Roseville's Johnson is CVC softball MVP

There is a constant family competition in the Johnson family household. Roseville High School junior pitcher Malaya Johnson would always get teased by her father, Jashaun, that dad was the best athlete in the house. A former collegiate basketball player at San Joaquin Delta and Sonoma State, Jashaun Johnson would always hang a league MVP award from San Rafael High School in the Bay Area over his daughter's head. "He'd always tell me I'll never be named MVP," said Malaya Johnson, who was recently recognized with that exact distinction as the 2020-21 Capital Valley Conference softball MVP. "He doesn't mess with me anymore." The UC Santa Barbara-committed junior was dynamite in the circle, going 15-5 with a 2.25 earned-run average in 130 2/3 innings and 184 strikeouts, which led the CVC and was eighth-most in the state. Johnson also posted a .372 batting average with two home runs and 20 RBIs. After going 12-0 in CVC play, Roseville boasted the Lion's – or Tiger's – share of all-league selections. Roseville, which went 19-4 overall and won its final 13 games, featured five players on the 2020-21 All-CVC First Team. The good news for Roseville coach Art Banks is that Johnson and her all-league teammates are all juniors. Oregon State-committed shortstop Shaylen McDowell led the conference in hitting (.507), slugging (.845), hits (36), RBIs (28), runs (28) and stolen bases (16). She also tied for second in the CVC, leading her team with four home runs. San Francisco State-committed second-baseman Marissa Jordan hit .423 with two homers, 15 RBIs and 25 runs. UCSB-bound center-fielder Makayla Newsom hit .393 with 23 runs and 13 stolen bases. And third-baseman Sophia Ayala hit .324 and drove in 17 runs to help Roseville win its first CVC title since 2016. Johnson said it was post-game pizza parties, going to football games together and other activities that bonded the team and enabled the on-field success. "We started to have more trust for each other on the field," Johnson said. "Instead of trying to get the big hits or home runs, we just tried to get the bunt down and let the next girl do it. It was fun." Woodcreek, which finished third in the CVC at 7-5, featured three all-league outfielders in senior Reece Gobbell and juniors Maliyah Lawson and Morgan McMillan. Gobbell hit .283 with a team-high three home runs. McMillan led the team with a .400 average, 20 hits, seven doubles and 11 RBIs. And Lawson was a two-way presence, hitting .333 with two homers and posting a 4.20 ERA with 52 strikeouts in as many innings. Yuba City's Jordy Martins was named CVC Offensive Player of the Year. The Lady Honkers' senior shortstop hit .458 with 10 RBIs and 17 runs. Inderkum senior catcher Annelise Garcia was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Garcia posted a .986 fielding percentage and also hit a conference-high five home runs. 2020-21 ALL-CAPITAL VALLEY CONFERENCE SOFTBALL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Malaya Johnson, Roseville, JR DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Annelise Garcia, Inderkum, SR OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jordy Martins, Yuba City, SR FIRST TEAM Korrie Almond, River Valley, JR Sophia Ayala, Roseville, JR Reece Gobbell, Woodcreek, SR Diana Hull, River Valley, JR Isabella Jimenez, Inderkum, SO Marissa Jordan, Roseville, JR Maliyah Lawson, Woodcreek, JR Shaylen McDowell, Roseville, JR Morgan McMillan, Woodcreek, JR Makayla Newsom, Roseville, JR Cali Niccum, Yuba City, JR Sydney Polli, Bella Vista, JR Madison Scroggins, Antelope, JR Samantha Stoll, Inderkum, SO Allyssa Williams, Yuba City, JR