2013 Softball Preview - In It To Win It

This year has all the makings of something special

CARSON -- "One more win." That's all that separated the Cal State Dominguez Hills softball team last season from winning its first-ever NCAA West Region title and making its first trip to the NCAA Championships. And that "one more win" will be the motivating factor for the 2013 Toros, who lost just two seniors from the 2012 squad that shared the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season title and earned the top seed in the CCAA Tournament.

Led by reigning CCAA Coach of the Year in Jim Maier, now in his 13th year, the Toros welcome back the core of their squad in senior aces Stephanie Jimenez and Lauren Harper, and the left side of their infield in Jessica Hall and Christina Chavez, a quartet that combined for four All-Region, four Players/Pitchers of the Week, and three All-CCAA nods, including a CCAA Newcomer of the Year honor for Chavez, who belted a team-best 6 home runs on the year.

But nothing this season will be assumed for the ever-humble and pragmatic Maier, even with the league's coaches picking the Toros to win the CCAA in a preseason poll.

"I don't know if we ever really look at it that way," Maier begins, of reaching the NCAA Championships. "It depends on if we played way over our heads last year or whether or not the players we have are capable of continuing to have that kind of success.

"But all the signs point towards us be able to produce again since history showed we did it last year. The hard part is there are so many road games and not a lot of home games where home was so good to us last year.

"Anytime you go on the road, stay in a hotel and play on someone else's field, it's always difficult."

And as for the CCAA preseason poll?

"It's a nice recognition for the girls, but to me, it's meaningless," he says as a matter-of-fact. "Regardless what you have on paper, you've still got to play the games.

"But expectations for us, whether we were picked to finish last or first, are always the same, so nothing changes in the fact that we expect to do as well as we possibly can."

Coupled with players who exhibited clutch performances throughout the year and three newcomers who earned their way onto this focused and hungry ensemble including a legitimate Division I transfer in Adriana Sanchez, Maier knows this squad is capable of defending its CCAA Title.

And maybe more.

"We're ready for the challenge and we have all the ingredients to at least compete for that.

"We're pretty solid."

Here's a closer look at this year's Toro squad as they make a run towards history:

IN THE CIRCLE

There won't be a more formidable pitching duo in the nation than seniors Stephanie Jimenez and Lauren Harper, who combined for 44 of the team's 45 wins and 387 strikeouts, with each breaking the previous single-season record held by former player and assistant coach Valerie Long established in 2005, not coincidentally the last year CSUDH claimed the CCAA title.

Jimenez emerged as one of the best pitchers in the region, earning 1st-team Daktronics All-Region and 2nd-team NFCA All-Region honors after leading the league in saves, finishing 2nd in strikeouts and opposing batting average, and 3rd in wins, innings pitched, appearances, shutouts and complete games.

The Norwalk native set the school record for strikeouts and shutouts in a single season and wins and strikeouts in a career, while collecting 11 multi-hit and 4 multi-RBI efforts at the plate en route to posting the 3rd-best batting average on the team.

"She's a big part of our offense and one of the better pitchers I've ever worked with," says Maier. "There's no flash to her but she's very special in what she's able to do in keeping the batters off balance by being crafty and smart. She's so quiet and unassuming that she's never categorized as a superstar although she probably should be.

"If you're counting tools, she's the one," he continues. "How many players can pitch and hit the way she does? She's not one-dimensional, that's for sure."

The other half of Maier's aces, Harper was named a 2nd-team All-CCAA selection after finishing 3rd in the CCAA in strikeouts and opponents batting verage, 5th in wins, innings pitched and shutouts, 6th in appearances, and 7th in saves and complete games.

The San Diego native twice earned a CCAA Pitcher of the Week nod, and tossed her first career no-hitter against No. 22 Hawai'i Pacific en route to fanning at least 10 batters in 4 contests and boasting a strikout-to-walk ratio of 5.19:1.

"Lauren's been on the side of dominant the last 3 years, and certainly holds her own against anybody in the D2 level," Maier says.

"She and Steph will be responsible as pitchers for how well we do. If they can control the other team and make it difficult for them to score, then with our defense we should be in a position to at least be in every game and win more than we lose."

WHERE WE "LEFT" OFF

Not only do 3B Jessica Hall and shortstop Christina Chavez form a solid left side of the infield, the duo's offensive prowess can compete with any tandem in the highly-competitive CCAA.

Primed for her fourth and final season in Cardinal and Gold, Hall emerged as the best 3B in the CCAA, earning a 1st-team All-CCAA honor before 1st-team NFCA and 1st-team Daktronics All-Region nods after finishing 5th in the league in hits, 14th in BA, 22nd in home runs, and 25th in RBI.

The Huntington Beach native enjoyed team-best 19 multi-hit games as and a 21-game hit streak well as 8 multi-RBI contests after starting all 59 games played. A cerebral athlete who led the Toros in hits and runs and finished 2nd in HRs, Hall also earned a 1st-team Capital One All Academic All-District selection.

"Hall really burst on the scene last year," says Maier with a smile. "She's just a really solid player who deserved what she got last year because she worked hard. (Assistant coach) Katie (Garcia) helped simplify her approach and boom, she started hitting and her confidence rose, and once that happened, she just took off."

At shortstop, Chavez picked up CCAA Newcomer and 2nd-team All-CCAA honors after finishing 9th in RBI and T17th in home runs in the CCAA. She twice was named CCAA Player of the Week and enjoyed 15 multi-hit and a team-best 13 multi-RBI contests while boasting a 10-game hit streak and having her average hover around .400 until mid-March.

"Chavez understands how to play the game. She has the moxie a lot of players don't have, and she's fearless," Maier says.

THE FINAL STAND

In addition to Chavez, Hall, Harper and Jimenez, the 2013 season will be the last chance to reach the NCAA Championships for three other seniors.

Outfielder Daisy Beltran, one of four four-year seniors, was one of four players to start all 60 games played, finishing 21st in stolen bases in the CCAA. The Burbank native enjoyed 8 multi-hit contests and 6 multi-RBI efforts, with 58 games played in right field. She led the team in stolen bases with 7 and made just one error in 102 chances, good for a .990 fielding percentage and second best amongst starters, a skill set not lost on Maier.

"Daisy's the best outfielder I think I've ever seen as far as defense, and nobody can catch the ball like she can," praises Maier. "Right field is the hardest position to play with the sun, the angle and the spin of the ball coming at you, so she's clearly one of the better outfielders in the league."

Two other seniors in Paige Rhodes and Ciara Campos will continue to fill in when needed, and provide offensive boosts to the CCAA Champion Toros.

Rhodes started 10 games of 33 played in first year in Carson and was flawless in the field, handling all 12 attempts for a perfect 1.000% fielding percentage. Campos, meanwhile, made 34 appearances primarily as a pinch-runner and collected a pair of hits in 5 at-bats, both singles. Additionally, the Toros were undefeated at home during the regular season when Campos sang the National Anthem.

"Paige is playing behind some pretty good players, but makes it happen every time we give her opportunities," while Campos provides the "speed and a slapper from the left side" as well being "great for the team in terms of being a hard worker who loves to compete.

READY AND ABLE

Division I transfer Adriana Sanchez highlights the three new faces on the team this year.

Playing the past two seasons at Northern Illinois University, Sanchez earned 2nd-team All-MAC honors as a sophomore, and MAC All-Freshman Team honors as a frosh, starting 97 of 109 total games in two years played. The San Fernando native belted 15 home runs with 66 RBI and 152 total bases at NIU, also adding 24 multi-hit contests that included a 5RBI, 2HR effort against Miami (OH) (May 12, 2010), and another 5RBI effort at Colorado State (March 4, 2011).

"Adriana is the most naturally gifted player on our team, and is a big-time player who can play anywhere and do it all," says Maier glowingly. "She's a huge addition."

Two other freshmen in Jasmine Ruiz and Jamie Duran will also compete for playing time, with each possessing the skill to make a difference this year.

A four-year letter-winner at Gahr HS who redshirted for the Toros last year, Ruiz earned four 1st-team all-league honors as well as 3 Offensive Player of the Year nods and the city MVP as a junior.

Duran, meanwhile, was a three-sport athlete at Kern Valley HS where she led her team to back-to-back-to-back league titles while earning league MVP and two team MVP honors en route to 10 total letters earned.

"Jasmine was a big part of what we were going to do last year and has come out this year and had a great fall with the potential to be a really good hitter," Maier says, while "Jamie has a lot of speed and power, and you wonder how long it's going to take for her to burst onto the scene because she is young, but she will be something when she gets it going."

THE UNDERCLASSMEN

Junior Veronica Vazquez leads the returners looking to help keep the Toros at the top of the CCAA, and displace UC San Diego as the West Region representative in the NCAA Championships.

The Carson native emerged into key player as a sophomore, leading the team in doubles, finishing T3rd in hits and triples and 5th in batting average, while finishing 3rd in triples, 9th in runs, and 23rd in RBI in the CCAA.

Vazquez boasted 16 multi-hit and 8 multi-RBI efforts, with career-best 4RBI coming vs Cal Baptist, as well as a 6-game hit streak. An honor roll member, she was named to a 1st-team Capital One Academic All-Region selection.

"Veronica was a huge part of our success last year with her steadiness and character, and might well be our leadoff hitter this year."

Fellow juniors in Brittany Brenner, Catherine Brown, Elizabeth Jimenez and Karen Peterson also have shown improvement since last year, and should see ample playing time as well.

A Rancho Cucamonga native, Brenner saw action in 37 games with 28 starts, and enjoyed four multi-RBI and three multi-hit contests, including a 3-hit performance against San Francisco State in which she belted her lone home run of the year.

Brown, meanwhile, saw action in 41 games as a sophomore with 19 starts, and posted one multi-hit effort and one multi-RBI game, a 2-hit and 3-RBI job against Felican College on March 5.

Jimenez saw 4 starts in 17 games played with all starts coming at 1B, handling all 29 chances for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Peterson, meanwhile, made 9 appearances and fanned 6 batters in 11.1 innings pitched, including two in an inning of work against Felican College.

"Liz is a great kid who's paid her dues, and if she can hit consistently, she'll get a lot more opportunity," Maier says, while "Brittany has the opportunity to take off as she's a tremendous hitter when she gets going.

"Cat has a lot of desire and one of the best work ethics of anyone out there, and has come on big time and is really pushing for a spot," he continues. "Karen, meanwhile, has made a lot of improved and we're looking for her to solidify herself as a solid pitcher in her senior year."

A quartet of sophomores also gained valuable experience during last year's run, and will draw upon their knowledge for what hopes to be a deeper one this year.

After earning a starting spot in left field, Alyssa Cruz earned immortality in Toro softball lore with one swing of the bat in the NCAA West Region, belting a walk-off 3-run home run against Sonoma State All-American pitcher and CCAA Pitcher of the Year Samantha Lipperd to propel Toros to NCAA West Region title game after enjoying 3 multi-hit games and 2 multi-RBI contests on the year.

Rachel Gulbrandsen, meanwhile, saw action in 33 games as a true freshman, belting her first collegiate hit at CS Stanislaus in her only at-bat of the day.

"Alyssa's a pure outfielder and has got a lot of upside," begins Maier. If she can get consistent with the hitting, she's going to be a good one." Rachel, meanwhile, "is behind a lot of really good players who are older, but she's one of our better hitters as far as natural ability."

A pair of sophomore catchers returns to the Toros, which each catching one of the CSUDH aces.

Stephanie Hua started 32 games behind the dish, appearing in 43 games. The Torrance native, who primarily catches Jimenez, notched her first collegiate hit against St. Martin's, also driving in first collegiate run. She belted a season-high 3 hits vs Sonoma State, and smashed her lone home run of the year vs Cal State East Bay in mid-February.

Kaci McGinnis, meanwhile, saw action in 26 games as a true freshman, making 12 starts. The Orange native enjoyed a pair of multi-hit contests, and one game with 2 RBI as she collected her first college hit against Western Washington, also driving home her first collegiate run.

"Kaci's hitting is solid, and she teams up pretty well with Lauren," says Maier, while Hua is "an absolute stud. She is our heart and soul, vocal, and happy-go-lucky, and has really improved her hitting."

UNSUNG

Despite having all the ingredients to make history for the Toro softball program, head coach Maier can't say enough about maybe the most important person in the program in assistant coach Katie Garcia, a stellar player in her own right.

After enjoying a four-year career as a Toro in which she earned four All-CCAA nods (including two 1st-team honors), set four Toro records and sits in the top 5 in 10 other categories, the career .310 hitter who graduated from CSUDH in 2011 continues to shine as Maier's right hand and go-to.

"Being the great player she was with all the awards she won both as a player and as a student, it's very clear that when those awards were given out, they did not make a mistake with Katie because she's taken that work ethic and intangibles she has and brought them here, and is a great assistant, and one of the best I've ever had.

"It's clear she deserved to win the CSUDH Butwell Award twice, the only person to do so, and the girls respect and love her and she makes my job so much easier and deserves a lot of the credit.

"She's gold."

ONLY TIME WILL TELL

Maier knows the 2013 Toro team isn't a four-person show, and cherishes the fact of how special this soon-to-be two year run is.

"We have a lot of humble girls and not a lot of superstars, and no one was bigger than anyone else last year so we have some really good grounded kids who just go out and play," he begins.

"In terms of chemistry and togetherness, this year and last year's teams are the best ever in a 2-year stretch. It doesn't mean we're going to win any more or any less, but I really like this team and the way they follow the philosophy and the way they work out.

"It's really a team effort and they make it so easy."

And with the Toros enjoying the deepest run in the NCAA postseason in the history of the program, Maier stresses that knowing the pieces are there doesn't guarantee anything.

"We appreciate all the attention we got last year that made us feel like celebrities a bit, and the girls felt great to see all the support and see people during the playoffs who don't usually come out.

"But you almost wonder if we can reach that same level because our pitchers were very, very dominant, and we're a rare team in that we have 2 of these types of pitchers in our rotation.

"So that's the story of our season. Can we rise to that same level of ability, and click and get the clutch hit? Can we really do that again?

"I don't think it's going to be automatic, and I wonder if they already hit their peak last year and will level out, or will they and the team keep rising?"

Sounding more practical than pessimistic, Maier remains cautiously optimistic heading into the first of three tournaments this weekend, and the first of two in Turlock with the "Best of the West."

"We know what we have in Stephanie and Lauren, we hit the ball well in fall and are hitting it well in practice, and we've added to our offense with our newcomers so I'd be surprised if our offense wasn't better this year.

"So we're definitely stronger, but how that will translate, I guess we'll be able to answer that at the end of the season."

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2013 Softball Preview - In It To Win It