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Clovis North softball star Ryan Maddox is SBLive’s Central Section Athlete of the Year

Maddox finished the season with a 20-2 record and an earned run average of 0.36.

Welcome to a continuing tradition at SBLive California – honoring the male and female athletes of the year in every CIF Section.

Because the SBLive crew gets so immersed in specific sports seasons, it is nice to take a step back to pick a Section honor on a broader scale.

The criteria isn’t too expansive: The starting point is finding athletes who are all-league/all-state performers. Totality of career is also a factor as is winning. Administrator/coach/fan recommendation plays a role as well.

Enjoy as we honor some of California's top athletes!

The 2022 Central Section softball playoffs were lining up perfectly for the Clovis North Broncos. Clovis North had begun the season at 20-2 behind the pitching and hitting of start junior Ryan Maddox.

Maddox had pitched in each of the first 22 games of the season for the Broncos and led the team with a .506 batting average when an injury dramatically changed the outlook of their season just days before the postseason was set to begin.

“…Unfortunately, I got injured sliding into home plate right before playoffs, so I was not able to pitch in playoffs,” Maddox said.

The Broncos still entered the Central Section Division 1 playoffs as the top-seed but were upset by eight-seed Stockdale in the first round, 4-2.

“I accomplished all I could until I suffered an injury which took me out of seven weeks of playing,” Maddox said.

Maddox did all that and more in one of the most statistically impressive seasons you’ll see.

Maddox finished her junior season with a 20-2 record, tossing 132.2 innings for the Broncos. She struck out 264 batters, issued only 23 walks and finished with an earned run average of 0.36 while not allowing a homerun all season.

She also led the team in hits (42), doubles (11), on-base percentage (.529) and had three homeruns.

Excelling both in the circle and at the plate is something that Maddox pours her time into.

“Yes, it is challenging at times because I have to put in as much time hitting as I do pitching during high school season,” she said. “But I make it work whether it’s before school or after practice, I will do whatever I can to help my team win.”

Winning will be the focus for Maddox and the Broncos once again as they turn the page to the 2023 season.

“Next year is a special year,” Maddox said. “I will try and do my best for my team.”  

BIO

School: Clovis North

Sport: Softball

Next step: Committed to Arizona

Season highlights and accolades: Tri-River Athletic Conference Player of the Year, SBLive California 1st team all-state selection.

PAST SBLIVE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2020-21

Central Section Male: Nate Johnson, Clovis

Central Section Female: Jazmine Soto, Strathmore

Central Coast Section Male: Mikey Mitchell Jr., Archbishop Mitty

Central Coast Section Female: Jessica Oakland, St. Francis

LA City Section Male: Dylan Kordic, San Pedro

LA City Section Female: Jillian Kelly, El Camino Real

North Coast Section Male: Nico Torrez, De La Salle

North Coast Section Female: Natalie Pasco, San Ramon Valley

Sac-Joaquin Section Male: Jadyn Marshall, Stockton St. Mary's

Sac-Joaquin Section Female: Jzaniya Harriel, Antelope

San Diego Section Male: Nick Herrmann, Torrey Pines

San Diego Section Female: Elise Miller, San Pasqual

Southern Section Male: Thomas Southey, Mira Costa

Southern Section Female: Alyssa Thompson, Harvard-Westlake