Arkansas-bound Jayden Ramos leaves mark for Central softball team. ‘She has unreal power’
Jayden Ramos was always a threat when she stepped into the batter’s box.
Central High softball opponents respected that by intentionally walking her because there was a good chance she would hit the ball over the fence.
Even Grizzlies coach Scott Gorton said he would intentionally walk Ramos.
“She has unreal power,” he said. “Over the last couple years, she’s really narrowed down her strike-zone swings; a lot better pitches than she did when she was young.”
Here’s how that translated for Ramos this past season as she helped Central to a Tri-River Athletic Conference title and a runner-up finish in the Central Section Division I playoffs:
Ramos led the team with a .469 batting average, 38 RBI, nine doubles and seven home runs. Ramos is The Fresno Bee Player of the Year for her productive year.
Ramos called it “respect” as why teams intentionally walk her. She understands.
“I didn’t really think anything of it,” she said. “I was just glad I got on base, and I expected it most of the time.”
The Arkansas-bound player will next play for Razorbacks coach Courtney Deifel, the daughter of former Fresno City College baseball coach Ron Scott.
“I’m just glad my hard work has paid off,” Ramos said. It’s just really exciting.”
Ramos credits the Grizzlies coaching staff for getting the team prepared for each game.
She said they helped elevated her game to a new level that led to multiple scholarship offers that eventually landed her at Arkansas.
“They did an amazing job,” she said. “Just the group we had last year or this last year, they did a really good job with us and always prepared us really well. I think the girls bought in and we knew we had a chance all my four years.
“Every season we just grew hungry and hungrier.”
Coach of the Year: Courtney Dale, Clovis North
Courtney Dale never worried when her team had a mini slump midway through the season.
All she was doing was preparing for a late-season run.
That is what happened when the Broncos won the next six games after losing to Central, but got revenge in a 5-0 win over the Grizzlies at Margie Wright Diamond in the D-I championship.
“I think we were ready for the playoffs,” Dale said. “Just peaking at the right time and playing the game straight-up and getting those timely hits and having good pitching and getting good batters was the key to success.”
Clovis North had lost three straight in the TRAC before making that a distant memory.
Central Section historian Bob Barnett said Dale has a record of 190-139-3 in 13 years with three TRAC championships and two section championships (2021 and 2024) and a runner-up in 2012.
“As a coaching staff, we talked about peaking at the right time and getting the momentum going at the right time,” Dale said.
“It definitely helped us this year and we obviously are happy with the outcome, but most proud of the girls and their pride in fighting and not giving up throughout the season.”
Large School Player of the Year: Kiara Sipe, Sr., Clovis North
Kiara Sipe was voted the TRAC’s Offensive Player of the Year.
She led the team in batting .422 and also was a power threat with seven home runs.
She also had three triples and four doubles to drive in 30 runs.
Medium School Player of the Year: Bella Valdez, Sr., Redwood
Bella Valdez helped Redwood to an East Yosemite League title.
Valdez hit .433 and scored 30 times and had 42 hits to drive in 31 runs. She also displayed skill when she had 11 doubles, three triples and four RBI.
She was named EYL’s MVP.
Small School Player of the Year: Rylee Boccchini, Sr., Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Rylee Bocchini is off to Fresno State for a reason.
She helped her Liberty-Madera Ranchos to a 13-0 record in the Northwest Sequoia League.
Bocchini’s clutch hitting was the reason why the Hawks won 21 games.
She hit a monstrous .531 while driving in 57 runs. Bocchini finished with 14 doubles, three triples and 11 home runs.
She was named the NWSL Most Valuable Player.
Bee All-Stars
Gizelle Aguirre, Caruthers
Ari Aguyao, Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Alexis Alvarado, Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Roxy Alvarez, Kerman
Tabitha Andrews, Bullard
Mia Arriola, Sanger West
Karsyn Bauer, Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Rebekah Beasley, Mission Oak
Mia Castillo, Orange Cove
Brynn Close, Riverdale
Khamara Dement, Selma
Reagen Chavez, Sanger West
Natalia Delgadillo, Immanuel
Star Roman Elizondo, Orange Cove
Ashely Espino, Sr., El Diamante
Grenelei Finderup, Washington Union
Addy Finegan, Buchanan
Frankie Galvan, Central
Mollie Gillis, Strathmore
Alyanna Gonzales, Kingsburg
Jocelynn Gonzalez, Clovis North
Victoria Frias, Lindsay
Candince Moreno-Hairabedian, Reedley
Jayden Herrera, Sanger
xAmanda Herrera, Immanuel
Emily Hinchey, Bullard
Madelyn Johnston, Clovis West
Regan Jones, Kingburg
Sammie Kulak, Buchanan
JuJu Martinez, Bullard
Alondra Magallanes, Golden West
Rachel Martin, Fresno Christian
Maleena Martin, Mission Oak
Alyssa Martinez, Sanger
Jada Matthewson, Yosemite
Arabella Palma, Central
Kamana Powell, Central
Madeline Power, Orange Cove
Gabi Ramirez, Central
Emily Rempp, Riverdale
Kaliea Ricks, Madera
Malea Ricks, Madera
Audrina Rodriguez, Woodlake
Esmeralda Zuniga Romero, Roosevelt
Sophia Roque, Selma
Stephanie Sanchez, Fowler
Emilee Santos, Corcoran
Shelby Somovia, Sr. Redwood
Zoey Thomas, Clovis North
Sophia Torres, Sanger West
Lexi Valle, Sierra
Karmen Vasquez, Hanford West
Alexis Verduzco, Edison
Maci Whaley, Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Betsey Woodward, Bullard
Sydney Yep, Kerman
This story was originally published July 12, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
