Manteca's Nayellys Torres named 2024 RecordNet's Fan Fav Softball Player of the Year

There was no denying Nayellys Torres’ star power throughout her years on the mound for Manteca softball putting her in the running for the first-ever RecordNet Fan’s Choice Softball Player of the Year.

Almost 200,000 votes agreed that Torres was more than deserving of the recognition earning her the title of the RecordNet Fan’s Choice Softball Player of the Year.

“It feels so surreal because I wanted this since the beginning of the season, that was my goal,” Torres said. “This wouldn't have been possible without my family and friends support. All of them voting like I really appreciate it because this was a really big thing for me.”

The Buffaloes ‘Old Lady’

As a four-year varsity player for the Buffaloes, Torres has been a veteran on the team. This is more noteworthy this season than any other with only two seniors and mainly underclassmen on the squad.

It wasn’t long before the team coined a nickname for the seasoned senior.

“She’s been around the program for a long time, the girls call her ‘Old Lady’ all the time,” Manteca head coach Josh Farris jokingly said. “Now it’s kind of an inside joke that she’s been around for so long other coaches say ‘Man she’s still here' and we say 'Yeah, she’s here for a little bit more.'”

Throughout her years as Buffaloe, the “Old Lady” has been a sparkplug for the school’s growing softball program. During her sophomore year, she led Manteca to its first-ever Sac-Joaquin Section playoff victory. The Buffaloes took down the Lincoln Fighting Zebras in the SJS Division 3 first round beating them 2-1.

According to Farris, it was the grittiest performance he’s seen across his 18 years of coaching softball, baseball, and football at Manteca.

“She pitched 11 innings, gave up one run in the first inning, and then nothing else,” he said. “They had the bases loaded and the whole time she was going her back had gone out; halfway through we thought we’re gonna have to take her out. But she kept pushing and she had 17 strikeouts and she was a sophomore then.”

That gritty performance was followed up by another playoff appearance for Manteca with Torres leading the charge. The Buffaloes hosted their first playoff home game in school history and beat Roseville 1-0 in the SJS Division 3 first round.

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A driving force

For years now, Torres has been the driving force for her team helping them reach new heights. This year the Dominican University-bound pitcher is setting her sights on the semifinals, something no Manteca softball team has made it to.

“Playoffs are going to be tough because I know we play in a loaded division but I feel like we have that stamina to go far in the playoffs,” Torres said. “I feel like my leadership has pushed them to work really hard every day. Even if they don't feel like practicing I make sure to cheer them up with like my singing or dancing just like making them laugh.”

Torres’ bubbly and persistent leadership has landed her team on track to qualify for the SJS playoffs. The Buffaloes hold a 15-5 overall record and are third in the Valley Oak League with a 6-3 record and two regular season games to go.

Along the way, she has broken Manteca’s record for the most-ever strikeouts with a total of 462 Ks and counting. Their journey toward a blue banner will begin on May 14 before she’s off to play NCAA DII ball next spring.

“Playing in college was always one of my biggest dreams ever since I was a little girl,” Torres said. “I always saw myself going D1 but as I reached high school it changed cause I didn't really see myself at a big school. It was really a long journey but I’m just glad I worked hard and I made it.”

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Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: 'It feels surreal': Nayellys Torres is Record's Fan Fav Softball POTY