Leigh outfielder Robbie Hamchuk earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Mt. Hamilton Division, but the rest of the list is especially noteworthy for the inclusion of someone who did not get to play in a single league game this year - the late Kirk Vasquez, who was a junior at Westmont before a car crash ended his life in the early part of the season.
Hamchuk hit .396 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 28 RBIs for the league champion Longhorns, cementing the senior's status as the top player in the top division of the league. But the list will also be remembered for the posthumous recognition of Vasquez, who had been verbally committed to the University of Pacific. Vasquez was killed on his way home from a non-league game at Gunderson High in late February, a game in which the junior went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run driven in and two runs scored, leading the Warriors to the 6-1 victory.
"The BVAL coaches proposed the idea to have a spot for him, to (Westmont coach) Adam Perez," said Leland coach Mike Sparrer. "It was then approved by (league commissioner) Colette Kirk prior to the post-season meeting."
Now, Vasquez's memory will be preserved as one of the top players to grace the top division of the league.
The entire all-league teams for all three divisions can be found at the Blossom Valley Athletic League website.
