The Hall of Champions is pleased to announce the Stars of the Month for May in professional, amateur and high schools sports. All of the Stars of the Month will be invited to attend the 64th annual Viejas Salute to the Champions dinner on Feb. 22 at the Town and Country Hotel in Mission Valley.
Professionals
- HEATH BELL (Baseball, Padres) — Bell bumped his season save total to 15 after converting seven-of-eight opportunities for the month. He ended the month with season totals of of a 2-1 record and 1.27 to rank among National League leaders.
- LISA RUTLEDGE (Volleyball, AVP Tour/Vista High alum) – The 6-foot-2 Rutledge enjoyed her best finish as a professional on the beach tour when she and partner Brooke Hansen were the runner-up to the No. 1-ranked team of Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs in a AVP event at Harrah’s Rincon Center Casino in Valley Center.
Amateurs
- SAM CYR (Golf, Point Loma Nazarene College) – The senior won his second straight NAIA national title when he was the only player under par in windy conditions at the finals on the TPC Deere Run Golf Course in Silvas, Ill. Cyr shot 67-71 on the final 36 holes to finish with a two-under par total of 282 with rounds of 72-72-67-71.
- ERIN FLOROS (Softball, SDSU/Mt. Carmel High alum) – The senior catcher finished one of the finest careers in San Diego State softball history as a first-team pick on the All-Mountain West Conference team. Floros hit .375 with two home runs and 15 RBIs. Floros, whose sophomore season was ended by a knee injury, was a three-time All-MWC pick and the first SDSU softball player named a first-team All-American when she was honored as a freshman in 2006.
- A.J. GRIFFIN (Baseball, USD/Grossmont High alum) – The junior All-American relief pitcher was a first-team pick in the West Coast Conference. In his first season of splitting time as a starter and reliever, he finished with an 8-3 record and bumped his school record career saves total to 28.
- DEAN JACKSON (Tennis, University of San Diego) – The sophomore from Germany earned All-American honors when he advanced to the NCAA Division I tennis tournament round of 16 with upsets of the No. 7 and No. 25-ranked players. He was a first-team pick in singles and doubles on the All-West Coast Conference team.
- MATT ROSSMAN (Baseball, UC San Diego) – The junior pitcher from La Verne recovered from a broken jaw when he was hit by a pitch to win two crucial post-season games and finished with an 8-2 record. He recorded the first win UCSD’s history at the NCAA Division II level in the College World Series. He also won a game in the West Regional the Tritons won to advance to the CWS.
- KATIE RULON (Water polo, UCLA/USDHS alum) – Rulon led UCLA to its fifth straight NCAA title as a senior attacker. She also was named a second-team pick on the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation team.
- KURT STEINHAUER (Baseball, Point Loma Nazarene) — The senior outfielder from Palos Verdes led the Sea Lions to a runner-up finish in the NAIA College World Series. He led Point Loma with a .379 average, 19 home runs and 52 RBIs in 58 games. He was named to the NAIA CWS all-tournament team and NAIA All-American honorable mention. He was later a 27th-round draft pick of the New York Mets.
- DANIELLE THU (Track and field, UCSD/Monte Vistas High alum) – The junior hammer thrower won the NCAA Division II title with a toss of 198 feet, 8 inches that was the winning mark by 13 feet and ranks No. 5 all-time in Division II. She also was named the West Regional Field Athlete of the Year.
- COREY VAUGHN (Baseball, San Diego State) – The sophomore outfielder from Sacramento was a first-team pick on the All-Mountain West Conference team. Vaughn, the son of former Padres slugger Greg Vaughn, finished the year batting .328 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs.
High Schools
- BOBBY BRAUN (Lacrosse, Coronado) — The senior attacker led the Islanders to their first CIF San Diego Section title. The All-CIF Player of the Year scored two goals and added three assists in the championship win over La Costa Canyon.
- SPENCER DIDIO (Swimming, Carlsbad) – The senior led the Lancers to their seventh straight CIF San Diego Section Division I title and was named the Athlete of the Year. He swept the 100 butterfly and the 200 IM, including a record time of 48.92 in the 100 butterfly.
- DILLON HAUPT (Baseball, Mira Mesa) – The senior catcher batted .400 with three home runs to lead the Marauders to the Eastern League. The All-CIF choice also was the Eastern League Player of the Year.
- DANIELLE LITTLETON (Track and field, Vista) – The junior swept the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the CIF San Diego Section finals and posted the fastest times for the year in the section in both events. Her times were 14.42 and 44.30, respectively.
- JESSICA SCHMITT (Swimming, Torrey Pines) — The senior broke the CIF San Diego Section record in the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.16 and also won the 100 breaststroke. The All-CIF team Athlete of the Year broke the 200 IM record for the third time in four years after missing last season to train for the Olympics.
- LAURA WINTER (Softball, Rancho Bernardo) — The pitcher led the Broncos to the CIF San Diego Section Division I title and was named the All-CIF team’s Player of the Year. In the championship game, she struck out 14 and hit a home run in a 1-0 win over El Camino.
- BREE WILLIAMS (Softball, Mt. Carmel) — The sophomore pitcher led San Diego pitchers in wins with a 25-5 record en route to leading the Sundevils to a third straight CIF San Diego Section Division II title. In the championship game, the All-CIF choice struck out eight in an 8-2 win over Steele Canyon.
Contact Tom Shanahan at toms@sdhoc.com.
Posted on June 16, 2009 by admin
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