NorCal Pitchers Of The Year | Randi Roelling & Michael Castaneda

Central Catholic’s Randi Roelling Brings Perfect Close To Prep Career; Valley Christian’s Michael Castaneda Tied For State Lead In Wins •

MORE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL HONORS:
Baseball Player Of The Year | Softball Player Of The Year

Everything starts with the ball in their hands. And more often than not, it ends with the batter returning to the dugout in a prompt fashion. 

There were several strong candidates for SportStars NorCal Pitcher Of The Year honors in 2023, but we don’t expect much argument on our two eventual selections. Let’s see if we’re right. 

NorCal Softball Pitcher Of The Year
RANDI ROELLING • Central Catholic-Modesto

With her hitting prowess, Roelling was also on the short list for Softball Player of the Year, but there was little doubt she was topping our list for 2023’s most dominant pitcher.

That dominance was on full display in the CIF Division III NorCal final when she spun a perfect game against the same Ponderosa-Shingle Springs team that defeated her in the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II final. Roelling struck out nine in the 7-0 title-clinching win. 

That performance completed an epic regional tournament in which Roelling allowed just one run on four hits over 21 innings. In the three games, she struck out 42 and walked just three.

In addition to the perfect game, the Cal-bound Roelling had two no-hitters and six more one-hitters. She closed the year with a 0.59 ERA and 375 strikeouts over 178.2 innings of work. That’s an average of more than two strikeouts per frame and equates to 14.75 per seven innings.

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Perhaps the most eye-popping stat of all might be opposing batting average. Opponents hit just .103 off her. Just one hit every 10 at bats. She allowed just four extra-base hits all season. Truly dominant.  

NorCal Baseball Pitcher Of The Year
MICHAEL CASTANEDA • Valley Christian-San Jose

All Castaneda did in 2023 was tie for the honors of the state’s winningest pitcher. 

The Valley Christian senior went 13-1 to pace a Warriors team that won 31 games, claimed the Central Coast Section Div. I title and reached the CIF Div. I NorCal finals. He was 11-0 against NorCal opponents — while playing in the region’s toughest league —  and carried a 1.19 ERA across 82.1 innings. 

The West Catholic Athletic League’s Pitcher Of The Year as well, Castaneda was the winning pitcher in the CCS championship game after throwing 6.1 shutout innings against Hollister. He allowed just three hits while striking out seven and walking two. He followed that by allowing just one run over five innings in a NorCal semifinal win over Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa.

Castaneda was also no slouch at the plate. He finished tied for second on the team in hits (35), RBI (30) and doubles (12). 

The right-hander finished his career with a 24-4 record and 1.96 ERA over three varsity seasons. His next chapter will begin this fall at Northern Kentucky University.