Golden Valley High ace named Sun-Star Softball Player of the Year after stellar season

Golden Valley High softball coach Ross Cruickshanks says there was a lot of pressure on his star Bree Barner to be great this year.

With a young team, Barner had to deliver in the circle and with the bat.

Barner excelled at both.

The senior compiled a 12-9 record with a 1.26 ERA, striking out an astounding 263 hitters in 128 innings pitched. She also finished with a .486 batting average with six home runs, 37 RBI and 20 runs scored.

Barner was named the Central California Conference MVP by the coaches in the league. Barner is also the Merced Sun-Star Softball Player of the Year.

Barner was honored to be named MVP.

“It meant so much to me because I was up against some great competition with some of the hitters and pitchers in our league,” Barner said. “The fact that I was picked meant a lot because I did so much work in my backyard, hitting and pitching.”

Cruickshanks says Barner was a joy to coach during her four years at GV.

“It was awesome because she is such a great teammate and great leader,” Cruickshanks said. “She never gets down on her teammates. She knew she pretty much had to shut the other team down for us to have a chance to win and she handled that pressure great. There was a lot of pressure on her to be great.”

As a veteran player, Barner took the leadership role seriously. Having committed to play softball at Stanislaus State, Barner was able to enjoy her senior season without the pressure of not knowing where she would play in college.

“I tried to lead by example,” Barner said. “I always wanted one more rep. I probably drove Ross crazy because I wanted that one more at-bat, or one more grounder. I felt if I put in the work it would influence everyone else.”

Barner’s 263 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in the Sac-Joaquin Section during the regular season. Leading the section was one of Barner’s goals when she saw she had a chance to do so.

“Again, serious competition,” Barner said. “I was a stalker. I would look at the stats all the time. I would be a few strikeouts behind a few people or ahead by a few strikeouts. There are so many great athletes and pitchers and pitching is hard, both physically and mentally. To come out on top, it was rewarding.”

Barner enjoyed playing at Golden Valley and is ready for her next challenge at Stanislaus State.

“There were definitely highs and lows,” she said. “It was definitely an experience. I was glad I got to play with new teammates and we grew bonds as a team. I’m grateful for having the experience of playing at Golden Valley.”

Track & Field

Jordin McDowell, Atwater

Atwater High junior Jordin McDowell went a perfect 16-0 in Central California Conference events this year.

She went undefeated in five events during CCC events, going 2-0 in the 100-meter dash, 4-0 in the 200, 4-0 in the 100 hurdles, 4-0 in the 300 hurdles and 2-0 in the 4x100 relay.

This season she also competed in the 400 and 4x400 relay at other meets.

After reaching the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters in 100 hurdles and 4x400 relay and leading the Falcons to a CCC championship, McDowell is The Merced Sun-Star Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

“Going undefeated in league wasn’t something I was looking for... I did it the first meet so I was like let’s see if I can stay undefeated,” McDowell said. “It kind of just worked out.”

The Falcons claiming the CCC crown meant a lot for McDowell and her teammates.

“Not being able to do that last year, in a way it was a chance for us to redeem ourselves,” McDowell said. “It was a big accomplishment for us.”

Competing in that wide range of events takes a lot of hard work and training.

“Jordin was able to excel in seven different events because she embraced the virtues of versatility and range,” said Atwater track coach Ken Rhoades. “She accepted the challenge of striving to be excellent in both hurdle events and extending her sprint endurance to the 400-meter distance. Ultimately, her success in 2024 was a reward for her patience, work ethic, and commitment to self-care.”

Rhoades said McDowell was the most consistent athlete he has ever coached in terms of her effort and performance during the Falcons’ Monday speed workouts.

Although the 300 hurdles and the 4x400 relay became her favorite events by the end of the season, McDowell enjoys competing in all of them.

“I think each event takes certain skills,” she said. “Competing in all of them helps me expand my skills.”

During the season, she set personal record times in the 100 hurdles (15.36 seconds), 300 hurdles (45.67), 200 (25.56) and 100 (12.63).

After competing against the top athletes in the Sac-Joaquin Section, McDowell hopes to advance to the state meet next year.

“It was very exciting to make it to the Masters Final,” McDowell said. “My next goal is to make it to state.”

Her coach feels she has the drive to do it.

“In invitationals and the postseason, she was an outstanding relay anchor and our top performer,” Rhoades said. “In practice everyday, she was a leader by example, always working hard and maintaining a no-nonsense approach to the sport.”

Swimming

Brooklyn Ramsey, El Capitan

El Capitan High sophomore Brooklyn Ramsey’s season included two individual Central California Conference championships, a school record in the 100-yard freestyle and a strong performance at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet.

After her stellar season, Ramsey is The Merced Sun-Star Girls Swimmer of the Year.

Breaking the school record was definitely one of the highlights. Ramsey broke the record with her time of 55.53 seconds in the 100 freestyle in the CCC championships. She broke the record set by former Gauchos star Kendall Thomas.

“It meant a lot to me,” Ramsey said. “I was super excited. I know (Thomas), who had the record. She’s playing Division I water polo now. I was proud of myself for breaking the record.”

Ramsey added a victory in the 200-yard individual medley at the CCC championships. Ramsey now has four CCC championships in her first two seasons.

Ramsey qualified for sections in the 200 IM, 100 freestyle, the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.

She competed at sections in the frosh-soph 200 IM and 100 freestyle and qualified for the finals in both events, taking home seventh in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 200 IM.

“It was a really good experience swimming against the top swimmers,” Ramsey said. “Some of those girls are really fast and that pushed me to swim faster.”

The 200 IM is one of Ramsey’s favorite events because it includes freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.

“I worked hard to get my turns down, there are a lot of different turns,” Ramsey said. “Mentally, I have to get myself ready before the race.”

Ramsey loves competing in water polo and swimming. She says swimming helps condition her for water polo season.

She hopes to keep getting better and producing faster times in the pool next year.

“I want to keep doing the 200 IM,” Ramsey said. “I like the 100 free too. Hopefully I’ll continue to train hard and get faster. I want to beat my time of 55 seconds.”

All-Area Honors

Softball

Annalise Ramirez, Merced

Madi Hiler, Atwater

Cali Cole, Stone Ridge Christian

Mia Hendrickson, Atwater

Breann Raney, Dos Palos

Moxi Barton, Los Banos

Desirae Arambula, Pacheco

Nadia Avila, Le Grand

Isabel Orozco, Los Banos

Olivia Costa, Livingston

Chloe Hughes, Mariposa

Haiden Priddell, Le Grand

Maisen Priddell, Le Grand

Mackenzie Silva, Stone Ridge Christian

Isabella Zazueta, Livingston

Kylie Medina, Atwater

Jasmine Resendez, Buhach Colony

Lindsey Henderson, El Capitan

Stefani Ramirez, Golden Valley

Aleatha Buchner, Merced

Antonia Lejarde, Merced

Hannah Slimp, Dos Palos

Amy Villa, Stone Ridge Christian

Track

Lilianna Ramirez Romero, Chowchilla

Lilly Brewer, Hilmar

Jordynn Middleton, El Capitan

Felicity Parker, El Capitan

Kiya Willis, Golden Valley

Elsa Van Dyke, Merced

Aubri Villa, Golden Valley

Julianna Luchsinger, El Capitan

Morgan Carroll, Merced

Marissa Merell, Dos Palos

Swimming

Chloe Dingeldein, El Capitan

Sarah Slocum, Merced

Abigail Perez, Buhach Colony

Sofia Belerique, Hilmar

Eliza Marquez, Buhach Colony

Kate McIntosh, Merced

Dottie Drury, Merced

Florence Cerpa, Merced

Ellie Metcalf, Merced