2012 Softball Preview - Nothing to Lose

CSUDH will feature its dynamic pitching duo of Stephanie Jimenez (L) and Lauren Harper

CARSON -- Youth will be the operative word for the 2012 Cal State Dominguez Hills softball season as seven newcomers make their way to Carson to compete in one of the strongest Division II conferences in the nation, a conference that boasts schools winning two of the last four NCAA titles that included UC San Diego last year.

The Toros, however, do return their dynamic duo of junior pitchers in Stephanie Jimenez and Lauren Harper and senior utility Khryssi Steele in hopes of leading CSUDH to its third-consecutive appearance in the CCAA Championship Tournament, and into the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2008.

Add to that two university and two junior college transfers along with three phenomenal freshmen who already are making strides in head coach Jim Maier's softball philosophy, and 2012 looks to have the makings of a special and memorable year.

"They have good chemistry, good leadership, a lot of focus and they do their work really well day in and day out," Maier begins. "They just play the game the right way; they practice hard, and they play hard, and never complain."

Here's a closer look at this year's squad:

IN THE CIRCLE

Jimenez and Harper begin their third seasons in Carson with each having made a name for herself in 2011.

Stephanie Jimenez was named a 2nd-team All-CCAA selection after posting a 14-10 record with 127 strikeouts. She led the CCAA in saves for second consecutive year, also finishing 5th in the CCAA in ERA and strikeouts, 6th in wins and 8th in innings pitched.

A writer for "The Bulletin, CSUDH's school newspaper, the Norwalk native also boasted at least 4 Ks in 15 games, including a season-high 9 at CS Monterey Bay on March 4, and posted a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.9:1.

"She's a leader now and understands the program really well, and is excelling in all aspects of being a student-athlete," says Maier. "She really is a true Toro."

Lauren Harper, meanwhile, fanned 16 CS Stanislaus Warrior batters on February 11 to set the CSUDH record for strikeouts in a single game. She also fanned at least 4 batters in 12 games en route to boasting a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.7:1. Amongst the best pitchers in the league, the San Diego native finished 6th in innings pitched, and 7th in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

Additionally, she is in the middle of her third term as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Treasurer, a position she has held since she was a freshman.

"Her ankle is finally 100% healed and she's throwing the ball harder than ever," Maier says. "She's going to be very effective this year.

"They've become accomplished pitchers who know how to pitch and they do a really good job of executing our philosophy on how we want to pitch so we're in really good hands as far as pitching and pitching depth is concerned," he continues. "They are very easy to coach and there's not really a lot of worries when it comes to those two."

Sophomores Karen Peterson and Melissa Pacheco complete the quartet in the circle. Peterson saw action in 5 games, with her lone start coming at CS East Bay on April 8, and enjoyed a stretch of 5.0 innings in which she allowed just 3 hits and a single run. Pacheco, meanwhile, tossed 9.1 innings in 7 appearances, also making her presence felt at the plate where she enjoyed 3 multi-hit games and 2 multi-RBI efforts and slugged first collegiate home run vs WWU in the Tournament of Champions (April 1).

RETURNERS

Arguably the most athletic Toro on the squad, senior utility player Khryssi Steele begins her final season in Cardinal and Gold as just one of two seniors on the squad.

The Los Angeles native started all 51 games played as a junior in the outfield, finishing second on the team in batting average and enjoying 11 multi-hit contests, including two games with 3 hits, and 2 multi-RBI efforts. Aggressive at the plate, she began the season with a 6-game hit streak and was plunked 13 times on the year, including 8 times in the first 7 games.

"She's got all the tools, and is going to be one of the top players in the conference," Maier beams. "She needs to be where the ball is going to be hit so she's going to play short, third and center."

The other senior, Jackie Reyes made 34 starts in 39 games last year, boasting 3 multi-hit games and 2 multi-RBI contests, including a season-best 3-for-3 effort at CS San Bernardino on March 16, in which she belted her lone home run of the year.

Having made the third-fewest errors in the CCAA las year, a pair of juniors in Jessica Hall and Daisy Beltran make their returns to Carson, and will help keep the Toro defense one of the stingiest in the league.

Hall started 44 games in 50 appearances as a sophomore at both 1st and 3rd bases, and enjoyed 5 multi-hit efforts and 2 mutli-RBI games, including a season-best 3-hit contest vs CS San Bernardino on March 15. The Huntington Beach native also boasted a 4-game hit streak in early April at the Tournament of Champions.

Beltran, meanwhile, made 38 starts in 50 games played, with the majority of action in right field. The Burbank native went yard three times last year, the first coming vs CS San Bernardino on February 18, and enjoyed 7 multi-hit games. Tying for the team lead in sacrifice hits, Beltran was the lone starter with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

"We are really strong defensively and we've been catching and throwing the ball really accurately during the fall so I'd be surprised if defense was a problem for us," Maier says optimistically.

Sophomores Veronica Vazquez and Brittany Brenner return for their sophomore seasons after solid freshman campaigns. Vazquez made 37 starts in 48 games and put together a 4-game hit streak in late February as part of 5 multi-hit and 1 multi-RBI contests, while Brenner made 22 starts in 33 appearances and enjoyed 3 multi-hit games and 4 mutli-RBI efforts that included slugging her first-career home run vs CS Stanislaus on February 12.

Elizabeth Jimenez rounds out the Toro returners after seeing action in 22 games as a true freshman last year, making 7 starts as the designated player. The Norwalk native also belted her her first collegiate home run at CS East Bay on April 8 as part of 2-for-3 effort at the plate.

NEWCOMERS

Junior Paige Rhodes and sophomore Catherine Brown are two university transfers who will give the Toros both skill and depth.

Rhodes competed for two years at New York's Adelphia University where she tallied 45 hits, 22 runs scored and 19 RBI as a Panther after being named the Female Athlete of the Year at Corona HS, and will see time in the outfield and in the circle.

Brown, meanwhile, saw action in 11 games for Concordia University as the Eagles posted their best record in the program's history, and will challenge hard for time in the talented outfield.

Local products Ciara Campos and Christina Chavez make their way to Carson after respective 2-year stints at Rio Hondo and East Arizona junior colleges.

From Downey, Campos twice was named to all-league teams after earning a spot as a starter both years, while Chavez, from Carson via Banning HS, was named both a 2nd-team all-region and 2nd-team all-league selection as a Gila Monster. In fact, Chavez earned nine varsity letters spanning three sports (softball, volleyball, soccer) at Banning HS, and will give uber-athlete Steele

Three freshmen from the Carson/Torrance area will segue into intercollegiate athletics at a home away from home.

North HS alum Stephanie Hua led the Saxons to the CIF title en route to being named Defensive MVP as a junior, while West HS alum Rachel Gulbrandsen earned eight varsity letters in softball and tennis, as well as two 2nd-team all-league honors and three Hall of Fame awards.

Having prepped at San Pedro HS, outfielder Alyssa Cruz was a two-sport athlete for the Pirates (softball, volleyball), who earned three letters on the Diamond en route to helping SPHS to the CIF title in 2009.

"Hua has opened up our eyes during the fall," says Maier about his local product. "She's a good catcher and is very mature for her age, and hits for power." Cruz, meanwhile, "also hits the ball well and for power, and is just overall a really good athlete."

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Toros know they are in for a battle this year.

Picked to finish in a tie for 6th in a preseason poll conducted by the CCAA head coaches, there's nothing to lose for the Toros as they look to take it a step further in the league posteason tournament, before making a splash on the national stage.

"It gives us that underdog feeling and gives the girls something to prove, but those are just preseason polls, which are meaningless," resigns Maier. "Last year UCSD was picked in the middle of the pack and they won the whole thing.

"We're unproven, but our whole job will be to prove them wrong and finish better than that, which we've done the past two years by making it to the CCAA Tournament as one of the top 4 teams after being picked to finish lower."

Being one of the better defensive teams in a league that boasted NCAA Champion UC San Diego, as well as having two potent and experienced arms in the circle should provide head coach Maier comfort in knowing his squad will be competitive in every game this season.

Add in the fact that the Toros took 3-of-4 regular season games from the Tritons and lost by an average of just three runs in two postseason meetings to give them a split in 2011, and the adage that teams have to win it on the field has never been more apt.

Starting with the always tough Best of the West Tournament this weekend before perennial power and 2008 NCAA Champion Humboldt State makes its every-other-year visit to Carson to kick off league play on February 11, and the Toros know the importance of every game, every inning, and every pitch.

After having all but two February dates at home, CSUDH plays consecutive home weekends in March before a non-conference twinbill against CS San Bernardino to finish its regular season homestand, a precedent to the Tournament of Champions in late March that gives all teams involved a preview of what the NCAA West Regional may look like.

"It's difficult to say where we're going to finish," says Maier as a matter-of-fact. "It's just how we'll respond to games and how we'll respond to other teams' approach to us and letting it fly and see where we end up.

"But they'll play hard every game and the right way, which is important. If we do that, then we'll be fine," he concludes.

"And having Stephanie and Lauren, there'll be a lot of resistance for other teams scoring runs and beating us. They may be able to do that but there'll be a lot of resistance."

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2012 Softball Preview - Nothing to Lose