USD Softball 2009

Loyola Marymount PCSC Announces Expansion With Six Schools Set To Join Conference PORTLAND.Ore. - The Pacific Coast Softball Conference has extended invitations for conference membership to six schools: California State University Bakersfield, Idaho State University, University of Northern Colorado, Seattle University, Utah Valley University and Weber State University, PCSC Commissioner Wendy Guthrie announced in Fall of 2008. All six schools accepted their bids and will begin competing in the PCSC in 2010, joining charter members Loyola Marymount, Portland State, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Santa Clara to raise the conference's membership to 12 schools. "Really the most positive thing it does for us is it protects our conference;' commented head coach Melissa McElvain. "It adds a higher level of competition for us and we know that we're protected long term as avery strong competitive conference in different regions:' Starting with the 2010 season, the PCSC will split into two divisions, the Coastal and Mountain. The division winnerswill meet in a best-of-three championship series to determine the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth. The Coastal Division will consist of the sixCalifornia-based schools, Cal State Bakersfield, Loyola Marymount, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Santa Clara. Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Seattle, Utah Valley and Weber State will form the Mountain Division. ~ "We are delighted to welcome California State University, Bakersfield, Idaho State University, University of Northern Colorado, Seattle University, Utah Valley University, and Weber StateUniversity as members of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference;'Guthrie said."At the forefront of this demion, ,. is the desire to increase opportunities for student-athletes and contribute to the development of NCAA Division I softball. The addition of aconfer– Portland ence championship series will enhance the student-athlete experience and heighten the visibility of the league. This is an intentional and strategic State step toward positioning the conference for sustainability and growth:' Cal State Bakersfield is in its third year of a five-year transition period from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I membership. The Roadrunners will become a full NCAA Division I member in the 2010-11 academic year. The Roadrunnerswere 22-25 this past season playing as a NCAA Division I Independent. In its final season at the NCAA Division II level in 2006, Cal State Bakersfield finished fourth in the nation. Idaho State resurrected softball for the 2007 season, after sponsoring the sport from 1976-1983. Northern Colorado is currently competing as a NCAA Division I Independent. The Bears are members of the Big Sky Conference in other sports, along with current PCSC members Portland State and Sacramento State, and future membersIdaho State and Weber State. Seattle went 38-14 last spring in its final year at the NCAA Division II level, reaching the NCAA Division II West Regional for the third straight season. The Redhawks will play as a NCAA Division I provisional member in 2009 and reach full-time Division I membership commencing with the 2013 season. Utah Valley also competes as a NCAA Division I softball independent and is in its sixth and final year of NCAA Division I Santa Clara University provisional membership status. Weber State reinstated its softball program in December 2007 and will begin play in 2010. ~ 2- 0- 0- 9-P-C_S_C_C-oa_c_h_e_s_P_r_e_- 5-e-a-so_n_P- ic-k~s The Wildcats sponsored softball from 1974-1983. Weber State hired Tina Johnson, who was the head coach at Colorado Col- 1. Sacramento State ( 2 ) 3l lege, on July 30 to lead the program's rebirth. 2 _ Loyola Maryrnount (2 ) 29 "There are a few younger programs that have a couple of years under their belt, so you have a good balance of young 3 _Saint Mary's 21 programs but you also have very established, competitive programs that are joining the conference;' commented McElvain. 4 _Portland State (l) 20 "We are excited for that schedule change and we are energized for this fresh look on our conference:' S. San Diego 14 The PCSC completed its sixth year of competition in 2008 and has had an automatic NCAATournament bid for its confer- 6 _Santa Clara (l) 11 ence champion since 2006. Loyola Marymount has won three PCSC titles, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Santa Clara, 2004, Portland (#) indicates first place vote State, 2006, and Sacramento State, 2008, have also won conference championships. USD TORERO PCSC HONOR LIST 2008 2006 2005 2004 All-Conference All-Conference All-Conference All-Conference 3B Kath leen Bonja 2nd 3B Kathleen Bonja l stTm OF Gina McFarland 1stTm 2B Kim Delpit 2nd Tm 1B Lindsey Fleet 2nd 1B Marissa Merchain 1st Tm 55 Ashlee Nunes 1st Tm UT Sara Mason 2nd Tm 55 Carey Casciola H.M. C Sara Mason 2nd Tm 1B Alicia Massei l stTm OF Gina McFarland 2nd Tm UT Jennifer Ellenbeck H.M. p Gina McFarland 2nd Tm 2B DanielleTreiber l stTm OF Rebekah Bradford FR of the Yr All-Academic All-Academic C Sara Mason H.M. 3B Kathleen Bonja H.M. All-Academic SR Kathleen Bonja 3.067 Sr Sara Mason *A$ 3.75 Sr Jennifer Delpit 3.65 SR Celine Pujol 3.000 Sr Gina McFarland * 3.63 All-Academic Sr Anna Russell 3.65 so Jennifer Ellenbeck 3.550 Sr Marissa Merchain 3.01 Sr Kim Delpit 3.25 Sr Al lison Wi lliams 3.13 FR Taryn Keenan 3.300 Fr Kel ly Nesseth 3.43 Jr Francesca Ramos 3.49 Sr Cindy McGee 3.18 FR Megan Walsh 3.067 Fr Kim Milkovich 3.87 Jr Gina McFarland 3.74 Jr Francesca Ramos 3.56 Fr Katie Burk 3.22 Jr Sara Mason 3.79 So Kim Delpit 3.06 2007 Player of the Week Jr Marissa Merchain 3.02 So Sara Mason 3.86 All-Conference Apr. 26 Gina McFarland Fr Ash ley Hightower 3.83 So Gina McFarland 3.80 C Virginia Fritsch 1st So Darcie McClelland 3.52 So Marissa Merchain 3.01 Pitcher of the Week 2B Kathleen Bonja 1st Feb. 28 Erin Harmonson Fr Celine Pujol 3.06 Player of the Week p Christina Haake 2nd Feb. 3 Jennifer Delpit OF Nichole Valenzuela 2nd $ Selected PCSC Scholar Athleteof the Year Player of t he Week Apr. 22 Kim Delpit p Jennifer Ellenbeck * H.M. * Selected for ESPN TheMagazine Academic Apr.4 Sara Mason Al l-District Honors Mar. 14 Kathleen Bonja Pitcher of the Week All-Academ ic Feb. 3 Anna Russel so Kim Milkovich 3.817 A Selected for ESPN The Magazine third- Pitcher of t he Week FR ColeyWoyak 3. 100 team AcademicAll-America list, national Mar. 14 Christina Haake 2003 FR Jennifer Ellenbeck 3.367 honor All-Conference so Katie Burk 3.163 OF Gina McFarland 2nd Tm Pitcher of t he Week Pitcher of the Week Mar 28 Christina Haake * PCSC Co-Freshman of the yea r Mar. 25 Gina McFarland Sacramento State Saint Mary's College University of San Diego

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