Castillo, Olvera Top Small School All-Stars

CORPUS CHRISTI - Shortstop Celeste Castillo and outfielder Sierra Olvera of Santa Gertrudis Academy headline the 2015 South Texas Pre-Season Small School All-Star Team announced Wednesday.

All 15 members will be recognized with their large school counterparts at the 11th South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on January 28 at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center.

The event is presented by the Corpus Christi Caller- Times and iHeartMedia. Tickets are on sale at the Whataburger Field Box Office. To order by phone, call 361-561-HOOK (4665).

Castillo and Olvera are three-time selections to the squad. They are joined by teammate and junior second baseman Kristen Gonzalez.

Odem matched SGA's three players with senior outfielder Chelsea Kemp, junior third baseman Lycena Recio, and sophomore pitcher Mia Auster. Recio shares the hot corner with H.M. King senior Samantha Cuellar, who's joined by Lady Brahma junior outfielder Makayla Sandoval.

Seven other schools are represented by one player: junior catcher Jenna Perez (Falfurrias), senior first baseman Kayla Benavides (San Diego), senior first baseman Gabbi Jimenez (Riviera Kaufer), junior designated player Allie Upton (Refugio), junior pitcher Hannah Halepaska (Orange Grove), junior pitcher Kayla Oliveira (Benavides), and junior pitcher Kaylee Polasek (Rockport-Fulton). Perez, Benavides, and Halepaska are repeat selections from a year ago.

The all-stars were nominated and selected by area Class 4A, 3A, 2A, and private school coaches.

 

2014 Honors

Celeste Castillo, Santa Gertrudis Academy, 1^st-team All-District 32-2A

Sierra Olvera, Santa Gertrudis Academy, 1^st-team All-District 32-2A

Kristen Gonzalez, Santa Gertrudis Academy, Caller-Times 3^rd-team All-South Texas/District 32-2A MVP

Chelsea Kemp, Odem, 1^st-team All-District 31-2A

Lycena Recio, Odem, HM All-District 31-2A

Mia Auster, Odem, 2^nd-Team All-District 31-2A

Samantha Cuellar, H.M. King, 1^st-Team All-District 31-3A

Makayla Sandoval, H.M. King, HM All-District 31-3A

Jenna Perez, Falfurrias, District 32-2A Defensive Player of the Year

Kayla Benavides, San Diego, Caller-Times 3^rd-team All-South Texas/District 31-2A Defensive Player of the Year

Gabbi Jimenez, Riviera Kaufer, Texas Sports Writers Association 2^nd-team All-State/Caller-Times 3^rd-team All-South Texas/1^st-team All-District 32-2A

Allie Upton, Refugio, 1^st-Team All-District 30-2A

Hannah Halepaska, Orange Grove, District 30-3A MVP

Kayla Oliveira, Benavides, Texas Sports Writers Association 3^rd-Team All-State/Caller-Times 3^rd-team All-South Texas/District 32-A MVP

Kaylee Polasek, Rockport-Fulton, District 30-3A Defensive Player of the Year

 

Others receiving votes

Lexi Alaniz, So., Bishop

Rachel Blaschke, So., Woodsboro

Kiasha Brown, Sr., Refugio

Mary Buhidar, So., Incarnate Word Academy

Jasmine Canchola, So., Bloomington

Victoria Carrion, Jr., Robstown

Amanda De La Garza, Sr., H.M. King

Erica Diaz, Jr., John Paul II

Kelly Jo Emmons, Jr., Riviera-Kaufer

Emily Flores, Sr., Taft

Leanna Galindo, So., Aransas Pass

Alexandria Garcia, Sr., Falfurrias

Alyssa Garcia, Jr., John Paul II

Chemmy Garcia, So., Orange Grove

Brittanie Garza, Jr., Sinton

Serena Garza, Jr., Robstown

Ariel Gomez, Jr., H.M. King

Celestial Gomez, Jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy

Kayla Gomez, Jr., Aransas Pass

Taylor Guzman, Jr., Incarnate Word Academy

McKenzie Hahn, So., Orange Grove

Loren Kelly, So., Rockport-Fulton

Ashley LeDeay, Sr., Bloomington

Rianna Lopez, So., Benavides

Kacey Manlove, Jr., Rockport-Fulton

Breanna Martinez, So., Odem

Elissa Martinez, So., Taft

Jenna Martinez, So., Bloomington

Lexis Martinez, Sr., Sinton

Hannah Nieman, Sr., Woodsboro

Kate Pekar, Jr., Incarnate Word Academy

Alyssa Perez, So., Incarnate Word Academy

Amanda Perez, Sr., Falfurrias

Brittnee Pineda, Sr., John Paul II

Daizah Pope, So., Aransas Pass

Jolynn Riojas, Jr., Taft

Alyssa Rivera, Jr., Sinton

Anessa Rivera, Sr., Robstown

Felicia Wills, Sr., Refugio

Melissa Rocha, Jr., Taft

Kayla Tumlinson, So., Rockport-Fulton

Alyssa Salinas, Sr., Benavides

Savannah Sanchez, Sr., Orange Grove

Lauren Sepulveda, Sr., Robstown

Christi Smith, Sr., Benavides

Tehya Suarez, Sr., Bishop

Taylon Tuttle, So., Refugio

Lindsey Uhlik, Jr., Port Aransas

Claudia Valdez, Jr., Aransas Pass

Brianna Vasquez, Sr., John Paul II

Anna Vega, Sr., Woodsboro

Heather Villarreal, Sr., Falfurrias

Kayesha Wallace, So., Bloomington

Kendall Wendland, Sr., Woodsboro