Male athlete winner: Isaiah Acfalle
For his play in basketball and volleyball, local readers have chosen San Benito senior Isaiah Acfalle as the 2012 San Benito High Male Athlete of the Year, earning 39 percent of the 662 votes.
After playing in only four basketball games in the 2010-11 season, Acfalle was deemed a starter entering his senior year by head coach David Kaplansky. In volleyball, Acfalle was the go-to player for the Balers.
“This was a big year for me because last year I didn’t do well in basketball,” he said. “I didn’t get a chance to play, and this year I wanted to make a statement that I’m good at this sport and I’m able to play. I wanted to do my best and make sure I was able to get far in the sport.”
During the season, Acfalle made 41 3-point shots – good for second on the team – and averaged more than 11 points per game. He was selected to the All-TCAL second team.
But Acfalle made his biggest impact in the spring as the volleyball team’s offensive anchor. Roaming the net, Acfalle led the team in kills and was among the team leaders in blocked shots.
If San Benito needed a point, they turned to Acfalle, who led the Balers to a Tri-County Athletic League championship.
Despite a mid-season coaching change, Acfalle thrived.
“In the beginning, I was a little afraid because of all the coaching changes,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but me and the other captain (David) Hawks took everyone in and said this is what we have to do. ‘No matter who the coach is, we have to go win league and make a statement that we are ready to play.’”
Acfalle did just that, taking home the TCAL Most Valuable Player award.
“It feels really good to get the recognition that I tried so hard this year to get,” he said.
Female Athlete winner: Ellie Burley
In her junior year, Ellie Burley was busy. The three-sport athlete played key roles on the volleyball, basketball and softball teams, leading to her being chosen as the 2012 San Benito High Female Athlete of the Year by SanBenitoCountyToday.com readers. She earned 31 percent of the 370 votes.
“It was all the hard work that I put into it,” Burley said.
She probably made her biggest impact in softball, leading the Balers offensively and defensively to a seventh-consecutive Central Coast Section championship.
Burley, who hit lead-off, was integral to the Balers’ offensive attack. Hitting 10 home runs, Burley was the perfect lead-off hitter for San Benito, using the pressure to thrive.
“There was a little bit of pressure,” she said. “It helped me to say I have to help the team – I have to do my job. There was a little bit more pressure because I was the first person to see the pitcher. I had to let my teammates know. It made me play better I think.”
For her play, Burley was honored with the Tri-County Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player award. But it wasn’t the individual honor she’ll remember most.
“The most memorable thing was winning CCS for my third time but also for the seventh time in school history,” she said. “It felt really awesome because it gave us something to look up to.”
Her presence was also felt during the basketball season playing for her father and coach Mitch Burley.
“Basketball was fun,” she said. “I don’t know, it’s just one of the sports that I get to let loose in.”
She was the Balers best defensive player, earning second-team All-TCAL and an average of 6.1 points per game.
In volleyball, Burley was named to the All-TCAL second team after the Balers finished the league season in second place.
With one more year at the school, Burley expects to get even better.
“I’ll work even harder than I am right now,” she said, “and just play with my heart.”
Results
Isaiah Acfalle-39 percent
Jordan Belton-4 percent
R.J. Collins-5 percent
Jacob Garcia-10 percent
Josh George-7 percent
Ryan Han-30 percent
Jacob Tonascia-5 percent
662 total votes
Krystal Alnas-4 percent
Ellie Burley-31 percent
Vanessa Estrada-7 percent
Victoria Perez-11 percent
Kelsey Robledo-20 percent
Megan Sabbatini-14 percent
Caitlin Schafer-12 percent
370 votes
