Green, Haro Honored as First Paloma Valley Athletes of Month

Miranda Green and Dario Haro accept their Paloma Valley High School Athlete of the Month awards from Menifee 24/7 editor Doug Spoon.

Basketball player Miranda Green and baseball player Dario Haro have been selected as the first honorees in the new Menifee 24/7 Athlete of the Month award program for Paloma Valley High School.

Green and Haro were honored for their athletic accomplishments in March as well as their overall performance in school. Nominations and final selections were made by Paloma Valley coaches and Athletic Director Michael Pfeiffer. Each athlete received a certificate and an iTunes gift card.

Green was one of the top players on the Wildcat girls basketball team, which finished the regular season with a 14-12 overall record, advancing to the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs before losing to Miller High of Fontana. The 5-foot-8 senior shooting guard was one of three co-captains on the team, providing valuable experience for a young squad adjusting to a new head coach.

"Miranda has unwavering dedication to the basketball program and her education," said head coach Romeo Galbreath. "She led the team in 3-three pointers (35), served as vice president on the girls basketball club and was team captain."

Green said she received valuable experience as she served as sort of an unofficial assistant coach to the younger players.

"We were young," she said. "We had a lot of talent, but not as much experience. I was counted on to teach some of the younger players.

"I'm a pretty patient person, but this was a good test for me."

Green will attend Pt. Loma Nazarene University and study to become a physical therapist.

Haro, a senior third baseman for the Wildcats, is off to a good start this season, and so is his team. Haro and the Wildcats are 3-0 in Sunbelt League play after beating crosstown rival Heritage on Friday, 4-1. At the plate, Haro is batting .421 with 4 RBIs.

Haro is especially proud of his performance against Heritage in his three seasons on the varsity team. Two years ago, he singled in the winning run in the last inning; last year, he did it again. Now this season, the Wildcats started off strong against the Patriots.

"Last year was a disappointing season," Haro said. "We won eight in a row, then lost six in a row. This year, we have a new attitude."

Haro was promoted to captain of the team this season. His college plans are not decided, but he plans to work with his father in a general contracting business after graduation.

Haro's head coach, Chuck Kemp, believes Haro has made a big difference, both with his play and his leadership.

"Dario is a tremendous team leader, both on and off the field," Kemp said.

Coming tomorrow: The first Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month for Heritage High School.