Another honor for Coyote softball

About a month after Madera Coyote softball head coach Judy Shaubach was recognized by Cal-High Sports as its softball Coach of the Year, Cal-High has given another Coyote a statewide award.

In announcing its state underclassmen team Sunday, outfielder Aaliyah Cuevas (pictured) was one of just five Central Valley players honored by the website. In addition, Mariah Mazon (Mission Oak-Porterville) and Danielle Lung (Clovis) earned second team honors, along with Cuevas. Molly Millar (Buchanan-Clovis), a sophomore, earned first team honors.

“That’s a great honor,” Cuevas said. “I didn’t know that there weren’t a lot of people made it from the Valley. It’s great. That means I’m doing something right.”

Cuevas, a junior, is already the school’s best run producer. She drove in 26 runs this year and has a school-record 81 RBIs this season. She also batted .377 with a team-leading 34 runs, 43 hits, 11 doubles and five triples.

“I have to keep up with how I’m doing,” Cuevas said. “I have to do better than that now and make the first team All-State.”

Cuevas helped the Coyotes win their second straight Div. II Central Section softball championship this year with an eight-inning 4-3 victory over Monache-Porterville in May.

Cuevas scored the game-winning run on an inside-the-park home run to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Now she has her sights set on a third straight section championship.

“I have to work that much harder to make my senior year better.”