Small School Softball All-Stars Announced

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Santa Gertrudis Academy Lions, who captured the program's first state championship last May, have landed three players on the 2019 South Texas Preseason Small School Softball All-Star Team.
The 15-member squad will be honored at the 15th annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet, set for Thursday, January 24, at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. Tickets, priced at $55, are on sale now at the Whataburger Field Box Office. Call 361-561-HOOK (4665) to order by phone. Doors open at 6:30.

SGA is represented by junior outfielder Breana Carr and a pair of sophomores, pitcher Carissa De Los Santos and outfielder Jackie Garza. Last season, Carr hit .508 and stole 14 bases out of the lead-off spot, pushing the Lions to a 38-1 record. She was named first-team all-state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
San Diego boasts a pair of players on this year's preseason honor squad. Junior pitcher Miranda Buentello is joined by her battery mate, junior Zaleigh Perez. The Vaqueros went 24-10 in 2018, and advanced to the Class 3A regional finals before falling to SGA. Buentello was a District 30-3A first-team selection and Perez was tabbed the circuit's defensive player of the year.
Rockport-Fulton sophomore Siarah Galvan is a member of the team's pitching staff. The Caller-Times named Galvan All-South Texas Softball Newcomer of the Year after posting a 1.02 ERA and 219 strikeouts during her freshman campaign. Galvan's Pirate teammate, Taylor Gonzalez, will also be recognized as the small school all-stars' designated player. Gonzalez was a District 31-4A first-team honoree last season.
Three Rivers' Isabelle Lopez and Refugio senior Heather Wineman complete the pitching staff. As a freshman, Lopez took home District 31-2A MVP honors, while Wineman was tabbed the district's co-pitcher of the year and first-team all-state by the TGCA.
The infield is headed by Beeville Jones senior second baseman Jessalyn Burkett, a 2018 preseason selection. Sinton first baseman Hannah Landry and George West shortstop Beth Ham were 2018 first-teamers in District 31-4A and District 30-3A, respectively.
Representing Orange Grove is junior third baseman Rebekah Mims and junior outfielder Hopie Mitchell, both District 31-4A first-team choices last season.
Riviera-Kaufer junior Brianna Ramirez has been tabbed the team's utility player.
The all-stars were nominated and voted on by area Class 4A, 3A, 2A, and private school coaches.
2019 South Texas Preseason Small School Softball All-Star Team
Pitchers: Miranda Buentello, Jr., San Diego; Carissa De Los Santos, So., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Siarah Galvan, So., Rockport-Fulton; Isabelle Lopez, So., Three Rivers; Heather Wineman, Sr., Refugio
Catcher: Zaleigh Perez, Jr., San Diego
First Base: Hannah Landry, Sr., Sinton
Second Base: Jessalyn Burkett, Sr., A.C. Jones
Third Base: Rebekah Mims, Jr., Orange Grove
Shortstop: Beth Ham, Sr., George West
Outfield: Breana Carr, Jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Jackie Garza, So., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Hopie Mitchell, Jr., Orange Grove
DP: Taylor Gonzalez, Jr., Rockport-Fulton
Utility: Brianna Ramirez, Jr., Riviera-Kaufer