Ava Cartin absolutely owned the fan polls, pulling in a staggering 87.99% of the vote, totaling 2,827 picks, to be crowned Diman's softball Player of the Year! The Herald News just wrapped up their two-week voting blitz for Players of the Year across baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis, and fans made their voices heard loud and clear. It’s a huge shout-out to these young athletes who balled out all season.
Baseball and Softball Crown Their Fan Favorites
That 87.99% for Cartin isn't just a number; it tells you everything you need to know about her impact. She mashed at the plate, hitting .367 with a home run, two triples, four doubles, and 17 RBIs. Her slugging percentage was a ridiculous .592! And get this, pitching against 152 batters, she fanned 35 and gave up just seven walks. What a season for a Herald News second team All-Scholastics! On the baseball diamond, Westport sophomore catcher Jackson Chase snagged 47.43% of the vote with 484 total. This kid was a Mayflower Athletic Conference Comprehensive All-Star, batting .396 with 19 hits, a homer, 17 RBIs, and 19 runs scored. He even made the Herald News All-Scholastic first team. That's serious production, and fans clearly recognized it.Lacrosse Players Move the Needle with Big Numbers
Switching gears to the lacrosse field, Gavin Rodrigues from Somerset Berkley was crowned the Herald News Lacrosse Player of the Year, grabbing 39.44% of the fan votes (28 total). Talk about making an impact after a position switch! Moved from defense to offense, Rodrigues absolutely lit up the scoreboard with an area-best 50 goals and 25 assists. He wasn’t just offense either, contributing 80 ground balls and 70 breakups. That’s an all-around player right there! For the girls, Joseph Case junior midfielder Abigail Vallas took home 35.21% of the vote, with 25 fans backing her. She racked up 19 shots, five goals, three free positions, four caused turnovers, 11 ground balls, three interceptions, and 21 draw controls. Vallas was also a Herald News second team All-Scholastics. These kids are putting in work!Dominating the Courts: Tennis MVPs Shine
Over on the tennis courts, Somerset Berkley’s senior co-captain Brayden Dorego absolutely ran the table, grabbing 62.10% of the vote (444 total). He was a force at second singles with an area-best 15-3 record and a perfect 7-0 against Greater Fall River opponents. The Herald News named him their Boys Tennis Player of the Year, and you can see why. For the girls, junior Maura Kennedy from Somerset Berkley earned 40.26% of the votes (31). This South Coast Conference All-Star finished with an impressive 15-2 record at first doubles, helping lead the Raiders to a 12-6 team record. She earned Herald News All-Scholastics first team honors too. What a turnout from Fall River fans, showing up for these high school stars! It's awesome to see these athletes get the recognition they deserve for putting up huge numbers and leading their teams. While these polls wrap up the season's awards, the future looks bright for many of these players. You gotta wonder how many more records they'll break when their next seasons roll around! Keep an eye on these names; they're clearly ready to keep delivering.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.