Tulare Western's Ben Leon earns top WYL MVP baseball award

Tulare Western High School's Ben Leon turned in an outstanding season on the baseball field.

The senior infielder led the Mustangs to a co-West Yosemite League championship with a 12-3 record. Tulare Western shared the 2023 WYL crown with Lemoore. The Tigers also finished with a 12-3 mark in conference play.

Leon was phenomenal during the league stretch, batting .561 with 32 hits, 27 RBI, six doubles, three triples and four home runs. He had at least one hit in 11 straight WYL contests and culminated his preps career on a 12-game hitting streak.

Leon was named by the league's respective coaches as the 2023 WYL Most Valuable Player.

Tulare Western senior Jonathan Callison earned the WYL's Pitcher of the Year honors. In eight league appearances, he threw 38 strikeouts in 42.2 innings and posted a 5-0 record with a 1.31 ERA and a save.

Callison surrendered just eight earned runs during league competition.

Additionally, nine other Tulare County players were named to the 2023 All-WYL first team:

• Justin Cuellar, Tulare Western

• James Corral, Tulare Western

• Nick Retiz, Mission Oak

• Jacob Price, Tulare Union

• Keine Prendez, Dinuba

• Adam Sims, Tulare Union

• Paul Huerta, Dinuba

• Korey Barham, Mission Oak

• Armando Mejia, Dinuba

All-WYL awards were voted by the league's respective coaches.

2023 All-West Yosemite League Baseball Awards

• Most valuable player: Ben Leon, Tulare Western

• Pitcher of the year: Jonathan Callison, Tulare Western

• First team: Noah Gonzales, Hanford; Gavin Kyker, Lemoore; Justin Cuellar, Tulare Western; Dominik Perez, Hanford; James Corral, Tulare Western; Nick Retiz, Mission Oak; Izzy Ramos, Lemoore; Jacob Price, Tulare Union; Keine Prendez, Dinuba; Adam Sims, Tulare Union; Paul Huerta, Dinuba; Korey Barham, Mission Oak; Armando Mejia, Dinuba

• Second team: Coltan Oliviera, Hanford; Justin Cerda, Hanford; Emiliano Murillo, Lemoore; Isaac Perez, Hanford; Bryson Sanderson, Tulare Western; Drew Gonzales, Tulare Western; Kannon Silva, Mission Oak; Anthony Pompa, Dinuba; Katman Glennon, Lemoore; Brylan Coelho, Tulare Western; Gage Hastin, Mission Oak; Christian Mendez, Hanford; Jacob Prado, Tulare Union; Matt Rayogza, Hanford; Mason Soares, Hanford

2023 All-East Sequoia League Baseball Awards

• Co-coach of the year: Brett Kendig, Lindsay; Juan Gamez, Woodlake

• Most valuable player: Gio Chavez, Lindsay

• Offensive player of the year: Tate Champlain, Woodlake

• Defensive player of the year: John Mosqueda, Lindsay

• First team: Anthony Mosqueda, Lindsay; J.J. Vasquez, Lindsay; Brandon Huntington, Woodlake; Landon Gamaz, Woodlake; Isaiah Silva, Orange Cove; Josiah Guerra, Orange Cove; Samuel Phillips, Farmersville; Luke Suorsa, Strathmore

• Second team: Austin Schaible, Lindsay; Bailey Brown, Lindsay; Conner Bates, Woodlake; Ismael Pena, Woodlake; Alon Hernandez, Orange Cove; Alexander Rosas, Orange Cove; Matt Canizalez, Farmersville; Daniel Garza, Farmersville; Sergio Ceballos, Strathmore; Luke Bladerama, Strathmore

2023 All-East Sequoia League-Redwood Baseball Awards

• Coach of the year: Henry Esparza, Wonderful College Prep Academy

• Most valuable player: Gabe Tafoya, Wonderful College

• Offensive player of the year: Adrian Bedolla, Granite Hills

• Defensive player of the year: Michael Lopez, Orosi

• First team: Ethan Chavez, Corcoran; Kiernan Delgado, Corcoran; Elijah Muthana, Corcoran; Sammy Luna, Corcoran; Jerry Lopez, Orosi; Stevie Garza, Orosi; Jason Hernandez, Granite Hills; Rudy Andrade, SummitCharter

• Second team: Brayden Espinoza, Corcoran; Angel Arellano, Corcoran; Miguel Mesa, Orosi; Anthony Garcia, Orosi; Adrian Ramos, Granite Hills; Osvaldo Leon, Granite Hills; Austin Martin, Summit Charter; Jace Gale, Summit Charter

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare Western's Ben Leon earns top WYL MVP baseball award