College Update: Earwood ends spectacular Pomona-Pitzer career
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.
Ahsha Earwood (Burroughs, 2013) Pomona-Pitzer water polo senior: A stellar career came to its conclusion for Earwood with the Sagehens.
A multiple-time All-American and All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree, Earwood was a first-team All-American (via the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches) for a second consecutive season and an all-conference pick for the third straight season.
In her senior season, one in which she won her second SCIAC title, Earwood tallied a 10-18 record with 154 saves and an 8.53 goals-against average with 24 steals.
Earwood, a former All-Area selection in her days at Burroughs, posted 689 career saves.
On April 23, Earwood and the Sagehens defeated No. 1 seed Whittier, 9-3, in the SCIAC championship with the former Indians standout grabbing eight saves.
In the opening-round game of the subsequent NCAA Division III tournament, No. 25 Pomona-Pitzer lost to No. 8 Pacific, 11-5. Earwood did all she could with 12 saves. The Sagehens finished the season at 17-19, 10-1 in conference.
Katie Hooper (Burbank, 2013) Cal State Northridge softball senior: On her way out at Northridge, Hooper garnered her fourth consecutive All-Big West honor with a first-team nod and was recognized with the second major conference award of her decorated career when she was named the Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In 2015, she was the Big West Player of the Year.
Hooper made the move to first base and made 50 starts with only four errors in 388 chances while helping turn 20 double plays.
“It is an amazing feeling to be recognized for all the hard work I have put in this past year,” Hooper told the college’s website. “Being a versatile player, it was fun to play a new position and be able to help out my team to the best of my ability.”
Hooper hit .358 with 22 runs, 14 doubles, eight home runs, 37 runs batted in and 18 walks. She ranked second in the conference in batting average, doubles and slugging percentage (.630) during the regular season. Hooper tallied 50 career doubles and became CSUN’s all-time leader, which was also fifth in conference history. Her 160 career RBI are also fifth in conference history and second in Matadors chronicle.
“Katie represents one of the most versatile and competitive players I have ever coached and she made the transition to first base seamlessly while also excelling at the plate,” Matadors coach Tairia Flowers said.
Kaitlin Okimoto (Burroughs, 2016) Brown softball freshman: A season after contributing mightily to the greatest season in Burroughs softball history, Okimoto made a phenomenal first impression at Brown.
As a starter for all 45 of her team’s games at shortstop, she came away as the team leader with 33 runs, 22 walks and a .423 on-base percentage. Her .326 batting average, 45 hits, six home runs, 25 runs batted in and four stolen bases were good enough for second on the team.
The former All-Area selection, who had 12 multi-hit games and a 13-game hitting streak during the season, won Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors on March 13 and won the team’s Most Outstanding First-Year Player Award.
Brown went 16-29, 6-14 in the Ivy League with a doubleheader sweep of Yale to end the season. On the final day in a 7-2 win against Yale, Okimoto went three for three with two runs and a walk.
John White (Burbank, 2013) Redlands baseball senior: White was a steady hand in his final season out of the bullpen with Redlands.
The right-hander led the Bulldogs with seven saves and posted a 2-2 record across 20 appearances and 27 2/3 innings. Though White’s 4.55 ERA was the highest in his Redlands tenure, his 43 strikeouts in 27-plus innings with just nine walks was outstanding.
White’s career ended terrifically as his final five appearances went without a run given up and culminated with a stellar outing on May 6 in a 17-6 win over Chapman in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. White earned the victory with four innings to close out the game in which he allowed just two hits, no runs, no walks and tallied three strikeouts.
Redlands lost the following day in the conference postseason championship to Cal Lutheran, which went on to win the NCAA Division III title.
White’s career concluded with three seasons, a 7-5 record, 11 saves, 88 1/3 innings over 60 appearances, a 3.06 ERA and 116 strikeouts to just 33 walks.
Cameron Briggs (Burbank High, 2015) UC Davis baseball sophomore: Briggs became a steady contributor to the Aggies’ lineup in 2017.
The infielder played in 31 of 51 games for Davis, garnering 25 starts. He posted a .281 batting average with 14 runs batted in and 10 runs.
Briggs also made a pair of pitching appearances, throwing a scoreless 2/3 of an inning on the season.
Burroughs High product Daniel Barraza is also an Aggie. A redshirt junior, the left-handed pitcher played sparingly, making three appearances that equated 3 1/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA. Barraza struck out two and walked six.
Davis posted a 21-30 record with a 10-14 showing in the Big West.
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
