SAN RAMON, Calif. – Four members of the San Francisco State softball team have earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) honors, the conference announced this morning. Michelle Castro was named the Newcomer of the Year in addition to being named to the All-CCAA First Team, while Sara Higa, Andrea Hildan, and Hayley Nunes were named to the All-CCAA Second Team. The four honorees are the most for SF State since 2006.
 
"I am so proud of our student-athletes who were recognized by the other coaches in our conference for the season that they achieved," boasts Head Coach Alicia Reid. "This group was a corner stone to our team's success this year. For these athletes to come into the year welcoming a new system and style of play and flourish in it says a lot about their work ethic and ability."
 
Castro is the first Gator in program history to be tabbed the Newcomer of the Year. The utility player hit .317 this season while leading the team in doubles with 17 and stolen bases with 45, both of which are program records. Castro also led the CCAA in stolen bases and ranked second in doubles, and her 41 runs scored are tied-for-fourth-best in the conference. The Acampo, California native is just one of three sophomores on the All-CCAA First Team.
 
"Michelle is the type of athlete that excelled and flourished in our style of play," said Reid. "Previously in her athletic career she did not steal many bases, and for her to come in and break SF State's single-season record in just one year speaks volumes about the type of athleticism she has."
 
This is Higa's first-career All-CCAA honor after a stellar four-year career with the Gators. This season she hit a career-high .313, which was fourth-best on the team. The third baseman also recorded career-highs in RBI (26), hits (50), runs (26), walks (15) and stolen bases (5). Her 27 career doubles rank her tenth all-time in program history.
 
"At the start of season, I had a conversation with Sara letting her know that I felt she could be one of the best third basemen in this conference and she did not disappoint," continues Reid. "She provided a consistent powerful bat in our lineup to go with stellar defensive performances. Many times this year she would take opponents out of scoring position by having such a quick release and being aggressive at getting lead runners."
 
Hildan ranked first on the team and seventh in the CCAA with a .376 batting average, a mark which is the seventh-best in program history. She is also the first freshman to lead the team in batting average in the last decade. The outfielder led the conference with 66 hits, which are the most by a Gator since 2007. This year she paced SF State with 18 multi-hit games and an eleven-game hitting streak.
 
"For a freshman to come into our conference, which is composed of some of the best athletes in the West Region, and lead the CCAA in hits is an outstanding achievement," said Reid. "She will only continue to grow and improve as she continues on in her career. She has a bright future ahead of her."
 
Nunes was one of four players to start all 55 games this season. The middle infielder hit .323 with 25 runs scored and a .412 on-base percentage. The Tracy, California native established herself as one of the most sure-handed infielders in the CCAA this season, recording 123 putouts and 109 assists as she spent time at second base and shortstop.
 
"Hayley was an athlete I was very familiar with when I was at Humboldt as I tried to recruit her a few years earlier out of high school," said Reid. "I knew she was the solid, consistent defensive player I would want on my roster as I got the job at San Francisco State. Defensively, she proved she was just as good as any shortstop in the CCAA by making stellar plays look routine."