USD Softball 2002

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2002 TORERO SOFTBALL OUTLOOK

A 'NEW ERA' BEGINS WITH 2002 TORERO SOFTBALL

A new era begins thi s season with the Un iversity of San Diego women 's softball program. First year coach Melissa McElvain is onboard to lead the Torero softball for– tunes in 2002. A 1999 graduate of Okl ahoma State, she earned All-Big XII honors whil e playing catcher and second base. McEl vain (Turley) led the Cowgirls to three post– season appearances and a third place fini sh in the 1998 Women's College World Seri es. While at Oklahoma State , she earned All -Big XII academi c honors while attaining a Business Admini stration degree with an emphasis in Marketing. Along with her vast playing experi ence, she hopes to bring a new enthusiasm and winning attitude to the 2002 Torero ball club. McEl vain takes over a program that returns 14 letterwinners and 5 starters from last year 's 22-35 club. Although she will be without the services of four graduated seniors, including key performers Jade Quentin and Cri stina Byrne, the cupboard was not left bare . McElvain will look to a trio of returners for both leadership and experience - seni or infielder Nicky Geis (Chul a Vi sta, r■iiiiiiiiiiii;::;::=====~~~-­ CA); junior Lora McBay (. 286 batting aver-

age, 19 RBI), a versatile athl ete who can play a vari ety of pos itions; and sophomore pitcher/infi elder Jennifer Delpit (.236 batting average, 20 RBI , 5-8 pitching record). Ge is, tabbed thi s season's team captain , has been voted the team's Best Defensive Pl ayer the past three years, and wi ll start at shortstop. The squad will also be bo lstered by the return of fi ve other players that started a majority of the 2001 season - seni or infielder (second base) Kristy Clarke, 48 starts in 50 games; juni or infielder (first base) Desi Collo, .208 batting average with 39 starts; seni or outfi elder Stephanie Bisera, .207 batting average; sophomore catcher/outfie lder Olaya Salazar, .254 batting average with 2 1 starts in 28 contests; and sophomore in– fie lder Ashley Miller, 20 starts in 29 games . Clarke, a 200 I WISL AII-Tournament se lec– ti on, will once again start at second base, and along with Ge is, will give the Toreros a strong defense up the middle. Bi sera will start in centerfie ld and most likely will be the team's leadoff hitter. Miller is expected to start at third base thi s season fo r the Toreros. USD 's pitching hopes will be put on the shoulders of a trio of sophomores - Allison Williams, Anna Russell and Jennifer Delpit. Last season Willi ams pitched lOl.2 innings , striking out 41 and fini shing with a record of 5-9. Russell tallied 98. 0 innings of work in the circle and came away with a 6-9 record and 2.70 ERA. Delpit pitched in 23 contests with 10 starts and 3 complete games. She fini shed with a record of 5-8 and a 3.28 ERA .

Coach McElvain is excited about her fres hman class that in- cludes fi ve newcomers. Joining the Toreros for the 2002 season are Francesca Ramos (San Diego, CA; Po int Loma HS), Taryn Nagata (Honolulu , HI; Iolani School), Hilary McHugh (Vista, CA; Vista HS), Kim Delpit (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA ; R. Palos Verdes HS) and Ashley Turner (San Diego, CA; Heli x HS)

Coach McElvain is exc ited about the 2002 schedul e whi ch includes thir– teen home doubl eheaders. Hi ghli ghting the home slate wi ll be Long Beach State (March 20 th ), UC Santa Barbara (March 27 th ) , San Diego State (April 17 th ) and Loyola Marymount (April 26 th ). The Toreros will be tested on the road with tough competiti on at Cal State Fullerton (J anuary 29 th ), as well as three solid tournaments - Southern Utah Tournament (Feb. 2-3), Cal State Northridge Tournament (Feb. 8-10), and the San Diego State Tournament (March 15-1 6). The end of the year Western Interco ll eg iate Softball Tournament will beg in at Loyola Marymount University (April 30 th ) , and conclude at Saint Mary ' s Col lege (May 10-12). The Toreros begin the 2002 campaign on Saturday, Jan. 26 th with a

home doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino ( 12 noon).

2002 University of San Diego Torero Softball - usdtoreros.com