Valerie Arioto
Foothill High School
San Francisco, CA
Arioto is one of those softball players that don't come along often, and this, her senior year, is one people around the league will remember for years to come.
It's a case of pick your poison with Arioto, as either in the circle or at the plate, she's capable of dominating a game.
Let the numbers speak for themselves.
At the plate, Arioto finished with a .556 batting average, and she scored an amazing 40 runs in 24 games. She had six doubles, two triples and 11 home runs, and drove in 27 runs from the leadoff spot.
Arioto also walked 27 times, 13 of which were intentional, including once with the bases loaded. Her slugging percentage was 1.352.
In the circle, Arioto went 19-1, striking out 237 batters in 120 innings, a rate of almost two an inning. Opposing teams hit just .110 against Arioto, and she finished with an ERA of 0.93.
In the postseason, Arioto went 4-0 as the Falcons rolled to the NCS title, striking out 66 and allowing only five hits in four games. At the plate, she was walked six times intentionally and hit a mammoth home run, measured at 290 feet.
