

Hitting in the No. 9 spot, Rey is batting a team high .398 for Central Florida, with three triples and 15 runs batted in. The junior has seven stolen bases, with a .471 on-base percentage.

Recently named to the Mountain West Conference second team, Jones has made 36 appearances as a true freshman – 35 in relief.

Jones, who pitched Salinas to a NorCal Division II title last spring, is 9-3 on the season with one save and a 3.57 earned run average, striking out 40 in 66 innings.

Turner on a power surge

The second half of the baseball season has been one to remember for Cy Turner, who has hit nine of his team-leading 11 homers in his past 16 games for Wright State.

The 6-foot-3 Turner is coming off his first two-homer game for Wright State, having driven in 37 runs this season.

Hitting just under .300, the former Pacific Grove High and MPC slugger has turned 24 of his 45 hits this spring into extra bases.

The left-handed swinging Turner has walked 22 times and has been hit by a pitch a team-leading 11 times, showcasing a .430 on-base percentage, with 15 steals in 17 attempts.

Turner spent two seasons at MPC, before earning a scholarship to the University of Memphis, where he transferred to Wright State (17-4 in conference) this spring.

PG’s Kuska, Stade recruited walk-ons

Garrett Kuska and Bradley Stade will continue their lacrosse careers in college at two former PAC 12 schools.

Kuska, a member of The Herald's All-County football team at Pacific Grove last season, will play lacrosse next spring at Arizona State, while Stade is headed to Oregon.

Kuska finished with 30 goals and 11 assists for the Breakers, while Stade collected 12 goals and 17 assists, winning 93 percent of his draws.

Teammate and multi-sport athlete Ryder Gamecho, who will return next season, led the nation in takeaways with 115, while collecting 108 ground balls.

Martorella's college softball career

Salinas graduate Marie Martorella closed a chapter in her college softball career at Santa Clara University, hitting safely in her final four games.

The senior catcher finished the season with a .278 batting average, hitting two homers with 19 runs batted in.

Martorella raised her batting average in each of her four seasons for the Broncos, hitting .128 points higher than her freshman season.

Over the course of four years, the former multi-sport athlete hit three homers and drove in 37 runs, while scoring 33 runs in 99 games. She also finished with seven sacrifice flies.

Defensively, Martorella committed just one error in four years at Santa Clara behind the dish, handling 94 of 95 chances.

Smith caps season

Jordan Smith was the only player at Eastern Kentucky to start and play in all 53 softball games this past spring.

The former Alisal High and all-county infielder hit her first collegiate home run and drove in 17 runs for Eastern Kentucky, who finished 27-25-1.

Smith, who played shortstop and first base, led the team in sacrifices, while hitting .248 with a .329 on-base percentage, driving in two runs in the team’s final game.

Defensively, Smith sported a .943 fielding percentage, finishing with a team high 241 putouts for the Colonels.

Coaches wanted

Carmel is looking for a girls’ varsity basketball coach, a girls varsity soccer coach, and a boys varsity tennis coach. Apply at www.carmelunified.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, boys and girls water polo, and field hockey. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 3:22 PM.