After repeating as the Sacramento Valley League and Northern Section Division IV champions, it comes as no surprise that the Colusa RedHawks topped the list of All-League performers with six, however, the three other county schools were also represented as postseason accolades were handed out.
Colusa – Sacramento Valley League:
Leading the way for the RedHawks in 2023 was Luke Kalfsbeek, the SVL’s MVP.
The ace of the team’ s pitching staff, Kalfsbeek recorded 104 strikeouts in 65.1 innings of work, which was best in the Northern Section, while additionally maintaining a 0.64 ERA.
But the junior was also a threat at the plate, where he had a batting average of .366, a 1.015 OPS, drove in 34 runs, and reached base 22 times, after being hit by a pitch, seven shy of the national record set in 2015.
Joining Kalfsbeek on the All-SVL team were his RedHawk teammates Joel Magallon, Sutter Moss, Will McCoy, Bo Coronado, and Seth Kalisuch.
Magallon, a senior, sported a .454 batting average in his final season, which was tops on the team, in addition to scoring 48 runs, which was first in the section.
A transfer from Lassen, Moss, a junior, was a welcome addition for Colusa, producing a stat line comprised of a .444 batting average, 1.193 OPS, 35 RBI, and 46 runs scored.
In his first season for the RedHawks, McCoy, another junior, hit .342, was second in the section with 37 RBI and drew 34 walks.
Coronado logged 43.1 innings on the mound where he fanned 39 and had an ERA of 2.42, then for good measure, the junior hit .333 on the season.
Rounding out the Colusa contingent was Kalisuch, yet another of the team’s juniors, and a reliable bat in the lineup where he had a .370 average and 32 RBI.
Pierce – Sacramento Valley League:
Pierce (7-14), finished fourth in the SVL and saw Brayden Hoebel named to the All-League squad after the senior hit .356 with a .932 OPS.
Maxwell – Mid-Valley League:
A third place finish in the MVL earned the Panthers, who fell just short of Greenville in the NSCIF Division VII title game, three All-League spots.
Sophomore Massey Baker was one of Maxwell’s top performers with a .327 batting average in addition to recording 54 strikeouts in 50 innings on the hill.
Fellow sophomore Brody Jones hit .265 with 14 RBI, while freshman Yahir Alcaraz showed a great deal of promise finishing with a 1.50 ERA for the season and turning in a 10 strikeout performance in the championship game against Greenville.
Williams – Mid-Valley League:
A bright spot for the ‘Jackets after going winless in the MVL this year was the play of senior Ty Howell-Coombs, who in nine games hit .381 with a .887 OPS. ■