Which 11 SJ County softball players made All-SJS Softball team?

The softball season may be over for most San Joaquin County teams but accolades are still rolling in. MaxPreps released the 2023 All-Sac-Joaquin Section Softball team over the weekend and the 209 was well-represented.

The list consisted of the top softball players in each section based on their graduating class following the 2022-23 season. Here are the 11 area players to make the All-SJS team and why they earned this recognition.

(Players listed in alphabetical order)

Table of Contents

Class of 2023

Jessica Almeida

School: Manteca

Position: Utility

Summary: Almeida was a driving force in the Buffaloes’ smashing offense this season. The senior finished the year with an impressive .486 batting average, one of the highest averages in the SJS. She also led Manteca in runs, hits, and RBIs. Defensively, she wore many hats for her team playing in multiple positions including catcher.

Malissa George

School: Tracy

Position: Infielder

Summary: The Bulldogs’ hottest bat this year was George, who ended the season with a 16-game hitting streak. The tremendous hitting spree piled up 28 hits for the senior and helped Tracy take down a handful of opponents. Consistency like this made George an elite slugger in the Tri-City Athletic League. She will be taking her talents to Sacramento State in the fall.

Ariel Nava

School: St. Mary’s

Position: Pitcher

Summary: Nava came into the season already regarded as one of the best pitchers in the area — and she lived up to that. She pitched for nearly 150 innings this season and struck out 174 batters throughout those outings. Her clutch pitching helped the Rams make it to the SJS Division 2 semifinals in May. The Dominican University of California commit was also a threat on the plate wracking up 31 hits and 25 runs. Nava was named Record Athlete of the Week on May 20.

Class of 2024

Kharime “Mims” Caratachea

School: Ripon

Position: Pitcher

Summary: Coming through in tough situations was something Caratachea was known for this season for the Indians. She came through with clutch Ks or putting the ball in play to let her defense handle it, helping lead Ripon to an SJS Division 4 semifinals game in May. Caratachea ended the season with over 150 strikeouts. The junior has one more year with Ripon before she’s off to William Penn University.

Elysia Duarte

School: Kimball

Position: Infielder

Summary: When the Jaguars needed a base hit, Duarte answered the call. The junior third basemen finished with 13 hits over seven games and a batting average of .492. Duarte also added strategic base-running and speed to Kimball’s offense. She had the highest on-base percentage of .597 in the Valley Oak League. The junior slugger was also named the Record Athlete of the Week for April 29.

Alyssa Garcia

School: St. Mary’s

Position: Infielder

Summary: Garcia finished the season at the top of the TCAL with a batting average of .500. The junior infielder smacked the ball deep a handful of times leading St. Mary’s in home runs with six. She played a key role in the Rams’ playoff run and remained consistent with every at-bat she got. Next season, Garcia will look to take on an even bigger role as a leader.

Class of 2025

Kaeliana DePerio

School: Kimball

Position: Infielder

Summary: Kimball’s other hot bat this season was junior infielder DePerio. She ended the year with 11 hits over seven games and recorded the team’s second-highest batting average of .464. DePerio wasn’t just a hard-hitting, she was the Jaguars’ quickest base runner. She led the team in stolen bases, 18. As a sophomore, DePerio has two more seasons to grow.

Olivia Holtz

School: Lincoln

Position: Outfielder

Summary: The sophomore outfielder played a vital role in Lincoln’s offense. The lefty hitter went on a nine-game hitting streak wracking up 15 hits over that time. Holtz had the Trojans’ highest batting average at .432 and on-base percentage at .553. With the Trojans graduating four seniors, Holtz will be a key returner in the upcoming seasons.

Matea Muraoka

School: St. Mary’s

Position: Utility

Summary: Muraoka stepped up big this season for the Rams as a utility player and a key base hitter. She closed out the season with the team’s third-highest batting average and added a total of 31 hits. Outside of offensive contribution, Muraoka is a true all-around player. She has St. Mary’s highest fielder percentage and the most putouts at 170. Muraoka will be a player to watch in her junior season next year.

Class of 2026

Emalee Cargill

School: Tracy

Position: Infielder

Summary: Cargill shined for the Bulldogs in her first high school softball season. The infielder had two four-hit games this year, ending with a batting average of .425. She came through for her team in clutch time in the playoffs when the Bulldogs took on Central Valley in the SJS Division 1 first-round game on May 16. Cargill added two runs and a triple in Tracy’s 8-3 victory.