Flinchum, Valenzuela Named Outstanding Sophomore Athletes

Ashlyn Flinchum and Jesse Valenzuela were named the Outstanding Sophomore Athletes for the 2022-23 year at the VC Athletics Hall of Fame and Student Athlete Recognition Banquet last month. Flinchum was an All-American pitcher for the Western State Conference champion VC softball team in the spring while Valenzuela earned All-American honors as a multipurpose back for VC's SCFA Northern Conference champion football team last fall.

Both sophomores were honored last week at the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet with Flinchum being named the county's Female College Athlete of the Year.

Flinchum, a Buena High School alumna, led the Pirates to their second-ever Southern California Super Regional after VC mowed through the WSC North Division with a 14-1 record. She led the state in strikeouts with 234 K's in 33 appearances, shattering the old school record of 175. A first team All-WSC honoree as a freshman, Flinchum was the conference's Pitcher of the Year and earned All-State and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American accolades this season.  She had a 23-6 record in 2023, pitching 203.2 innings with a 1.94 earned run average, recording 8.12 punchouts per seven innings pitched. After winning the program's first WSC title since 2017 and their first outright crown since 2012, Ventura went on to post an overall record of 31-10-1, advancing to the Super Regional round of the playoffs for just the second time in team history.

Valenzuela, a Camarillo High School product, earned All-American honors as an all-purpose back as voted upon by the California Community College Football Coaches Association. The first team All-SCFA honoree as an all-purpose back, kick returner and punt returner also headlined the Pirate contingent on the region III All-State list. He led the SCFA's upper division with 167.3 all-purpose yards per game, including 641 rushing yards on 106 carries, 24 catches for 129 receiving yards, 283 punt return yards and 787 kick return yards on 22 and 27 attempts, respectively. He led the Northern Conference in kick return yards and average (among those with eight or more returns), came in second in punt return yards and average, and was fourth rushing yards and average. He scored four rushing touchdowns and found paydirt once each as a receiver, kick returner and punt returner. Valenzuela helped lead Ventura a share of the Northern Conference title, advancing to the SCFA Playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons, making the post-season for the 10th straight season. He will transfer to NCAA Division I FCS Houston Christian University.