Cayla Williams, a player West Valley coach Vicky Piatt calls "one of the strongest offensive and defensive players to come through the WVC softball program," has been named to the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association (CCCFCA) 2021 All-State team. The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) released the 36-member team June 15 with Williams as one of 18 NorCal players on the prestigious team.
The Southern Oregon University-bound Williams led the 2021 Vikings in seven offensive and four pitching categories. At the plate, she paced WVC with 20 hits, 16 RBI, five doubles, five stolen bases, 11 walks and a .488/.596/.683 slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG). In the circle, she led the Vikings with five wins, a 1.98 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched (5.09 K/7). She also fielded at a .958 clip, committing just three errors in 72 opportunities.
After hearing the news of her selection, Williams said, "Even though this 2021 season wasn't an "official" one, it was still fun and competitive. This season helped me remember it isn't always about winning; it's about having fun playing the sport you love, while making memories with the people you love."
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, she dominated in the circle and at the plate and was on track for an All-State season. The 5-11 rightie from San Jose's Santa Teresa High School, was 6-2 with 61 strikouts in 58 innings pitched, good for 7.36 KP7. When she wasn't pitching, Piatt kept her bat in the lineup as the designated player. She led WVC with a .592/.667/.837 slash line, and 29 hits in 49 AB's. She was second on the team with 11 RBI and a team-high three homers.
She was named the CCCFCA State Player on the Week the first week of February 2020 after kicking off the season by going 2-0 in the circle with 19 K's and only three earned runs in 12 innings of work AND going 9-for-11 at the plate with six RBI, two doubles and one HR.
"Despite the many obstacles student-athletes faced this last year, Cayla has managed to stay on track and stick to her plan by graduating this spring with her AA in Kinesiology," Piatt said. "She is someone who set some big goals as a student-athlete and will be able to continue working towards these goals at SOU."
