Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Maeghan Hampton was recently named to the all-GVC first team.

By Ray Hamill — According to her former coach, College of the Redwoods freshman Maeghan Hampton has the ability to become the Golden Valley Conference player of the year next spring.

Hampton just completed an outstanding debut season on the college softball fields and was the Corsairs’ lone all-conference selection this spring.

The former Eureka Logger played shortstop and center field for CR and was recently named to the all-GVC First Team.

But Megan Valente, who recently stepped down as head coach of the CR program, believes Hampton has the talent and mindset to become the conference player of the year as a sophomore.

“She’s an amazing outfielder,” Valente said. “She has the best arm in the conference. At Lassen, she threw two players out at home. You would have thought they learned the first time, but nope.

“Lassen sent their runner home and she threw a laser home to get her out, saving two runs for us that would have lost us those games.”

And the sky is the limit for the 2023 Eureka High graduate.

“Maeghan has the opportunity next year, if she puts in the work, to come back as CR’s center fielder and win player of the year in the conference,” Valente added. “(If) she works on her pitch selection — as she had a few bad games at the plate that brought her batting average down — and works on confidence in center, she could easily be the best in our conference.”

Hampton led the Corsairs in several statistical categories this spring.

She had team highs in batting average (.407), hits (44), runs scored (26), doubles (seven) and walks (15).

She also displayed her awareness and patience at the plate by striking out only four times all season, as well as her speed on the bases with 24 stolen bases, which was second best in the GVC and a big reason the CR women were 14th in the state in that category.

College of the Redwoods Athletics

But as much as anything, it was her composure in tough situations that impressed her former coach.

“In high pressure situations, I always wanted Maeghan up because I knew she could handle the pressure in those situations and give us a fighting chance,” Valente said.

She drove in the winning run in games against both Shasta and Feather River and got the only team hit and run in a win at Lassen.

Her big season follows that of her older sister, Sadie Hampton, another former Eureka and CR player who took her talents to Cal Poly Humboldt this year.

The younger Hampton clearly has the game and aptitude to also take her talents to a four-year program after her time with the Corsairs.

Providing she continues to grow as a player and put in the necessary work.

“She is overall a great softball player,” Valente added. “But she has to come back next season with confidence, no excuses, and ready to be a leader where she can help her teammates get better at the same time.”