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Alex Verdugo. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Alex Verdugo (Sahuaro), Great Lakes (101 games), Rancho Cucamonga (23 games): After being drafted last year, Verdugo led Dodgers full-season Minor Leaguers with a .311 batting average, swatted 32 doubles and stole 14 bases. The performance was enough to earn the 19-year-old center fielder the organization’s Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year award.
“With Alex, it’s cut and dry. He took huge steps forward — his ability to be a good teammate and control his emotions on the field and to prepare his body and mind every single night on and off the field,” Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler said told MLB.com. “He has a strong arm and the ability to play all three outfield positions.
“When we watched him walk around our complex [in Arizona], with his shoulders back and his head high, he looked like a guy who believed in himself. His energy affected people across the organization. He turned into a guy who had a positive impact on the guy standing next to him, and we really appreciated that.”
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In an effort to recognize all former local prep stars who have gone on to achieve either academic and/or athletic awards at the next level, I will update this list. These are not high school awards but college and professional awards. NOT CHAMPIONSHIPS.
If you are aware of anything I have missed along the way please let me know. amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
Alex Verdugo/Baseball
Sahuaro (2014)/Dodgers System
MLB.com Prospect Team of the Week (7/7)
Cal League Player of the Week (9/7)
Midwest League’s Postseason All-Star Team
Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year (10/1)
MLB.com Dodgers Organization All-Stars (11/16)
Kennedy Kurtz/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Sacramento State
Big Sky All-Academic Team (1/27)
Sac. State Invitational All-Tourney Team (9/19)
2nd Team All-Big Sky Conference (11/18)
Courtney Pitts/Volleyball
Catalina (2012)/Pima/Benedictine at Mesa
California Pacific Conference Defender of the Week (9/22)
All-Cal Pac Honorable Mention (11/11)
Sydni Stallworth/Basketball
Palo Verde (2015)/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (11/16)
Donovan Moore/Football
Tucson (2014)/Pima
WSFL Offensive Player of the Week (10/13)
All-ACCAC Team (11/10)
Nathan Farmer/Football
Ironwood Ridge (2015)/Pima
All-WSFL & ACCAC Teams (11/10)
Alex Rios/Football
Sahuarita (2013)/Pima
First Team All-ACCAC (11/10)
Olen Brown/Football
Sahuarita (2014)/Pima
All-WSFL & ACCAC Teams (11/10)
Ian Kinsler/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2000)/Detroit Tigers
American League Gold Glove Finalist (10/29)
Fielding Bible Award (11/1)
Haley Howell/Volleyball
Salpointe (2013)/Siena
MAAC Player of the Week (9/22)
MAAC Player of the Week (10/6)
MAAC Player of the Week (10/27)
MAAC Player of the Week (11/10)
Kerry Lane/Volleyball
Canyon del Oro (2012)/Seattle
First Team Academic All-District 8 (11/5)
Dylan Kelly/Soccer
Salpointe (2012)/Incarnate Word
First Team Academic All-District 7 (10/29)
Tim Derksen/Basketball
Amphitheater (2012)/San Francisco
All-WCC Preseason Team (10/26)
Robert Gorman/Soccer
Nogales (2014)/Pima
All-ACCAC/NJCAA Region I Team (10/27)
Region I tournament Most Valuable Player (10/31)
Devyn Hunley/Soccer
Sabino (2013)/Arizona/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (10/20)
All-ACCAC/NJCAA Region I Team (10/27)
Kendra Molina Veliz/Soccer
Sahuaro (1991)/Pima (Coach)
ACCAC/Region I Coach of the Year (10/27)
Brandi Park/Soccer
Sabino (2014)/Sabino
All-ACCAC/NJCAA Region I Team (10/27)
Daniela Sanchez/Soccer
Sabino (2015)/Pima
ACCAC Goal Keeper of the Week (9/8)
NJCAA Division I Goalie of the Week (9/10)
All-ACCAC/NJCAA Region I Team (10/27)
Sierra Heredia/Soccer
Sabino (2014)/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (9/8)
All-ACCAC/NJCAA Region I Team (10/27)
Alejandro Gonzalez/Soccer
Flowing Wells (2014)/Pima
All-ACCAC/NJCAA Region I Team (10/27)
Johnny Peña/Football
Salpointe (2013)/Brown
Brown Student-Athlete of the Week (10/26)
Jack Dobyns/Football
Salpointe (2013)/Chadron State
RMAC Academic All-Conference (10/21)
Donny Sands/Baseball
Salpointe (2015)/Yankees Organization
GCL All-Star Team (9/16)
Yankees Draft: Best Pure Hitter (10/19)
BaseballAmerica.com 5th Best Pro Debut (10/19)
Blake Martinez/Football
Canyon del Oro (2012)/Stanford
Athlon All-Pac-12 preseason second team
Phil Steele Preseason All-Pac-12 1st Team
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award watch list
Rotary Lombardi Award watch list
Nagurski Trophy watch list
Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
USA TODAY Sports Midseason All-America team (10/20)
Amanda Springstead/Softball
Tanque Verde (2014)/Cal Baptist
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Justene Kesterson/Soccer
Mountain View (2013)/Arizona/Cal Baptist
PacWest Preseason Player of the Year (8/19)
Laura Graziano/Swim
Salpointe (2013)/Pepperdine
Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete Award (4/20)
PCSC All-Conference Performer
Mark Morris/Soccer
Rincon/UHS (2012)/UMass
Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (7/1)
Kayla Bonstrom/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2012)/Stanford
Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team (5/8)
NFCA Division I All-American 2nd Team (5/27)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Sammy Nettling/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2014)/Northwestern
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Kailey Mellen/Softball
Mountain View (2014)/Coastal Carolina
Big South All-Freshman Team (5/6)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Amanda Nicholas/Softball
Sahuaro (2014)/Nevada
Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award (7/22)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Robyn Porter/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2014)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Jordan Rocker/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2012)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Kayley Willingham/Softball
Sabino (2011)/Arkansas At Monticello
Great American Conference All-Academic (7/22)
D-II Athletics Directors All-Academic (8/14)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Gabrielle Ruiz/Softball
Salpointe (2011)/Harvard
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Mattie Fowler/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2011)/Nebraska
Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team (5/8)
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award (7/8)
NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (10/6)
Shannon Shields/Soccer
Sabino (2013)/Sam Houston/Pima/AR Little Rock
HERO Sports Soccer Gem of the Week (9/22)
Summer Avery/Volleyball
Tucson (2014)/San Jose State
National Student-Athlete Day Honoree (4/18)
Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (7/22)
Texas Rio Grande Valley All-Tournament Team (9/6)
Cole Puchi/Swim
Catalina Foothills/Boston University
Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (6/18)
Academic All-Patriot League (3/2)
Gwen Murphy/Volleyball
Valley Union (2011)/ New Mexico State
Air Force Falcon Classic All-Tournament Team (8/28)
Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week (8/31)
Sports Imports/AVCA D-I National Player of the Week (9/1)
Madeline Bolin/Swimming
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/West Virginia
Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team (6/18)
Jose Rojas/Cross Country
Rio Rico (2013)/Pima/Western New Mexico
D-II Athletics Directors All-Academic (8/14)
Monica Islava/Softball
Nogales (2013)/Butler College
An NJCAA third team All-American
All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
KJCCC Jayhawk West Player of the Week (3/15)
Lyndsay Leikem/Basketball
Flowing Wells (2013)/Indiana
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award (7/8)
Emeric Quade/Gymnastics
Rincon/UHS (2012)/Gymnastics World/Ohio State
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award (7/8)
Marissa Baca/Tennis
Ironwood Ridge (2013)/Northern Colorado
Big Sky Spring Academic Team (7/1)
Sarrah Boughan/Track/Cross Country
Canyon del Oro (2013)/Pima
NJCAA exemplary academic achievement (6/24)
Ryan Norrix/Baseball
Tucson (2013)/Pima
NJCAA exemplary academic achievement (6/24)
Stephan Meyer/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge (2012)/Arizona/Bellevue
Honorable Mention NAIA All-American (6/1)
Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete (5/28)
MCAC Pitcher of the Year (5/1)
First team all-MCAC (5/1)
MCAC Scholar-Athlete (5/1)
MCAC Pitcher of the Week (3/30)
Krystal Quihuis/Golf
Salpointe (2014)/Arizona
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (6/3)
WGCA Honorable Mention All-America
All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
Daniel Gonzales/Football
Cienega (2012)/Navy
Phil Steele 2015 Preseason All-AAC 4th Team
Jeremy Timpf/Football
Sabino (2012)/Army
Phil Steele 2015 Preseason All-Independent 1st Team
Bednarik Award Watch List
Alex Robles/Baseball
Tucson High (2013)/Austin Peay
All-Ohio Valley Conference: Utility (5/19)
All-Ohio Valley Conference: Pitcher (5/19)
Melanie White/Softball
Sahuaro/Rock Canyons (CO/2011)/Marist
MAAC Pitcher of the Week (3/3)
MAAC Pitcher of the Week (4/21)
MAAC Pitcher of the Year (5/6)
First Team All-MAAC (5/6)
Robin Landrith/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2012)/Baylor
Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team (5/8)
Chelsea Gourdin/Softball
Marana (2011)/ New York Institute of Technology
Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team (5/8)
David Rauer/Golf
Cienega (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Division I All-District I team (5/11)
2nd Team NJCAA Division I All-American (5/11)
Second Team All-Conference (5/11)
All-Region (5/11)
Anthony Moncada/Golf
Tucson (2012)/Pima
NJCAA Division I All-District I team (5/11)
Second Team All-Conference (5/11)
All-Region (5/11)
Frankie Wu/Golf
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Division I All-District I team (5/11)
All-Region (5/11)
Destinee Williams/Softball
Cienega (2014)/Prairie View A&M
SWAC Player of the Week (5/6)
SWAC All-Conference First Team (5/6)
Shayna Adelstein/Softball
Mountain View (2013)/Western Washington
GNAC Academic All-Conference Team (4/22)
Adrianna Vasquez/Softball
Tucson (2014)/Finlandia
Great South Athletic Conference Team (4/29)
GSAC All-Freshman Team (4/29)
Kelsey Jenkins/Softball
Sabino (2014)/Wisconsin
First Team All-Big Ten (5/6)
Brooklyn Beardshear
Sahuaro (2013)/Dixie State
All-PacWest First Team (5/6)
Stephanie Tatham/Softball
Cienega (2012)/Colorado Christian
RMAC All-Academic Team (4/23)
Donny Perdue/Baseball
Pusch Ridge (2013)/Kishwaukee College
NJCAA Region IV All-Region Team (5/5)
Kelsey Smith/Softball
Empire (2014)/East Tennessee State
Southern Conference Freshman Team (5/5)
Hannah DeLuna/Softball
Salpointe (2014)/Embry-Riddle
California Pacific Player of the Week (4/6)
California Pacific All-Conference Team (4/29)
Sammie Merriman/Softball
Marana (2011)/Embry-Riddle
California Pacific All-Conference Team (4/29)
Araselly Vargas/Softball
Tucson (2013)/Tabor
KCAC Softball Player of the Week (3/23)
KCAC First Team (4/28)
NFCA NAIA Southwest Region 2nd Team (5/20)
Jenna Carson/Softball
Cienega (2013)/Bethany College
KCAC First Team (4/28)
Alex McMahon/Golf
Ironwood Ridge (2011)/University of Arizona
2014 Mayfair Award (2/5)
Pac-12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year (4/24)
Alexis Alfonso/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2013)/Eastern/Pima
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week (3/17)
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week (4/8)
ACCAC Second Team (4/28)
Division II All-Region (4/28)
Bryce Cotton/Basketball
Palo Verde (2010)/Providence/Austin Spurs
2015 NBA D-League All-Star (2/4)
NBA D-League Performer of the Week (2/22)
All-NBA D-League Second Team (4/22)
All-Rookie First Team (4/22)
Jahnessa Mackey/Tennis
Amphitheater (2013)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference First-Team Singles
All-ACCAC Conference Second-Team Doubles
Cristina Oropeza/Tennis
Nogales (2013)/Metro State/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference First-Team Singles
All-ACCAC Conference Second-Team Doubles
Yani Alameda/Tennis
Pueblo (2012)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference First-Team Doubles
Ema Hernandez/Tennis
Sunnyside (2013)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference First-Team Doubles
All-ACCAC Conference Second-Team Singles
Stephanie Nickles/Tennis
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference Second-Team Singles
All-ACCAC Conference Second-Team Doubles
Noelle Karp/Tennis
Catalina Foothills (2014)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference Second-Team Doubles
Krista Duffield/Swimming
Catalina Foothills (2014)/ NC State
NCAA All-American (3/21)
NC State Female Rookie of the Year (4/13)
Mariangela Garcia/Softball
Desert View (2014)/Western New Mexico
RMAC Player of the Week (3/24)
NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year Finalist (4/9)
Murphy Gershman, Basketball
Tucson High (2007)/Pima CC
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (1/21)
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (2/10)
ACCAC All-Conference and All-Region (2/28)
Second-Team NJCAA Division II All-American (3/31)
Niki Gonzalez/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2014)/Mount St. Mary’s
NEC Rookie of the Week (3/30)
Steven Naemark/Baseball
Mountain View (2008)/Cochise/Angelo State
Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week (2/17)
NCBWA DII South Central Pitcher of the Week (2/18)
Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week (2/23)
Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week (2/24)
Division II All-American First Team (3/22)
A’jha Edwards/Basketball
Tombstone (2010)/Pima/Montana State University-Northern
NAIA National Division I Player of the Week (1/6)
NAIA National Division I Player of the Week (1/13)
Frontier Conference Player of the Year (3/9)
Frontier Conference First Team (3/9)
Talbott Denny/Basketball
Salpointe (2012)/Lipscomb
Atlantic Sun Conference all-tournament team (3/8)
Jamee Swan/Basketball
Marana/Colorado
Pac-12 Honorable Mention (3/3)
Odalis Orduno/Softball
Desert View 2014)/Pima
ACCAC Division II Player of the Week (2/22)
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Wee (4/13)
Shalise Fernander/Basketball
Flowing Wells (2014)/Pima
ACCAC Division II Player of the Week (2/22)
ACCAC All-Conference and All-Region (2/28)
Marc Matthews/Basketball
Buena (2012)/Montana State-Billings
GNAC Honorable Mention Player of the Week (2/17)
Keona Hunter/Softball
Santa Rita (2013)/Pima
ACCAC Division II Player of the Week (2/17)
RaTanya Newsome/Basketball
Tucson High (2010)/Western New Mexico
RMAC Defensive Player of the Week (2/9)
Melody McLaughlin, Basketball
Mountain View (2012)/Pima CC
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (1/26)
National Player of the Week (1/28)
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (2/9)
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (2/16)
ACCAC All-Conference and All-Region (2/28)
Kayla Henry/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2011)/Grand Canyon
Preseason Softball All-WAC Team (1/28)
Nalani Hernandez, Basketball
Tucson High (2010)/Southern Oregon/Western New Mexico
RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Week (1/19)
WNMU student-athletes of the week (1/19)
Portions from news release.
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here, on AZPreps365.com and on the pages of the Vail Voice and the Tanque Verde Voice. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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