Conference Honors Saddleback’s Kroener

Tara Kroener, Saddleback pitcher and shortstop, has been selected the Orange Empire Conference player of the year by coaches.

Kroener, from Ontario Chaffey High, hit .439 and was 13-2 in conference.

Reanna Mendoza of Cypress and Erica Pilkington of Santa Ana are the co-pitchers of the year and Brad Pickler of Cypress and and Suzy Brazney of Golden West are the co-coaches of the year.

Catcher Kelly Humphries and outfielder Jill Tantardini, both of Cypress, and Fullerton infielder Marissa Ornelas have been selected first-team All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn.

Mendoza is on the second team.

Here are coaches’ teams:

First team: Pitchers--Amanda Dorow (Riverside), Tara Kroener (Saddleback), Reanna Mendoza (Cypress), Erica Pilkington (Santa Ana). Catcher--Kelly Humphries (Cypress). Infield--Michele Bailon (Cypress), Marissa Ornelas (Fullerton), Jessica Roberts (Saddleback), Anne Skidmore (Saddleback). Outfield--Carrie Grimson (Orange Coast), Sandra Mulder (Cypress), Jill Tantardini (Cypress). Utility--Jill Cardiel (Golden West).

Second team: Pitchers--Michelle Harrison (Fullerton), Amy McManus (Golden West), Mandy Rockwell (Cypress). Catcher--Crystal Aguirre (Fullerton), Nikki Nunes (Saddleback). Infielders--Jessica Cisneros (Santa Ana), Nicole Falls (Cypress), Ro Lutz (Cypress), Monica Mora (Golden West), Nikia Owens (Fullerton), Heather Tom (Cypress). Outfield--Michelle Amescua (Fullerton), Kim Bentley (Santa Ana), Lindsay Huebner (Fullerton), Roxanne Packard (Golden West), Jennifer Sutherland (Saddleback).

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Saddleback’s Kirk Bolling and Riverside’s Jaeme Leal are the Orange Empire Conference baseball co-players of the year and Ryan Poe is the pitcher of the year, as selected by coaches.

Dennis Rogers of Riverside and Saddleback’s Jack Hodges are the co-coaches of the year.

Here is the coaches’ baseball teams:

First team: Pitchers--Jim Hostetler (Fullerton), Ryan Poe (Saddleback), Steve Smyth (Cypress), Cody Trask (Riverside). Relief pitcher--Kekoa Colon (Saddleback). Catcher--Greg Blum (Riverside). Infielders--Kirk Bolling (Saddleback), Jason Clements (Riverside), Greg Dobbs (Riverside), Levi Groomer (Saddleback), Jaeme Leal (Riverside), Nick Punto (Saddleback), Josh Roberts (Golden West). Outfielders--Jeff Bajenaru (Riverside), Bo Bryant (Fullerton), Rick Gonzalez (Santa Ana), Jeff Jones (Golden West). Utility--Tim Hunt (Fullerton). Designated hitter--Greg Pines (Saddleback).

Second team: Pitchers--Ron Corona (Cypress), Jim Kirkland (Cypress), Adam Peters (Golden West), Jeff Schultz (Cypress), Josh Stevens (Riverside), Shaun Wooley (Santa Ana). Catcher--Lars Birkeland (Saddleback), Casey Flanigan (Golden West). Infielders--Eric Albright (Golden West), Nick Garcia (Fullerton), Albert Rodgers (Santa Ana), Brandon Smith (Cypress), Cory Williams (Santa Ana). Outfielders--Darren Chandler (Orange Coast), Clare Langford (Saddleback), Denny Seybert (Saddleback), Cory Sullivan (Cypress). Utility--Chad Elliott (Santa Ana). Designated hitter--Kevin Stuart (Golden West).