Former Rio Rico standout Abril Nerey was named Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week after leading Park University to two wins and a save against the Ottawa (AZ) and Bethel (IN). The junior totaled 11.1 innings, giving up only two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven. She also went 1-for-1 with an RBI at the plate.
Former Walden Grove basketball standout Chase Verdugo earned a spot on the Cal Pac Winter All-Academic list playing for Embry-Riddle. His brother Conner Verdugo was also named to the academic list and Conner was also named All-Cal Pac Honorable Mention.
This list will be updated all year 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. These are not high school awards but collegiate and professional recognitions. NOT CHAMPIONSHIPS. If you are aware of anything I have missed along the way, please let me know. amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
Portions from news release.
29 athletes have been recognized for 2023 – we had 201 athletes recognized in 2022.
Abril Nerey/Softball
Rio Rico/Park University
Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week Nominee (2/20)
Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week (2/27)
Chase Verdugo/Basketball
Walden Grove/Embry-Riddle
Academic All-District (2/21)
Cal Pac Winter All-Academic (2/26)
Conner Verdugo/Basketball
Walden Grove/Embry-Riddle
Academic All-District (2/21)
Cal Pac Winter All-Academic (2/26)
Cal Pac Honorable Mention (2/26)
Jerry Carrillo/Basketball
Salpointe/Cochise Coach
ACCAC Coach of the Year (3/2)
Cesar Saenz/Basketball
Sabino/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (3/1)
All-ACCAC 2ND TEAM (3/2)
NJCAA All-Region D-II 1ST Team (3/2)
Cassidy Morrow/Softball
Sahuaro/Eastern Arizona
ACCAC D-I Player of the Week (3/1)
Brody Boisvert/Baseball
Empire/Seward County
KJCCC West Player of the Week (2/28)
Asiah Bell/Softball
Canyon del Oro/Central Arizona
ACCAC D-I Player of the Week (2/24)
Luisa Chavez/Basketball
Rio Rico/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (1/25)
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (2/24)
Antonio Fernandez/Baseball
Sabino/McPherson College
KCAC Player of the Week (2/28)
Alex Parkhurst/Beach Volleyball
Salpointe/Arizona
Pac-12 Pair of the Week Nominee (2/28)
Kylee Callahan/Basketball
Salpointe/Knox College
MWC Newcomer of the Year (2/28)
Devyn Netz/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
Pac-12 Player of the Week (2/27)
Delaney Schnell/Diving
Tucson/Arizona
Pac 12 Diver of the Week (1/17)
Pac 12 Diver of the Week (1/24)
Pac 12 Diver of the Week (2/7)
Pac-12 Diver of the Meet (2/25)
Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year (2/24)
Alexis Cortez/Basketball
Tucson/Bucharest Agronomy
Player of the Game (2/24)
Alyssa Brown/Basketball
Sahuaro/UNLV
Academic All-District (2/21)
Bryanne Olson/Basketball
Pusch Ridge/Hawaii at Hilo
Academic All-District (2/21)
Emma Morris/Basketball
Tanque Verde/Chaminade
Academic All-District (2/21)
Sam Beskind/Basketball
Catalina Foothills/Colorado School of Mines
Academic All-District (2/21)
Cassie Castaneda/Softball
Sabino/North Dakota
Summit League Players to Watch (2/8)
Dominique Acosta/Basketball
Nogales/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (2/2)
Allie Skaggs/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
D1Softaball Top 100 (1/10)
All-Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Softball America Preseason 1st Team (1/31)
Yannira Acuña/Softball
Salpointe ASU
D1Softaball Top 100 (1/10)
All-Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Softball America Preseason 1st Team (1/31)
Carlie Scupin/Softball
Tucson/Arizona
D1Softaball Top 100 (1/10)
USA Softball Top 50 Watch List (1/25)
All-Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Softball America Preseason 2nd Team (1/31)
Ellessa Bonstrom/Softball
Canyon del Oro/Utah
D1Softaball Top 100 (1/10)
All-Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Kiko Romero/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/Arizona
d1baseball Top 50 JUCO Transfer (1/4)
Nick Gonzales/Baseball
Cienega/AA Altoona Curve
N0. 8 Pittsburgh Pirate Prospect (1/17)
Jessie Niegocki/Softball
Mountain View/Rider
Extra Inning Softball Top 15 (1/17)
Dillan Baker/Basketball
Salpointe/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (1/14)
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