SportStar of The Week – Freedom-Oakley – Softball – Senior Faith Derby
If Faith Derby didn’t have the nickname “Home Run Derby” before May 26, she certainly has it now. The Falcons’ senior catcher hit a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning, and then followed it up with a game-winning walk-off grand slam in the seventh, as Freedom won a wild North Coast Section Division I quarterfinal 11-7 over visiting Alhambra-Martinez. Derby, who entered the game leading Freedom in both home runs and RBI, finished the game 4-for-5 with 7 RBI. For the season, Derby now has eight home runs and 31 RBI. Freedom is attempting to defend the Div. I title and improved to 16-6 overall with the win. The Falcons advanced to an NCS semifinal against James Logan-Union City, the No. 9 seed that upset top-seed Amador Valley-Pleasanton in the quarterfinals.
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HONORABLE MENTIONS
Alyssa Brewer
Alyssa Brewer: The California-San Ramon junior track star broke her own NCS Meet of Champions record in the 800 meters with a winning time of 2 minutes, 08.37 seconds. It was .10 better than her 2016 finals mark. Brewer will attempt to defend her state title in the event in Clovis on June 2-3.
John Lagattuta: Davis High
John Lagattuta: Davis High’s Cal-bound senior outfielder had an epic postseason for the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I-North runner-ups. He started a nine-run seventh-inning rally in a 14-13 victory over Granite Bay, drove in the Blue Devils’ lone run in a 1-0 victory over Oak Ridge, and went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in a finals loss to Elk Grove.