PAC 10

Arizona:
Chelsea Suitos
Shelby Babcock

Arizona State:
Dallas Escobedo
Bailey Wigness
Mary Spiel
Alix Johnson

Cal:
Ashley Decker
Alex Robben
Arianna Erceg
Victoria Jones
LaRisa Jones

Oregon:
Courtney Ceo
Alexa Peterson

 

Oregon State:
Hannah Bouska
Isabelle Batayola

Stanford:
Michelle Prong
Danielle Miller
Caitlyn Pura
Corey Hanewich
Jamie Millwood

UCLA:

Kellie Fox
Jessica Hall
Talee Snow
Alyssa Tiumalu

 

Washington:
Whitney Jones
Kaitlin Inglesby
Marki Creger-Zier
Victoria Hayward

Who has the best recruiting class? Email garland@studentsports.com with your nomination!
 

No.3 Norco topped No.9 Santiago in the Sothern Calif. Division I Championships! Teagan Gerhart once again was a force to be reckoned with on the mound.

CLICK HERE to read the full story!

The Rodriguez High School (Farifield, Calif.) softball team had six athletes earn league accolades.

 Andriana Collins batted .400 in league and recorded a 0.38 ERA allowing only four earned runs in 72 innings pitched during league play. She was named the Pitcher of the Year.

 Cheyenne Cordes  was the MVP of the league for the second year in a row after batting .588 with a .786 on-base percentage and 23 RBIs. 

Other players who received All-League honors:

Alexis Pickett (C) - .500 BA, 25 RBI
Teanna Brooks (3B) - .410 BA, 1.000 FP
Kiara Garcia (2B) - .372 BA, .566 OBP
Marissa Escalante (1B) - .382 BA, .644OBP

 The Mustangs head into playoffs this week. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the country!

 Eileen Bowden collapsed after performing CPR on Coach John Rahbar (Santa Clara High School) and saving his life. The tragedy was reported in the MercuryNew.com by Lisa Fernandez. Click the link below for the full story.

CLICK HERE

Special to ESPN RISE
By: Bret Denio

 

	SCOTT KURTZ
	Cheyenne Mascarenas will attend Memphis.

Century League

Brea Olinda:
Jennifer Esteban – Louisville

Canyon:
Cheyanne Tarango – Tennessee
Taylor Van Acker – UNLV
Briana Gwaltney – UNC-Charlotte

Villa Park:
Marisa Bast – Northwestern

El Dorado:
Emily Troup – Murray State

Empire League
Pacifica:
Cheyenne Mascarenas – Memphis
Krystian DeWitt – New Mexico

Valencia:
Torie Schmidt – Texas
Krysta Fauria - Wagner
Jessica Griffin - Buffalo

Loara:
Sara Acosta - Maryland

Pacific Coast League

Beckman:
Jasmin Harrell – Virginia Tech
Trista Thomas – Cal Poly SLO

Laguna Hills:
Kelley Schroeder – UNLV
Christine Gomez – Holy Names
Lauren Lastrapes – Nevada Reno

Irvine:
Brittany Rochford - Emerson

Sea View League
Foothill:
Hallie Wilson – Arizona
Taylor Cantillo – Ole Miss
Jacquilyn Edwards - Stanford

El Toro:
Brooke Bell – Long Beach State
Kim Skoglund – Vanguard
Emily Waters - Samford

Huntington Beach:
Lauren Stuhr – Notre Dame

Trabuco Hills:
Kayla Massey - Iowa

Northwood:
Rita Kim – Azusa Pacific
Megan Hom – Pacific
Ari Morrison – Oklahoma State

South Coast League
Tesoro:
Sam Pappas – Oregon
Chandler Wagner – UC Davis

Aliso Viejo:
Mandy Gardner – Michigan
Dionne Anderson – UC Riverside

San Clemente:
Chelsey Luckey – Hawaii Pacific
Tiffany Corder – UCSB

Dana Hills:
Julie Smith - Villanova

Mission Viejo:
Katie Belanger – UCSD
Mikayla Fernandez – Fairleigh Dickinson

Golden West League

Segerstrom:
Monica Segura – Northern Illinois

Freeway League
Fullerton:
Ellen Bock – Idaho State

La Habra:
Julie Pecina – Ohio State

Sonora:
Ariel Tsuchiyama – Cal State Fullerton
Megan Colletta – Ohio State
Alexa Limon – Manhattan
Jocelyn Whitmore – Manhattan
Patty Zavala – Florida International

Garden Grove League

Rancho Alamitos:
Gabby Aragon – Cal State Fullerton
Kari Gutierrez – New Mexico

Sunset League
Los Alamitos:
Chanelle Spalding – Tennessee Tech
Brittney Spalding – Tennessee Tech
Katrina Metoyer – Western Kentucky

Marina:
Mariah Noguiera – Stanford
Erin Cuevas - Wagner

Esperanza:
Kristin Scharkey – Northwestern
Kailyn Johnson – Penn State
Chelsey Anderson – Cal State Fullerton

Trinity League

Santa Margarita:
Meghan Harman – LMU
Nicki Jacobucci – Chico State
Courtney Hiatt - Humboldt

Orange Lutheran:
Jackie Guy – Illinois
McKenzie Kane – UCSB
Ashley Noone – Occidental
Jenna Stark - Georgetown

Rosary:
Caitrin DeBaun – Long Beach State
Alex Peyton – Princeton

Mater Dei:
Brittany Schutte – Florida
Amber Freeman – ASU
Miranda Tamayo - Indiana

Academy  League

Oxford Academy:
Alex Skinkis - Virginia




 

 Two athletes on the 16U Batbusters-Myers have committed to play at the next level.

Melissa Davin- 2010, First Base- University of Tennessee
Alyssia Palamino- 2010, Pitcher- Auburn University

By Garland Cooper

Huntington Beach, Calif. – After every game that the Sheldon (Sacremento, Calif.) High School team wins, head coach Mary Jo Truesdale gives each girl a marble.

"We are playing for all the marbles,” stated Truesdale after the team's semifinal win over Camarillo (Calif.). Sheldon, ranked No. 1 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50, defeated host Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) 2-0 in the final.

It is a tradition that I started a long time ago, and I try and find marbles that match the colors of the school we are playing,” Truesdale said.

The girls certainly earned their marbles at the Faster to 1st National Fastpich Tournament.

	Scott Kurtz for ESPN RISE
	Sheldon High School takes the title at the Faster to 1st Tournament hosted by Canyon High School.

With teams from all over the country including Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois and New Mexico, the tournament was full of close games. In the end, almost half of the games played were determined by one run.

The championship game was not a one-run game, but it was a close one, with just one breakthrough inning for Sheldon.

After losing in the finals of the tournament last year, Sheldon had worked hard to get back to that championship game and finish what they started last year.

Cheyanne Tarango for Canyon and Jolene Henderson for Sheldon both worked to keep batters at bay, but Canyon's defense crumbled in the fourth inning and the Huskies took advantage.

It started with a lead-off double by Henderson. Dejanee Moore laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third. With one out, Meme Moore hit a ground ball to the second baseman who misplayed the grounder, giving the runner at third time to score and leaving Meme Moore safe at first.

With one run on the board, Alexis Cooper stepped up to the plate for the Huskies and hit a ground ball to the shortstop who bobbled the ball and then overthrew first, allowing Meme Moore to advance to third. A passed ball in the next at-bat allowed Moore safely home.

Henderson, who did not give up a run the entire tournament, never faltered on the mound and the Sheldon defense was rock solid behind her.

"This is just great,” sTruesdale said. "These girls have elevated their play every game and have really improved. Jolene and Lindsey led the charge and playing against the best teams just made us get better and everything came together.”

With all the hype surrounding Sheldon, its No.1 ranking, a 10-0 record, and now a Faster to 1st Championship, one would think that the Huskies would be feeling quite a bit of pressure going into league. However, Truesdale says this is not the case.

"There is no pressure,” she stated. "Now we will just take a deep breath, go back and play league games and that will be our focus. All we can control is how we prepare everyday to play these games.”

Truesdale and her squad will head back to Sacarmento, but things won't get much easier for them. They will face Pleasant Grove and Rodriguez, other Faster to 1st tournament teams, later in their schedule.

With a young team, led by Tournament MVP Henderson and Lindsey Ziegenhirt, Truesdale recognized that the team needed some experience in order to ensure that they could get the crucial wins at the end of the season.

"We wanted to play the best competition this season because we knew that the younger players would get better faster. It is crucial for those players to learn and improve quickly in order for us to continue to play at a high level,” said Truesdale.

With five players on the all-tournament Team, including one freshman, Sheldon is a team with an impressive combination of pitching, defense, and offense.

Coach Truesdale, did the girls earn their marbles?

"Yes, they did!”

By Garland Cooper

Huntington Beach, Calif. - In a tournament comprised with 24 of the best teams across the country, one would think that the semifinal game would be a tight, action-packed performance.

The semifinal game between Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) High School and Camarillo (Calif.) High School was far from what was expected.

	Scott Kurtz for ESPN RISE
	Lindsey Ziegenhirt hit a homerun in Sheldon's semifinal win over Camarillo.

From day one, Sheldon proved to be a tough competitor and this semi-final game just solidified that fact. They beat Camarillo 8-0 in five innings to advance to the championship game.

It started early, in the bottom of the second, when freshman, Alexis Cooper, stepped up to the plate and blasted one out of the park with a runner on.

From there, the Husky bats never quieted. The next inning, in the bottom of the third, Lindsey Ziegenhirt followed in Cooper's footsteps and hit a two-run dinger to give Sheldon a big 4-0 lead.

In the fourth, Danielle Henderson almost copied Ziegenhirt and Cooper with a blast over the centerfielder's head. However, with two runners on, Camarillo's centerfielder made a catch over the fence to keep the ball in the park.

Despite the catch, the damage was done. With two runners on, they were both able to tag up and score on Henderson's long ball. This put the Huskies up 6-0 in the fourth.

The next inning Jolene Henderson led off with a double to get the Huskies rallying once again. Henderson then advanced on a wild pitch, but it wouldn't have mattered. Dejanee Moore, a constant threat at the plate, hit a double, scoring Henderson easily.

Meme Moore was the next batter for the Huskies and she made good contact off a pitch thrown by Camarillo hurler, Sarah Shadinger. A groundball was hit at the second baseman, but it was too much for her to handle, and the error allowed Dejanee Moore to score from second.

With that final run, the Huskies went ahead 8-0 and the game ended on run rule.

The Huskies scored three innings, back-to-back, and it was a complete team effort. Danielle Wiltz hit a double and was one for three, Dejanee Moore and Meme Moore were both two for three and Jolene Henderson went two for three as well.

On defense, Jolene Henderson kept the Camarillo batters at bay. Henderson, a force to be reckoned with, allowed no hits from the circle.

Mary Jo Tuesdale, Sheldon's head coach says that the explanation for their success has to do with relaxing and having a good time.

"They're just really coming together and playing loose,” she stated. "They started out just a little tight. We are somewhat inexperienced except for a couple of players, but now that they have seen what they have at this tournament, they are realizing they can play at the next level.”

It is hard to believe that this team has room to improve. They have unstoppable pitching, tight defense, and an offense that would bring fear to any pitcher. Truesdale recognizes how they have improved and will continue to improve throughout the tournament.

"We have been working out the kinks and communicating better every game,” said Truesdale.

The kinks on this team are few and far between.

By Christine Jinbo; Special to ESPN RISE Softball
 
Huntington Beach, Calif. - The Faster to 1st Nationall Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.), featured 24 top teams from six states including Florida and Hawaii.  With the diverse field, it was Canyon and cross-town rival Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) in one of the championship bracket  semi-finals.
 

	Scott Kurtz for ESPN RISE
	Pitcher Cheyanne Tarango led the Canyon High School softball team to victory.

Early game hustle by Esperanza's center fielder, Kristin Scharkey, helped put the Aztecs out front early.  The senior Northwestern commit led off for the Aztecs with a base hit and showed off her wheels as she stole second on a pitch out.  She scored on a shot to left center by freshman Nicole Schroeder and scored again in the third on a stand up double by senior Kailyn Johnson, which put the Aztecs up 2-0.
 
The speedster used her quickness in the field, as she tracked down a fly in short center for a diving catch, which robbed Canyon of a base hit.
 
Quite the opposite, Canyon could not generate any momentum and left four runners stranded in the first three innings.  Canyon coach Dan Hay commented on his team's slow start.
 
"We have consistently started off slow in this tournament, but the girls gained confidence and never gave up.”
 
The Comanches heated up at the plate in the bottom of the fifth, down 2-0 with the clock ticking in the timed semi-final.  With two outs and a runner in scoring position, catcher Shannon Bustillos punched one into right for an RBI and scampered to second on the play at the plate.  
 
The rally continued as pitcher Cheyanne Tarango hit to the gap for a base hit.  With the Comanche bats steaming hot, senior shortstop Briana Gwaltney took one deep to center and Tarango was waved home.  Esperanza's Scharkey came up throwing as Bustillos scored on a bobbled ball at the plate to tie the score 2-2.
 
Esperanza coach Ed Tunstall changed pitchers as he attempted to cool down the Comanches.  With a new hurler on the mound, junior first baseman Taylor Van Acker came to the plate.  With two outs and two runs scored, Van Acker tagged one to right center for a two run double that gave the Comanches the lead, 4-2.  The rally ended on a called third strike by the base umpire on a check swing by freshman Kelly Stowe.
 
Tunstall responded to the barrage with pinch hitter, Kelsea Roth, who hit a solo homerun to center, which brought the score to 4-3.  Tarango countered by plunking the next batter.  In true Tunstall fashion, he called for a sacrifice bunt, which moved the runner to second.  
 
With one out and a runner in scoring position, Tarango sat down the next two batters with consecutive strikeouts.
 
Tarango commented on Roth's solo shot, "Kelsea Roth is a great hitter and I knew that when she came to the plate.  I guess I ended up giving her her pitch.  Give her credit for that, she's a great hitter.”
 
Up by one run in the bottom of the sixth, Hay employed clock managements tactics to ensure a trip to the finals for the Comanches.
 
"First of all, I do not think there should ever be a time limit imposed in high school softball,” said Hay.
 
"That being said, in a tournament of this size, it is necessary so that all the tournament games can be played and the tournament is able to run on time.  So, whenever we have a time limit, it is a factor and another element of the game that needs to be coached and controlled.”

By Garland Cooper

It is hard to imagine a more intense day of softball than day two, but the final day of competition did not disappoint.

In the end it was No. 1 ranked Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) High School who took the title, but not after several close games across the board. Below are the results from the final day of play.

	Scott Kurtz for ESPN RISE
	Sheldon High School takes it all in the finals Saturday night.

Championship Game: Sheldon 2 – Canyon 0
Jolene Henderson had 12 strikeouts in the game and gave up only two hits to shut out Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) High School. She also was two for three at the plate with a double. Danielle Henderson was one for two. For Canyon, Briana Gwaltney was one for three with a triple. Cheyanne Tarango took the loss for Canyon. Sheldon finished the tournament undefeated and improved their record to 10-0.

Semifinal Game: Canyon 4 – Esperanza 3
Cheyanne Tarango took the win on the mound and did well offensively, getting a crucial hit to help Canyon take the lead. Briana Gwaltney had two RBIs and Taylor Van Acker hit a two-run double for the Comanches. For Esperanza (Esperanza, Calif.), Kristin Scharkey had a hit, stolen base, and scored a run. Nicole Schroder had an RBI and Kelsea Roth hit a solor homerun.

Semifinal Game: Sheldon 8 – Camarillo 0
Jolene Henderson pitched a no-hitter and was two for three at the plate and hit a double off the fence. Danielle Wiltz was one for three with a double and Lindsey Ziegenhirt was one for three with a homerun and two RBIs. Dejanee Moore was two for three with a double, Meme Moore was two for three and Alexis Cooper was one for three with a two-run homerun.

Third Place: Esperanza 4 – Camarillo 3
Kailyn Johnson hit a homerun for Esperanza. Kelsea Roth and Alexis Borden split time on the mound. Jennifer Manuel was in the circle for Camarillo.

Consolation Champion: Vista Murrieta 11 – St. Francis 2
It was a team effort at the plate for Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) in the win. For St. Francis (Honolulu, Hawaii), catcher Briana Tovio-Asato hit a two-run homerun in the top of the first inning.

Freedom 7 – Pleasant Grove 0
Hannah Williams was the winning pitcher for Freedom (Oakley, Calif.) and she recorded 14 Ks in her final game of the tournament.

El Modena 4 - Rodriguez 3
Haylie White took the win for El Modena (Orange, Calif.). For Rodriguez (Fairfield, Calif.), Andrinae White was two for three with a triple and two RBIs. Alexis Pickett was two for three with an RBI.

Norco 1 – El Toro 0
Teagan Gerhart had 13 strikeouts and gave up only two hits for Norco (Calif.). She also hit a homerun to win the game.

Carl Sandburg 3 – Sunnyslope 1
Morgan Biel went three for three with two singles, a double and an RBI for Carl Sandburg (Orland Park, Calif.).

Valencia 2 – Pacifica 1
Both teams scored a run in the first inning and the game came to a standstill until the sixth when Valencia pushed one across to seal the win.

Ayala 5 – Hart 4
Pitcher Jessica Hall picked up her third win of the season and went two for three at the plate. Nikki Chavez was two for three as well with two RBIs. Nani St. Germainwas one for three with two RBIs ad Natalie Martinez went two for three and scored two runs.

Sunrise Mountain 4 – West Orange 1
Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.) pitcher Dani Bonnet had two hits and eight strikeouts in the game. Destinee Deherrera went two for three with a double and a homerun.

Vista Murrieta 6 – Sunnyslope 0
Vista Murrieta started to warm up the bats in the last day of the tournament. They started early, scoring a run in the first inning. They rallied in the fourth to score two and then again in the fifth to plate 3.

Piedra Vista 2 – Simi Valley 3
Pitcher Jennifer Soria picked up her first win of the season for Simi Valley (Calif.). Third baseman Callie Grant had three clutch line drive catches to help on defense.

Carl Sandburg 2 – St. Francis 3
Carl Sandburg was up 2-1 until the fifth when St. Francis scored two to go ahead and take the win.

Pleasant Grove 4 – Rodriguez 2
Ally Carda pitched for Pleasant Grove and gave up only two hits and struck out 12. She also was one for two with a homerun. Kristen Willmon had a RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to tie up the game and Allison Kendrix hit a single to plate two runs and give Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.) the lead. For Rodriguez, Kiara Garcia was one for four and Alexis Pickett was one for two.

Freedom 2 – El Modena 1
Hannah Williams had six Ks on the win. Susan Robertson squeezed in the sixth to tie the game. Katie Wood hit the game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

El Toro 3 – Valencia 2
Emily Waters took the win on the mound for El Toro (lake Forest, Calif.). Lauren Chamberlain hit a walk-off homerun for El Toro and Brooke Bell was three for three and scored a run. Christy Roberts was two for three and also scored a run in the win.

Cienega 4 - Simi Valley 0
Cienega (Vail, Ariz.) scored all four of their runs in the first inning,  which proved to be enough to take the win. Amanda Oliveto took the loss on the mound.

Norco 4 - Pacifica 0
Teagan Gerhart  threw a no-hitter and was also three for three at the plate.

Hart 3 - Sunrise Mountain 2
This was a close one until the end. In the eighth inning, Hart (Newhall, Calif.) was able to push two to go ahead and take the win.

Chino 1 - Piedra Vista 0
One run in the third inning was all it took for Chino to take the win over Piedra Vista.

Ayala 5 – West Orange 1
Jessica Hall picked up her eighth win on the season and struck out six. She also doubled in a run in the fifth. Amy Ricciardi picked up an RBI on a squeeze in the third and doubled in a run in the fifth.

***********************

 

	Scott Kurtz for ESPN RISE
	Tournament MVP, Jolene Henderson.

2009 Faster to 1st All Tournament Team
Jolene Henderson – P - Sheldon High School - Tournament MVP
Danielle Henderson – 3B – Sheldon High School
Lindsey Ziegenhirt – C – Sheldon High School
Danielle Wiltz – CF – Sheldon High School
Dejanee Moore – 2B – Sheldon High School
Cheyanne Tarango – P – Canyon High School
Shannon Bustillos – C – Canyon High School
Taylor Van Acker – 1B – Canyon High School
Briana Gwaltney – SS – Canyon High School
Kailyn Johnson – 1B – Esperanza High School
Kristin Scharkey – CF – Esperanza High School
AC Borden – P – Esperanza High School
Jennifer Manuel – P – Camarillo High School
Sarah Shadinger – P – Camarillo High School
Hannah Williams – P – Freedom High School
Ally Carda – P – Pleasant Grove High School
Haylie Wagner – P – El Modena High School
Teanna Brooks – 3B – Rodriguez High School
Teagan Gerhart – P – Norco High School
Briana Tovio-Asato – C – St. Francis High School
Madison Shipman – SS – Valencia High School
Brooke Bell – OF – El Toro High School
Alexis Villamor – OF – Vista Murrieta High School

Faster to 1st W/L Records
Sheldon: 5-0
Canyon: 4-1
Esperanza: 4-1    
Camarillo: 3-2    
Freedom: 4-1
Pleasant Grove: 3-2
El Modena: 3-2
Rodriguez: 1-4
Norco:  4-1
Vista Murrieta:  3-2

Remaining W/L Records:
St Francis: 2-3
El Toro: 2-3        
Valencia: 3-2        
Pacifica: 2-3        
Ayala: 3-2    
Hart: 3-2    
West Orange:1-4        
Sunrise Mountain: 2-3
Carl Sandburg: 3-2  
Sunnyslope: 1-4
Cienega: 2-3  
Piedra Vista: 2-3
Chino: 1-4      
Simi Valley: 1-4   


Email: garland@studentsports.com with questions and comments!

by Garland Cooper

The battle raged since before anyone can remember. A battle about which region of California is more dominating, the North or the South.

The South has Mexican food and famous surf while the North has trolleys and beautiful hills. The real question is: which region has the best softball?

At the ball field on Friday night, the debate raged on. In four games there was a Northern Calif., team competing against a Southern Calif., team. El Modena  (Orange, Calif.) faced Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.). Camarillo and Freedom (Oakley, Calif.) matched up as was Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) and Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) and Rodriguez (Fairfield, Calif.).

All of these teams made it through to the quarterfinal round. The winners of these games would compete in the semifinal on Saturday and one of them would be the ultimate champion.

The score ended on Friday with the South winning the North vs. South debate with three out of the four wins in the quarterfinal round. The North, however, did not go down without a fight.

Sheldon High School was the only Northern Calif., team to win a quarterfinal game. Jolene Henderson was a force to be reckoned with for the Huskies. She is undefeated in the tournament and has not recorded less than 11 strikeouts in each of her wins. She is supported by teammate Lindsey Ziegenhirt, who is her catcher, and a big hitter for the Huskies. Ziegehirt was the hero in a tight, extra inning game in which she hit a walk-off homerun with two outs in the seventh inning.

Camarillo proved that they can play with the best, and they have done so with depth on the mound. Despite her youth, freshman Sarah Shadinger is pitching with the experience of a senior. She continues to keep games close for her team, which helped lead them to the semifinals. Jennifer Manuel also is in the circle for Camarillo and has continued to win games for Scorpions not only with her pitching, but with her hitting as well.

Canyon's all-star Cheyanne Tarango performed on the mound and at the plate. The Tennessee-bound sophomore took all the team's wins in the circle and is a threat at the plate. She hit a homerun and has several extra base hits in the tournament.

Lastly, Esperanza also has the ability to split their pitching with Chelsey Anderson and Alexis Borden, which gives them an edge over much of the competition. They have had offensive support throughout their lineup, and senior Kristin Sharkey leads the team with her rare ability to hit for power and for speed.

It was determined Friday night in Huntington Beach that, in the Faster to 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) High School, that the South wins over the North. However, Sheldon still has a chance to come back and take the championship trophy back to NorCal. The same championship that eluded them a year ago.

Which is the better region? The debate will never end, but for one night, the South reigned victorious over the North.
 

By Garland Cooper

Day two of the Faster to 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) High School followed the dramatic theme established on the opening day of the tournament.

Ten of the 16 games played were decided by one run and seven of the games went into extra innings. At the end of the day it is Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.), Sheldon (Sacremento, Calif.), Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) and Camarillo (Calif.) in the semifinal games Saturday. Stay tuned and find out who takes the title!

Piedra Vista 2 – Rodriguez 1
Channel Ewing scored two runs, Aurelia Sandoval went two for two, and Marissa Ellis had two RBIs for Piedra Vista. Despite the loss, Rodriguez was tough at the plate. Teanna Brooks went 3-for-3 and Andriana Collins tallied the only RBI for the team. Kiara Garcia, Cheyenne Cordes, and Nia Cesar all had a hit in the game.

Camarillo 2 - Cienega 1 
This barnburner lasted eight innings. Freshman Sarah Shadinger took the win on the mound and, despite a great pitching performance, Alexa Cash was the losing pitcher for Cienega.

Freedom 3 - Carl Sandburg 1
There was no score until the eighth inning when both teams got on the board. Freedom's Hannah Williams had 11 Ks on the mound to lead the team defensively. Susan Robertson and Chrissy Stalf led the push on offense with RBI singles in extra innings to put Freedom (Oakley, Calif.) on top.

Sunrise Mountain 8 – Chino 2
Dani Bonnet was on the mound for Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.) and had six strikeouts on the game. She also performed at the plate with four hits. Mickayla Heller was 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the game.

Sunnyslope 1 - Piedra Vista 0
Nora Maschue took the win on the mound to shutout Piedra Vista (Farmington, N.M.). Demetra Hamill was perfect at the plate with a double for Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Chelsea Yankolovich was two for four with a stolen base. Piedra Vista's Karista Donisthorpe was three for four in the leadoff spot.

	SCOTT KURTZ/ESPN RISE
	Lindsey Ziegenhirt is a big hitter for the Sheldon High School Huskies.

Carl Sandburg 4 - Cienega 3
In the eight-inning game, Emma Farrell went 3-for-4 with a walk and one run scored for Carl Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.).

Vista Murrieta 4 – Chino 3
In the bottom of the seventh, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) played textbook softball to rally and defeated Chino (Calif.). Alexis Villamor led off with a double for the Broncos, bringing Sierra Romero to the plate. Romero laid down a bunt and Chino overthrew first base, scoring Villamor from second. With the game tied and Romero on second base, Taylor Edwards hit a shot to the shortstop, moving the runner to third. With two outs and the winning run at third base, big hitter Tatum Edwards shut the door with a hard groundball up the third baseline, scoring the final run and sealing the deal for the Broncos.

St. Francis 2 - Simi Valley 1
St. Francis (Honolulu, Hawaii) took their first win in the tournament in an eight-inning battle with Simi Valley (Calif.). All of the runs from both teams were scored in the final inning of the game.

Camarillo 1 - Freedom 0
Jennifer Manuel was the hero for Camarillo (Calif.), pitching all seven innings and driving in the only run in the first inning. Hannah Williams had 10 Ks in the loss and allowed no earned runs. Malena Padilla had two hits for Freedom (Oakley, Calif.).

Sheldon 4 – El Modeno 0
Jolene Henderson threw a no-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts for the Huskies. She also was 1-for-2 at the plate with a double. Lindsey Ziegenhirt remains solid in the lineup going 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI. Dejanee Moore also was two for three with an impressive three RBIs.

Norco 2 – Ayala 1
Teagan Gerhart was the star for Norco (Calif.) pitching all eight innings of the game, allowing only two hits, and striking out nine. She also drove in the winning run for the Cougars. Jessica Hall took the loss for Ayala (Chino Hills, Calif.).

Pacifica 1 – West Orange 0
In a tight game, pitcher Krystian Dewitt held strong, striking out 11 and allowing no earned runs for Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.). Cheyenne Mascarenas drove in the winning run in the eighth. For West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), Taylor Fawbush had 10 Ks in eight innings and allowed two hits. She also was 1-for-4 at the plate.

Esperanza 3 - Pleasant Grove 1
Alexis Borden was the winning pitcher for Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.). At the plate, Vanessa Weaver had an RBI and speedster Jasmine Lee had two stolen bases and scored two runs.

Canyon 4 - Rodriguez 0
Cheyanne Tarango took the win for Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) giving up only two hits and striking out 11. She also had an RBI double to score the first run of the game. Taylor Van Acker was 2-for-3. Andrinae White and Kiara Garcia were the only hits for Rodriguez (Fairfield, Calif.).

Valencia 4 – Sunrise Mountain 1
For Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), Brigette DelPonte was 3-for-4 with a double and a homerun.

Hart 3 – El Toro 2
Lauren Chamberlain tripled for El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.) in the top of the seventh to tie up the game, 1-1. Emily Henry came the plate for Hart (Newhall, Calif.) in the bottom of the eighth and hit a two-run double to end the game.

 

By Garland Cooper

The Faster To 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) High School, kicked off in Huntington Beach, Calif., Thursday. The opening day saw Canyon High's own Cheyanne Torango crack two homers and pitch a two-hitter.

Esperanza 2 – Sunrise Mountain 1
Chelsey Anderson was the winning pitcher for Esperanza. She went eight innings and gave up four hits. Kailynn Johnson hit a double to tie the game and then scored the winning run. Kelsea Roth went two for three.

Freedom 1 – Norco 0
Hannah Williams had ten strikeouts for Freedom and catcher Susan Robertson had the only two hits of the game. Malena Padilla laid down a crucial suicide squeeze to score Jackie Zepada from third. Despite the loss, Teagan Gerhart pitched a complete game for Norco, had 12 strikeouts and gave up only two hits.

	Scott Kurtz
	Cheyanne Tarango homered twice and picked up the win on the mound for Canyon.

Sheldon 3 – Pacifica 0
Jolene Henderson recorded 12 Ks, walked none, and allowed only one hit. Offensively, it was a team effort. Danille Wiltz went two for three with an RBI, Dejanee Moore and Amber Glenn went one for two, and Kristen Gray was one for two with an RBI. For Pacifica, Krystian Dewitt was the losing pitcher, but only gave up five hits and one earned run. Jamie Prussic was one for three.

Canyon 2 – Sunnyslope 1
Cheyanne Tarango took the win on the mound. She gave up two hits, walked none and struck out 13. Lauren Young was two for three with an RBI and Heather Kock was two for four. Nora Maschue fought hard and struck out nine in the game and Madison Collura contributed offensively going one for three with an RBI.

Pleasant Grove 3 - Vista Murrieta 1
Ally Carda took the win on the mound with 14 Ks and only two hits allowed. In the top of the fourth Kirsten Willmon squeezed to score Nicole Hutchins. Haley Willmon went two for three with a triple, and Nicole Hutchins was also two for three. Krystal Camina had an RBI single to give Pleasant Grove the lead for good.

Camarillo 1 – Ayala 0
For Camarillo, Jen Manuel had a double and an RBI. She also took the win on the mound. Mary Massei went two for three with a double in the fourth inning for Ayala.

El Modena 2 – West Orange 1
Haylie Wagner struck out a whopping twenty batters and gave up only two hits in nine innings for El Modena. Losing pitcher Taylor Fawbush struck out ten and gave up five hits. At the plate Fawbush had a double and an RBI.

Rodriguez 4 – Hart 1
Andriana Collins took the win on the mound for Rodriguez with seven Ks. Alexis Pickett went one for two with an RBI and Cheyenee Cordes was two for three with a double. Teanna Brooks went one for three with a double in the bottom of the first inning that scored two.

El Toro 3 – Sunnyslope 2
It was homerun derby for El Toro who had two hitters go yard in the game. Shannon Tinsley hit a two-run homerun in the fourth inning and MacKenzie Teskey hit a walk-off homerun in the seventh. Emily Waters was the winning pitcher for El Toro. Nora Maschue took the loss for Sunnyslope. Maschue did well at the plate going two for two with an RBI. Demetra Hamill was one for three with an RBI.

Pacifica 7 – Simi Valley 1
Kayla Anderson went three for four with an RBI for Pacifica. Taylor Cartwright singled in Simi's only run. Nicole Adair was two for three and scored Simi Valley's only run.

Valencia 2 – Vista Murrieta 1
Lauren Boser was two for two with two RBI for Valencia. Carly Mortenson took the win in the circle. Despite the loss, Tatum Edwards fanned 11.

St. Francis 7 – West Orange 0
Taylor Fawbush pitched the shutout and was two for four at the plate with two RBIs. Molly Billue was two for three with one RBI for West Orange. Koki Shealee had a double for St. Francis and Kelcee Santos had two stolen bases.

Esperanza 8 – Chino 1
Esperanza had a homerun in the first two innings. In the first, Kailyn Johnson hit a two-run bomb, and Kristin Scharkey hit a three-run dinger in the second inning.

Norco 1 – Carl Sandburg 0
This game was a pitcher's duel until the end. Both pitchers pitched a complete nine-inning game. Teagan Gerhart pitched a one-hitter and recorded and impressive 17 strikeouts in the win for Norco. Brittany Gardner gave up three hits and struck out 16.

Sheldon 2 – Simi Valley 0
Jolene Henderson gave up only one hit and fanned 13 in the win. Danielle Henderson was two for three with a double. Lindsey Ziegenhirt was two for three with a walk-off two-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh. Sophia Perez allowed two unearned runs for Simi Valley. Kelli-Jo Killingsworth had Simi's only hit.

Canyon 4 – El Toro 0
Cheyanne Tarango took the win on the circle with nine Ks and hit a two-run homerun in the first inning.

Pleasant Grove 4 – Valencia 3
Alyson Tiumalu hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth and was one for two in the game. Ally Carda was two for four with a triple and a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the eighth.

Hart 4 – Piedra Vista 1
Hart improved to 10-1 on the season. Destiny Rodino took the win on the mound. Despite the loss, Piedra Vista had some impressive offense. Channel Ewing hit a solo homerun in the top of the third. Ewing and Sheisha Yazzie were both two for three in the game.

Ayala 5 – Cienega 0
Jessica Hall took the win for Ayala and allowed only one hit. Nikki Chavez hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the third and Mary Massei hit a double in the bottom of the fourth.

El Modena 5 – St. Francis 3
Miranda Islas hit a solo homerun in the third inning for El Modena.

By Garland Cooper

It looks like this will be another competitive year for the Faster to 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Calif.) Anaheim H.S. With the tournament just over a week away, several athletes from high schools entered in the Faster to 1st Tournament are shining on the field. Below are just a few of this week's highlights from athletes that will be playing in Faster to 1st.

*****

 

	SCOTT KURTZ
	Jessica Shults, catcher and big hitter for Hart High School.

Teagan Gerhart of Norco High School pitched a one-hitter in the opening round of the Bullhead Tournament in Ariz. She also recorded 14Ks in the 2-0 win over Chapparral High School out of Scottsdale, Ariz. In the semis Gerhart threw another shutout and hit a homerun in a 4-0 win over Los Alamitos.

Sophia Perez for Simi Valley High School threw a 1-0 shutout against Royal in the Suzanne Manlet Invitational championship game. She allowed only three hits and struck out 12 in the game. In a previous tournament game, she pitched another 1-0 shutout in eight innings against Pacifica. For her efforts she was named the MVP of the tournament.

Camarillo's star freshman, Sarah Shadinger, had a good week. She struck out nine in an eight innings shutout against Garden Grove on Tuesday.

Senior Jessica Shults for Hart High School homered in the semi final and final game of the Hart Classic Tournament. She was named a Co-MVP of the tournament. Earlier in the week the catcher went four for four with a homerun and three RBI in a 17-2 win over Moorpark.

 

Keep checking in for more Faster to 1st updates!

Today we take a look at two more teams coming to the Faster to 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Calif.) Anaheim H.S., in Huntington Beach, Calif. March 26-28.

This tournament is filled with top teams from all over the nation. Today we take a look at Reed High School out of Sparks, Nev. and Freedom High School from Oakley, Calif.

Faster to 1st Team: Freedom High School, Oakley, Calif.

Head Coach: Jeff Jonas

Assistant Coaches: Mike Wiley, Russ Mashore, Riannon Thomas, Amanda Williams

2008 Record: 26-2

Returning Starters (#): 9

Key returnees/transfers:
Hannah Williams (P), Susan Robertson, Chrissy Stalf

Key team accomplishments ('08):
2008 North Coast Section Champs

Softball history highlights:
2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000 NCS Champions

Famous Alums (athletes & non-athletes):
Joey Daniels – Wisconsin
Riannon Thomas – Fairfield
Sam Rodriguez – Marshall
Amanda Williams – Arizona
Sam Bias – Reno
Jessica Gardner – Georgia
Shannon Thomas – Texas

Team strengths: Pitching and defense.

Areas to improve: Hitting.

Faster to 1st team: Reed High School, Sparks, Nev.

Head Coach: Ray J. Charles

2008 record: 30-16

Returning starters (#): 6

Key returnees/transfers:
Chelsea Cohen, Tia Wunder, Brooke Silva

Team strengths: Very tough pitching, and tough defense.

Stay tuned for more Faster to 1st updates!

By Garland Cooper

With the Faster to 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Calif.) Anaheim H.S., right around the corner, we will be highlighting some of the teams that will be playing in this year's event. Below are two teams that will be competing for the championship on March 28.

*****

Faster to 1st Team: Sunrise Mountain High School, Peoria, Ariz.

Head Coach: Nick Rizer

Assistant Coaches: Brian Woolsey, Mary Nevins, Amy Johnson

2008 Record: 34-2

Returning Starters (#): 6

Key returnees/transfers:
Jamie LaBovick, Brigette DelPonte, Mickayla Heller, Dani Bonnet, Destinee DeHererra, Taylor Rauscher

Key team accomplishments ('08):
Region Champs
Dorado Classic Champs
5A-II State Champs

Softball history highlights:
State Runner-up 2004
State Champs 2006
State Champs 2008

Team strengths: Strong pitching and hitting.

Faster to 1st team: Camarillo High School, Camarillo, Calif.

Head Coach: Jack Willard

Assistant Coaches: Brooke Lambert, Nichole Pineda, Beth Boskovich

2008 record: 21-10 overall, 8-2 league

Returning starters (#): 4

Key returnees/transfers:
Lindsey Helland (INF), Amanda Soedjadi (OF), Kristie Dederick (1B), Jennifer Manuel (P/1B), Chelsee Howard (INF), Ciara Becerril (P)

Key team accomplishments ('08):
Seventh straight league championship (Pacific View League)

Softball history highlights:
Every Camarillo shortstop from the year 1987 to the present has earned a Division I scholarship.

Famous alums (athletes and non-athletes):
Jessica Mendoza – Stanford/All-American/Olympian
Cambria Miranda – Oregon State/All-American

Team strengths:
"We have a lot of competition for spots all over the field. Our pitching should be solid.”
- Head Coach Jack Willard

Areas to improve:
"We need to prove we can hit quality pitching.”
- Head Coach Jack Willard

By Garland Cooper

ESPN RISE is proud to announce the second annual Nike Faster to 1st Tournament, hosted by Canyon (Calif.) High School!

We received a great deal of positive feedback after last year's tournament. Almost all high school coaches and fastpitch followers agreed that this tournament had the greatest collection of high school talent assembled in one event.

	SCOTT KURTZ
	Last year's winner, Pembroke Pines Charter High School out of Fla..

Last year's coaches were impressed with the new event. Rick Robinson, head coach at Norco High School, stated, "I like the tournament, I like the competition. There's quality teams from all over…I liked the way this was run, there were some other activities, the SPARQ Testing, it made it more of a festival.”

Mary Jo Truesdale who coaches at Sheldon High School, shared her opinion. "Overall it was a great experience for us. The competition was the best we have ever faced. It was very well run and everyone was so nice. I hope we have the opportunity to see them again, it's the nicest tournament we have ever been in!”

The great games that were played certainly contributed to the overall strength of the tournament. In the end, it was Pembroke Pines Charter High School out of Pembroke Pines, Fla. who took the title, defeating Sheldon High School in the championship game.

This year, we are looking to make the tournament bigger and better. Once again, many of the best teams in the nation are attending the tournament. There are 24 teams representing seven states including: Calif., Ariz., Hawaii, Nev., N.M., Ill., and Fla. Of the teams attending, 14 were ranked in the ESPN RISE Preseason FAB 50 National Rankings including Sheldon High School who is the No. 1 team in the country.

The tournament runs March 26-28 at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Keep checking in for Faster to 1st updates as well as profiles of the teams in this year's tournament!

	COURTESY OF JT TIUMALU
	Christina Montoya.

CA Grapettes Gold 2010 infielder and outfielder, Christina Montoya, has committed to attend the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Montoya committed to Coach Pete Manarino, February 19, 2009. The Rebels play in the highly competitive Mountain West Conference.

When asked why she chose UNLV, Montoya explained, "I picked UNLV because Coach Pete and Coach Panita made me feel like a member of their family the moment I stepped on the campus. It felt like home away from home. Also UNLV'S academic support for it's student athletes is incredible.”

Chris chose UNLV over Cal Poly, Oregon State, UOP, University of Nevada-Reno, and San Jose State.

By Garland Cooper

 

We have now reviewed the top ten teams from 2008 in the FAB 50 National Rankings. These are the last two until the preseason FAB 50 comes out! Keep checking in for 2009 rankings!

 *****

NO. 9 VALENCIA HIGH SCHOOL, CALIF.

Valencia out of Calif. has won back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008. This year, however, they have lost some key players in their line-up.

First of all, Jessica Spigner, who not only pitched for them but also was a force at the plate, will not longer be there to lead the team. She was EA Sport's Player of the Year for 2008 and took that team all the way to the championship.

On top of Spigner, Valencia loses Lelani Bernardino and Madison Shipman. Those two were tough outs and Shipman led the infield at shortstop and Bernardino took control of the outfield. Without these three, Valencia will have a tougher time in their pursuit of another championship.

Valencia will look to senior catcher, Amy Moore, to lead the team. She, like the three graduates, can scare opposing pitchers. She will be the key to this Valencia team and taking them deep into playoffs.

*****

NO. 10 SIMI VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, CALIF.

Simi Valley had a an amazing season last year going undefeated until the final game against Valencia which resulted in a second place finish.

They return their starting pitcher, Amanda Oliveto, which will be key in their success this year. This team also has some pitchers behind Oliveto and that depth should give them an advantage as well.

They also return a couple of players who can perform at the plate. Brianna Stephan was .398 at the plate for Simi Valley last year and Amber Olive hit .358. They do, however, lose some key seniors like Sam Fischer, who led the team last year offensively and was an obvious leader last year.

In all, Simi Valley will have what it takes to get to the final game as long as some underclassmen step up and take leadership roles. After last year's disappointing end to a perfect season, they are definitely looking for revenge.
 

 

By Garland Cooper

	COURTESY OF THE TARANGO FAMILY
	Cheyanne Tarango.

Cheyanne Tarango, a 2011 graduate out of Canyon High School and the Worth Firecrackers in Calif., has committed to play at the University of Tennessee.

Tarango has established herself as one of the most dominant pitchers in her age group. Last year, as a freshman, Tarango earned numerous post-season honors including First Team All County, County Player of the Year, First Team All State Underclassman, first Team All League and Second Team all CIF. She was also the MVP of her team and the Cypress Tournament and made the All Tournament Team at the NIKE Faster to First tournament and the Michelle Carew Classic.

Her freshman year she recorded a 1.57 ERA with an impressive 290 strikeouts in 187 innings pitched. She also was .357 at the plate.

This year she will play her sophomore year with Canyon High School and will be a force for the Worth Firecrackers. Keep an eye on this future Lady Vol!
 

By Garland Cooper

One thing that high school athletes worry about is how they will perform at the next level. Things are different in college, the girls get a little bit bigger, the bats have a little bit more pop, and the pitchers have a little bit more stank on the ball.

One high school standout that obviously is no longer worried about how she will pan out her freshman year of college is Whitney Canion.

Canion is now at Baylor and earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors her first week on the mound.

The award was well deserved. The freshman plowed through No.1 Florida batters this past weekend like it was her job. She pitched a shutout and struck out ten, allowing only three hits in the seven-inning nail biter, which they eventually won 1-0.

A pretty impressive outing for her first weekend at the collegiate level.

Another freshman that shook things up last weekend was Lisa Akamine who is now a member of the Penn State squad but who played for the Worth Firecrackers in Calif. last summer.

She pitched, played in the outfield, and hit for the Nittany Lions on their first weekend. In her first outing Akamine performed at the plate for the Nittany Lions. However, the result was a 1-0 loss to Wagner. Shortly after, in her second game as a collegiate athlete, she went two for four and took the save on the mound in a 4-2 win over Western Michigan.

The next day against Arizona State Akamine was one for four with two RBI. Despite her efforts, however, Penn State lost in a close 4-3 game. In the final game of the weekend Akamine got her first win on the mound against Bakersfield; the Lions crushed them 13-1.

Despite a mediocre 2-2 record on their first weekend, Akamine was a standout for Penn State. She performed with the experience of a junior or senior, performing at the plate and contributing in the outfield and on the mound.

Think about it, last year these athletes were preparing for their high school season just like some of you…maybe you will be the superstar of your college team!

Check in for more updates on former high school superstars!

By Garland Cooper

 WEST COAST COMMITMENT

	COURTESY OF JT TIUMALU
	Keri Ball.

Grapettes Coach Dennis Gomes, announced the commitment of CA Grapettes Gold 2010 pitcher and infielder, Keri Ball, to New Mexico State University. Keri committed to Coach Kathy Rodolf, February 3, 2009. The Aggies play in the highly competitive Western Athletic Conference.

When asked why she chose New Mexico State, Ball explained, "I chose New Mexico State University because I felt very comfortable with the school, coaches and players during my visit.  The academic support and the facilities at NMSU are outstanding.   Coach Rodolph and her staff are building something great at NMSU and I wanted to be part of it."

Ball chose New Mexico State over Western Kentucky, UC Santa Barbara, Indiana University, University of Pennsylvania, UOP, and the University of Nevada-Reno.

 

 

 

*****

EAST COAST COMMITMENT

Bree Tanke, a 2010 graduate and first baseman/outfielder from East Coast Elite Gold, verballed to Boston College.
 

 

 

Do you have any news and updates? ESPN RISE wants to know! Email Garland@studentsports.com.

By Garland Cooper

	ESPN RISE
	Baillie Kirker is one of the atheltes in line to beat the record this year.

Last year Perelini Koria broke the career homerun record for the state of Calif. Now she is a Wildcat at the Univ. of Arizona. She set the record at 45 career homeruns, but there are three juniors on her tail. They are: Alia Williams (37), Shawna Wright (36), and Baillie Kirker (36).

Many of you may have the opportunity to break records and continue to play in college. Below are some questions we asked Koria after she broke the record and some advice she has to give to all of you who may be in her shoes!

...

(Read full post)

By Garland Cooper

Below is a picture of Kristin Scharkey of the So Cal Explosion Gold. The 2009 centerfielder is seen breaking through a fence to save a run.

The Northwestern bound Scharkey is a slapper as well and is known for her ability to bounce the ball, bunt and hit for power; a true triple-threat. She has led her high school and club teams in almost all offensive categories.

Her speed and offensive skill coupled with her guts and precision in the outfield makes her one of the top outfielders at the Gold level.

 

	COURTESY OF BRET DENIO
	Scharkey goes all out to keep one in the park.

By Garland Cooper

Sacramento Sheldon will be a team to beat this season. Last year they finished fourth in the FAB 50, and this year they should, once again, be towards the top.

They return their pitcher-catcher combo with Jolene Henderson on the mound and Lindsey Ziegenhirt behind the plate.

They both were ESPN/Under Armour All-Americans last year and they received several post-season honors after leading the team to a state championship. This year they will return and are expected to take this team deep into the playoffs.

Keep an eye on the Huskies, they will be national champion contenders with their Cal-bound battery.
 

Questions or comments? Email: garland@studentsports.com

By Garland Cooper

This weekend at the 18 Gold Classification Tournament in Fontana, Calif., the SoCal Wicked-Limon had a couple of impressive outings.

In one game against Strike Force-Tim they won 9-1. The winning pitcher was Alexa Limon who showed her strength on the mound. Ariel Tsuchiyama hit a double and Kasey Lange had three RBI to lead the offensive push.

In another game, gainst the Raiders, Limon once again was an all-star on the mound for Wicked. The offense really pulled together and performed well in this game and gave Limon some security on the mound.

Lauren Guy hit a homerun and both Megan Coletta and Reina Gaber recorded doubles in the game. Tsuchiyama had another great game offensively going three for three and Gaber, Guy, and Alexis Cacioppo were two for four. Coletta recorded three RBI and Jocelin Whitmore had two in the 7-3 win for the Wicked.

 

Do you have any updates or know players that have performed exceptionally well? 

 Email results to: garland@studentsports.com

 By Garland Cooper

This weekend in Fontana, Calif. in the So Cal ASA Gold Classification Tournament, many 18 u teams battled to be recognized as Gold.

The first 16 to qualify were:

American Pastime Gold

SoCal Breakers - Brant

USA Athletics

Mizuno Pride

SoCal Wicked - Limon

3rd Degree

Bomb Squad

SoCal Magic

Bustos Elite

Power Surge Gold

OC Elite

Team Anderson

SD Renegades - Tillett

Firecrackers - Ristow

SoCal Slider

Irvine Sting

*Note: There were eight more that qualified in the loser's bracket as well, these were the first 16 in Southern California.

By Garland Cooper

	COURTESY OF BRET DENIO
	Melanie Nichols.

Melanie Nichols is a 2009 graduate who plays for the So Cal Explosion Gold and San Jacinto High School.

The pitcher has signed to attend Ohio State in the fall. She throws in the mid to upper 60s with good movement on her ball. Last summer she led the Explosion to a fourth pace finish at ASA Nationals.

With her high school team she recorded a 0.63 ERA her junior season and kept opponents to a measly .120 batting average. She also ended the season with an impressive 251 Ks.

Look for Nichols with San Jacinto this season and with the Explosion this summer. With her help, both teams have a good chance of winning some major ballgames and seeing some post season action.
 

By Garland Cooper

Teagan Gerhart is one of the top pitchers in the country. She currently plays for the OC Batbusters and Norco High School in Calif. and has signed with Stanford. Teagan is a triplet and she plays with her two sisters, Whitney and Kelsey. Kelsey will join Teagan at Stanford next year as a walk on. Their brother, Toby, already is a football player for the Cardinal.

We were able to spend some time with the PAC-10 bound all-star and learn about her decision to join the Cardinal roster in 2009.

*****

	ESPN RISE
	Teagan Gerhart.

Q: Congratulations on signing with Stanford! What was it about the school that made you want to join the program?
A: I like that it is challenging academically and athletically. I also love the outdoors and my older brother is there.

Q: Did you do anything special after you signed?
A: I signed with my sister and six others at my high school. There was a ceremony in the morning and then that night we celebrated with my family.

Q: How does it feel to be signed and finally make it official?
A: It feels good knowing it is done. It was tough in the beginning because I was battling between two college rivals but I didn't know if I had gotten into Stanford yet.

Q: What other schools were recruiting you?
A: Cal and Florida.

Q: Where did you take your trips?
A: I went to Cal and Stanford.

Q: On the trips, what made Stanford stand out?
A: I liked the girls and the coaches made me feel welcome. I really liked the environment.

Q: What factors did you consider when looking at a college?
A: I looked at the amount of pitching time I would get as well as how the coaches change the pitchers when they get there. I also wanted good academics; I didn't care about the record of the team.

Q: How was the recruiting process?
A: It was really hard and I was pressured a lot. I had people telling me if I didn't commit they would pull the offer off of the table. It was stressful! I only had a week left with the other schools and I didn't know if I had gotten into Stanford.

Q: What was most important in your decision making process?
A: Academics.

Q: Where you and your two sisters planning on going to school together?
Actually the other two (Kelsey and Whitney) planned to go together and I was going to go separately. Having my sister (Kelsey) with me, and my brother (Toby) already there was not a deciding factor for me, but it did make it easier.

Q: Looking forward, what is it that excites you most about getting to Stanford next fall?
A: I'll just be happy to finally be in college! I'll be glad to get away from the high school drama, and high school and travel ball can be so repetitive!

Q: How are you preparing for college?
A: I'm just working on maintaining and working out a lot. My dad is a football coach, so I work out a lot!

Q: Is it hard to stay focused and not look ahead?
A: It is hard, but at the same time now I can relax a little bit.

Q: What are your priorities for the rest of the year?
A: Just to keep strong, stay healthy, and keep my grades up. I have to take a certain amount of classes, so I need to stay on top of them.

By Garland Cooper

This past weekend at the Surf City Winter Showcase the So Cal Athletics Gold played the NJ Intensity Gold in a close nail biter.

	ESPN RISE
	Brittany O'Donnell of the NJ Intensity at her future college, Notre Dame.

The Athletics started off strong in the first, scoring one run to put them ahead. Samantha Pappas, the leadoff hitter and DP for the Athletics, nailed a double to get on base. From there she stole third and then scored on an overthrow to third base. She ended up going two for two and being hit by a pitch, reaching base all three of her at bats.

Brittany O'Donnell was on the mound for the Intensity and after giving up that leadoff double, she focused in and held the Athletics. She recorded five Ks in only three innings before Jordan Wheatley came in to pitch in the fourth.

The Athletics showed strength on the mound as well with Carly Hummel. She pitched the whole game and recorded nine Ks in six innings. She held a tough Intensity line-up, but threw one pitch that changed the course of the game.

Hummel let one hang and Amy Buntin on the Intensity cranked it out of the park with a runner on base. The Intensity went ahead for the first time in the bottom of the third, 2-1.

Wheatley held the Athletics on the mound and had some stellar performances behind her that also helped them maintain their lead. Right fielder Tyler Weil made a diving catch in the outfield to save a run in the fourth.

In the sixth the Intensity once again changed pitchers and put in Cara Stetcher to close out the game. With a nasty drop ball, Stetcher did a good job of getting the ball on the ground for her defense.  However, the defense faltered for the first time in the game and made two errors in the sixth. Due to those errors, the Athletics were able to string something together in the last inning and tie it up.

The game ended in a tie, but both teams had shown moments of strength. There were great performances offensively, defensively, and on the mound throughout the game; a great display of softball!