The 2025 season is in the books for the Acalanes Varsity softball team, after an explosive 18-0 first round NCS win and a narrow second round loss. The seniors, Esa Orman, Emme Young and Avery Robb passed on a legacy of class, strong play and academic excellence.  Esa is attending the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!), Emme is going to Rice University (Go Owls!) and Avery is headed to Berkeley (Go Bears!). Their leadership helped the team achieve the #1 team GPA in NCS, D3 at 3.58.

Listed below are Diablo Athletic League awards, team awards, some season statistics and some playoff highlights.

DAL All-League Honors

• Senior Emme Young – First Team All-League
• Senior Esa Orman – Second Team All-League
• Sophomore Santana Tamayo – Honorable Mention

Coach Vic’s Team Awards

• Most Valuable Player – Emme Young
• Offensive Player of the Year – Emme Young
• Defensive Player of the Year – Riley Zirkel
• Newcomer of the Year – June Natal
• Spirit Award – Vanessa Choi and Gabby Huerta

Regular Season Statistics/Top 5 (source: Gamechanger)

• Batting Average (Emme Young .518, Esa Orman .411, Santana Tamayo .379, June Natal .358, Riley Zirkel .326)
• On-Base Percentage (E. Young .625, E. Orman .521, R. Zirkel .475, S. Tamayo .464, J. Natal .433)
• Slugging (S. Tamayo .724, E. Orman .679, E. Young .679, Vanessa Choi .552, J. Natal .509)
• Hits (E. Young 29, E. Orman 23, S. Tamayo 22, J. Natal 19, V. Choi/Maya Shoenhair 16)
• Extra-Base Hits (S. Tamayo 12, V. Choi 8, E. Orman 7, J. Natal/E. Young 4)
• Runs batted-in (S. Tamayo 36, E. Orman/J. Natal 17, V. Choi 15, E. Young 14)
• Walks (E. Young 15, R. Zirkel 13, V. Choi 11, S. Tamayo 8, E. Orman 7)
• Stolen Bases (E. Young 14, J. Natal 6, Margaux Stone 4, R. Zirkel/V. Choi/Gabby Huerta 3)
• Maya Shoenhair led the team with 95 innings pitched and 54 strikeouts
• Margaux led the team with a 5.64 earned run average

NCS Playoff Highlights

• Maya had a fantastic opening game in the playoffs, pitching a five-inning complete game shutout.  At the plate, she had two hits and five runs batted in for the contest.
• Freshman June Natal only got four hits in five at-bats, with two walks in her first NCS playoffs, including a home run and four runs batted in. She was clearly not afraid of the big stage.
• Speaking of home runs, sophomore Santana Tamayo had five for the season, which led the team.  She would have had six if there was a home run fence in Alameda at the girl’s first round game. She had four hits and four runs batted in during the playoffs to cap an amazing season.
• Defensively, sophomore left fielder Vanessa Choi, senior center fielder Emme Young and senior second baseman Avery Robb made several outstanding plays in the two NCS games.  Sophomore shortstop Riley Zirkel also shined with eight outs in eight touches for the two games, including throwing two runners out at home in their final contest.
• Pitcher Margaux Stone also had a nice outing in the final game of the year, throwing two shutout innings to keep the girls in the game.

Acalanes Career Milestones

• All three seniors (E. Young, A. Robb and E. Orman) played on Varsity all four years
• Emme finished her career as the all-time leader in hits with 145
• Esa finished her career as the all-time leader in runs batted in with 114

Overall, it was a year to remember for the ladies in blue.  Thanks to the players, coaches, parents and fans for making 2025 special.  Good luck to our seniors and happy off season to one and all.  Go Dons!