Softball: Spigner named California's top player by Gatorade

Jessica Spigner, the Valencia pitcher who helped the Vikings win the Southern Section Division I title, was named the Gatorade state player of the year for California on Tuesday.

Spigner led her team to a 29-5-1 record, including a 3-0 victory over previously unbeaten Simi Valley in the section finals, generally regarded as the toughest championship int he state to claim.

It's the second year in a row that Valencia won the title. Although last year's victory was expected, as the Vikings were regarded as the best team in the country behind pitcher Jordan Taylor, this year's championship was not.

"I'm most proud of getting through the season and finishing where we finished," Spigner said. "I'm most proud of my team not giving up. We fought until the very end, and we had one common goal, and we did it. It doesn't get any better than that."

Spigner (29-5) had a 0.62 earned-run average, and struck out 222 batters in 236 innings. She walked 64. She also had 12 shutouts. Remarkably, she is not a natural pitcher, but a third baseman who signed with Tennessee. She pitched this season out of necessity, pitching regularly for the first time since the summer before her sophomore year.

Among the 51 players honored by Gatorade -- there was also a choice for the District of Columbia -- 43 were pitchers.

But's Spigner value didn't end with her ability to get players out. It included her offensive production.  She batted .480 with 38 runs and 37 RBIs and 12 home runs.

She also carried a 3.81 grade-point average.

-- Martin Henderson