2017 All-Madera Tribune Baseball team
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Nick Martinez was named the County/Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year. On the mound, he recorded a 2.95 ERA for the Coyotes with five wins. At the plate, Martinez batted .356 with 18 RBIs and a team-leading 32 hits. He is The Madera Tribune’s baseball Most Valuable Player.
Most Valuable Player Nick Martinez Senior P-3B Madera
Stats: .356 BA, 32 H, 18 RBI, 5-4, 2.95 ERA, 57 IP, 39 K. All-league: Player of the Year, CMAC
Martinez became the ace of the Madera Coyotes staff. He pitched in 14 of the team’s 29 games and won five games. He was also important to the Coyotes by becoming a player the Coyotes could count on. He was solid in the middle of the Coyotes line-up and tied for second on the team (with Adam Medellin) in RBI’s. He also led the team with 32 hits and was fourth in run scored. He also led the Coyotes in innings pitched and strikeouts. When Martinez wasn’t pitching, he was playing solid defense at third base. He is a two-time All-Madera Tribune selection. Pitcher of the Year Jiovanni Saavedra Senior P-OF Madera South
Stats: 5-3, 2.70 ERA, 4 CG, 2 saves, 70 IP, 47 K All-league: Honorable mention, CMAC
One of Saavedra’s best tools is his competitiveness as the ace of the Stallions’ staff. His emotions do not get the best of him throughout the game. His expressions on the mound doesn’t change. However, one of his best attributes is his pick-off move. If he gives us a single or walks a batter, he has the ability to silence the running game. He had 10 pickoffs this season and more than 30 in his three-year varsity career. He also batted .214 with nine hits and four runs scored. He also earned an All-Tribune selection last year. The Team Caleb Bertoncini Junior P-1B-3B Madera South
Stats: .375 BA, 22 R, 36 H, 13 RBI, 5 2B, 4-7, 3.41 ERA All-league: 1st team, All-CMAC
Bertoncini was Madera South’s only representative on the All-CMAC first team. He led the Stallions in batting average and hits while tying for the team lead in runs scored. He was second in doubles and third in RBIs while playing three positions for the Stallions, depending on who was pitching. Bertoncini became the No. 2 pitcher on the Stallions staff. He started 10 games with three complete games while striking out 54 batters in 51 1/3 innings pitched. He is a two-time All-Madera Tribune selection. Nathanael Samarin Sophomore P-1B-3B Liberty
Stats: .42 BA, 18 R, 26 H, 15 RBI, 5 2B, 8-1, 2.67 ERA, 68 K-55 IP All-league: 1st team, All-NSL
Just a sophomore, this is Samarin’s second-team All-Tribune selection. He came on late on the mound for the Hawks and became the ace of the staff. He held opponents to a .191 batting average against and threw two complete-game shutouts and a no-hitter. Samarin was just as lethal at the plate, hitting .342 in the middle of the Liberty lineup. He was second on the team in runs and hits and led the team in doubles. Brixton Gomes Junior P Liberty
Stats: 2-1, 1.53 ERA, 6 saves, 22 K, 7 ER All-league: 2nd team All-NSL
Gomes was called on in relief for the Hawks. He appeared in 16 of the team’s 27 games and led the team with six saves. He allowed 21 runs this season, but just seven runs were earned. He struck out 22 batters of 32 innings for the Hawks while becoming the team’s closer. Nate Encinas Senior P Madera
Stats: 4-3, 2.55 ERA, 3 saves, 44 IP, 38 K All-league: 2nd team All-CMAC
Encinas was the do-everything for head coach Andy Underwood’s pitching staff. He started games, came in relief and closed games. Near the end of the season, Encinas earned starts opposite Martinez. He struck out almost a batter an inning while serving numerous positions on the Coyotes’ pitching staff. Josh Conigliaro Senior C Madera South
Stats: .358 BA, 22 R, 34 H, 4 2B All-league: Honorable mention, CMAC
Although he was the smallest player on the diamond, he played with the biggest heart on the field. Batting at the top of the Stallions’ line up, Conigliaro provided a spark the team needed. He tied for the team lead in runs, was second in hits and tied for third in doubles. He also was second with a .402 on base percentage. This year’s selection is Conigliaro’s third on the All-Tribune team.
Isaac Chavira Junior C Madera
Stats: .288 BA, 15 H, 10 RBI
The Coyotes seemed to take off when Chavira was inserted into the lineup just before the beginning of the CMAC season. He was solid at the bottom half of the lineup and provided a bat at a position of need for the Coyotes. He was a leader behind the plate and also provided levity to the team, especially with his walk-up song. Juan Carlos Gonzales Junior 1B Madera South
Stats: .307 BA, 23 H, 19 RBI All-league: 2nd team, All-CMAC
Gonzales was a menacing figure in the middle of the Stallions’ line-up. Not only was he the biggest player on the team, but he also carried a big bat. He was fourth on the team in batting average, was second in hits and led the team in RBIs. He also played first base and was a designated hitter for the Stallions. Colton Cardoza Sophomore 1B Liberty
Stats: .278 BA, 22 H, 21 RBI, 2 HR All-league: 2nd team, All-NSL
Like his Madera South counterpart, Cardoza was a big player on the Liberty baseball team, providing instant offense in the middle of the Hawks’ lineup. He led the team in RBI’s and home runs. He was third in hits and also scored 13 runs while playing a solid first base. Caleb Pursell Senior 2B Madera
Stats: .277 BA, 22 R, 23 H, 4 2B All-league: 1st team, All-CMAC
Pursell was a mainstay at the top of the order for the Coyotes. He was able to utilize his speed, especially placing bunts for singles. Pursell led the team in runs scored while banging out four doubles, tied for second on the team. He also led the team in plate appearances and recorded a .439 on base percentage while drawing a team-high 20 walks and getting hit by pitches four times. Manny Nunez Senior 3B-P Madera South
Stats: .313 BA, 21 H, 3.22 ERA, 1-2, 5 GS.
Nunez was solid at third base for the Stallions and was also one of the top pitchers for Madera South. He was third on the team in batting average. Nunez also appeared in 11 games for the Stallions with five starts. He also earned two saves while striking out 33 batters in 37 innings. Tony Noriega Junior SS Madera
Stats: .264 BA, 23 H, 19 RBI, 4 2B All-league: 2nd team, All-CMAC
After a comeback to the varsity team, Noriega played in every game for the Coyotes while Underwood penciled in his name at shortstop every time. Noriega was entrenched at the No. 6 spot in the Coyotes’ lineup and led the team in RBI’s. He also tied for the team lead with eight extra base hits, including two home runs and four doubles. Oscar Reyes Senior SS Madera South
Stats: .273 BA, 16 R, 21 H, 4 2B
Despite his unorthodox throwing style, Reyes was one of the best defensive shortstops in the section. He didn’t have a throwing error in any home games this season. Reyes was put at the top of the order midway through the season and excelled, setting the table for Conigliaro, Caleb Bertoncini and Gonzales. He was third on the team in runs scored and tied for third in doubles. Reyes is a two-time All-Madera Tribune selection. Bradley Moon Sophomore SS Liberty
Stats: .366 BA, 20 R, 30 H, 16 RBI, 4 2B All-league: 1st team, All-NSL, NSL Underclassman of the Year
Moon was the heart of the Liberty lineup. He led the team in batting average, runs and hits. He also was second in RBIs and tied for third in doubles while playing solid ball at shortstop. He helped set the table at the top of the lineup for big hitters Nathanael Samarin and Cardoza. Christian Chavira Junior OF Madera
Stats: .326 BA, 21 R, 28 H, 17 RBI, 5 2B
Chavira was a constant in the middle of the Coyotes’ lineup, usually batting third in front of Adam Medellin. Chavira was second on the Coyotes in runs, hits, RBIs and led the team in doubles. He also led the team in slugging percentage while providing protection for Martinez and Pursell at the top of the lineup. Alonzo Tovar Junior OF Madera South
Stats: 18 H, 16 RBI, 7 2B
Anchoring one of the smallest outfields in the section, Tovar carried one of the biggest bats. Although a little smaller in stature, Tovar’s bat was big. He led the team in doubles and was second in RBI’s. Although Tovar had a .228 batting average, he drew 11 walks and was hit by six pitches for a .365 on base percentage and will be looked upon at the top of the Stallions’ order next year. Eli Gonzalez Junior OF Liberty
Stats: .274 BA, 20 H, 18 R, 4 2B
Gonzalez was the leader of the Liberty outfield. He batted at the top of the Liberty line-up while tying for second in runs scored. He was one of six players with more than 20 hits and one of seven with 10 or more RBIs while tying for second in doubles. He also led the team with 18 walks and was second on Liberty with a .459 on base percentage.
