Two named to all-league

Mike Sciacca

Two players from the 2005 Laguna Beach High softball team have been

named to the All-Pacific Coast League team.

Junior pitcher Lauren Delgado and sophomore outfielder/third

baseman Anne Olson each was named to the all-league second team,

first-year Laguna Beach coach Skip Andrews announced.

For the season, Delgado, Laguna’s go-to pitcher, averaged 6.4

strikeouts per seven innings, had a .281 batting average, a .305

on-base average and struck out just five times in 57 at-bats.

“Lauren Delgado was a warrior on the mound,” Andrews said.

“Tenacious and resilient, she started the season saying she would

pitch every pitch, and she came through on the promise. Even fighting

arm pain, stomach pain and a line-drive shot off the ankle, she

stayed on the mound and kept battling, knowing that her teammates

were counting on her.”

Olson was known this season for her tenacious play on defense.

“Anne Olson is one of those players who doesn’t know what it means

to play it safe when running toward a wall or diving after a ball,”

Andrews said. “Joining varsity this year, Annie’s gutsy play quickly

caught the attention of the coaches and respect of the players.

Having played in the outfield last year, she didn’t flinch at getting

into the heart of the action at third base, where she filled in

earlier in the season.

“But by year end, she had moved back to centerfield and was making

spectacular plays that caught the eye of opposing teams.”

In addition to earning all-league honors, Delgado and Olson

grabbed two key awards at the team’s banquet.

Delgado was named team MVP and team captain, and Olson received

the Rookie of the Year award.

Two other team awards went to a pair of seniors, as outfielder

Rachel Rogers won the Breakers Award, and catcher Simone DeVilmorin

won the Coaches Award.

“Rachel Rogers won the Breakers’ award, which goes to the player

who has a breakthrough season,” Andrews explained. “Having not played

before, Rachel arrived at practice one day, and by season’s end, had

turned into a solid outfielder and she didn’t blink when we recruited

her for help in the middle infield.

“Simone DeVilmorin received Laguna’s Coaches award. Simone was a

warrior behind the plate catching nearly every pitch of every game.”