On the eve of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Softball Tournament, a handful of standout players throughout the conference have been honored for their outstanding play during the 2023 season. Among those receiving well-deserved postseason recognition Tuesday is Chico State outfielder Tayler Berens, who has earned First Team All-CCAA accolades in voting by the conference's head coaches.
Berens is one of 15 players to garner First Team honors. In all, 32 players from across the 10 conference teams received All-CCAA recognition.
Berens earns her first conference award after enjoying the finest season of her Chico State career in 2023. She enters Wednesday's CCAA Tournament sporting a .331 batting average, tied with Anastacia Alba for the team lead. The junior outfielder tops the Wildcats with 20 runs batted in, shares the team lead with four triples, is tied for most extra-base hits (8), and paces the 'Cats in both slugging percentage (.430) and on-base percentage (.420).
Berens racked up eight multi-hit games on the year and put together a pair of six-game hitting streaks (March 3–24 and April 7–15).
Berens was also a major asset to the 'Cats on defense, robbing several opposing batters of hits with diving or circus catches, and kept baserunners honest with one of the most respected outfield arms in the conference. Berens was among the CCAA leaders in outfield assists with nine on the season.
Berens is the first Chico State non-pitcher that has earned First Team All-CCAA honors since 2019.
Sonoma State's Anna Zoia-Buescher is the CCAA's 2023 Softball Most Valuable Player, with Cassie Gasper of Cal State Monterey Bay named the conference's Most Valuable Pitcher. Mikaela Ferreira of Stanislaus State and Charlie Johnson took home CCAA Newcomer and Freshman of the Year awards, respectively, while Sonoma State's Jennifer Bridges was voted the conference's Coach of the Year.
2023 CCAA ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
All-CCAA First Team
P—Cassie Gasper, Cal State Monterey Bay (Sr.)
P—Alyssa Olague, Cal State Dominguez Hills (Sr.)
P—Nichole Sarra, Sonoma State (Jr.)
C—Jordyn Martinez, Sonoma State (Sr.)
1B—Tereise Tosi, Cal State San Bernardino (So.)
2B—Giana Hays, Sonoma State (Jr.)
SS—Mikaela Ferreira, Stanislaus State (Jr.)
3B—Raquel Jaime, Cal State Dominguez Hills (Sr.)
OF—Bianca Gutierrez, Cal State San Marcos (So.)
OF—Micaela Harris, Cal Poly Humboldt (Sr.)
OF—Anna Zoia-Buescher, Sonoma State (Sr.)
DP—Alyssa Smokey, Cal Poly Humboldt (Fr.)
UTIL/NP—Annelise Garcia, Cal State East Bay (So.)
At-Large (OF)—Hayden Greene, Cal State San Bernardino (Jr.)
At-Large (OF)—Tayler Berens, Chico State (Jr.)
All-CCAA Second Team
P—Savannah Coyle, Cal State San Marcos (So.)
P—Charlie Johnson, Sonoma State (Fr.)
P—Samantha Vargas, Cal State San Bernardino (Jr.)
C—Gianna Lombardi, Cal State San Marcos (So.)
1B—Paige Donnelly, Cal State San Marcos (So.)
2B—Kai DeLeon, San Francisco State (Fr.)
SS—Cassidy Romano, Sonoma State (Sr.)
3B—Jill Albayati, Cal State San Marcos (Fr.)
OF—Alex Davis, Cal State Dominguez Hills (So.)
OF—Rylee Nishimoto, Sonoma State (Jr.)
OF—Jay Ross, Cal State Dominguez Hills (Jr.)
DP—Alani Nguyen, Cal State Dominguez Hills (Sr.)
UTIL/NP—Madison Waymire, Cal State San Marcos (So.)
At-Large (SS)—Alyssa Martinez, Cal State San Bernardino (Sr.)
At-Large (OF)—Kaylee Williamson, Cal State San Bernardino (Sr.)
Honorable Mention
Daniella Guerrera, San Francisco State; Alexis Aguado, Cal State San Bernardino.
Most Valuable Player: Anna Zoia-Buescher, Sonoma State
Most Valuable Pitcher: Cassie Gasper, Cal State Monterey Bay
Newcomer of the Year: Mikaela Ferreira, Stanislaus State
Freshman of the Year: Charlie Johnson, Sonoma State
Coach of the Year: Jennifer Bridges, Sonoma State
