2007 Softball Preview: Inaugural Team Ready to Compete From Day One
January 21, 2007

Spring will mark the first time Cal State San Marcos has fielded a softball team, and Head Coach Jennifer Milo expects the squad to be competitive sooner rather than later. If the fall was any indication, she’s right on the money.

“The fall pre-season went great,” says Milo. “The hard part with a new program is judging who you are and just how good you can be. Playing in the fall gave us a huge confidence boost.”

That’s because the inaugural San Marcos squad stood up to some serious competition this fall, and was able to hold its own. Playing in an All-San Diego tournament, the Cougars gave Division I-A contenders SDSU and USD great games and played them down to the wire. Milo, along with assistant coaches Jamie Burton and Tanya Ledesma, were very pleased with the performance. Though the exhibition matches obviously don’t count towards the CSUSM’s spring record, the games did wonders to help the team establish an identity.

And that identity starts with pitching. Melissa Lerno, a sophomore transfer from Palomar, turned down scholarship offers from Division I-A schools to attend CSUSM. The hard-throwing right-hander dominates hitters, posting a 0.91 ERA last season on her way to being named Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year at Palomar College.

Lerno will be joined on the mound by freshman Erica Coelho. While Coelho doesn’t bring the same velocity that Lerno does, her great control and ability to move the ball within the strike zone are a perfect complement to the Cougars’ ace. Since the squad will play mostly double-headers this season, opposing teams will have to deal with the pitchers’ vastly different styles in back-to-back games – which Coach Milo believes will keep hitters off-balance.

Rounding out the pitching staff is one of the team’s biggest surprises this off-season, freshman Amanda Sanchez. Having not pitched since her sophomore year of high school, Sanchez was able to pick up right where she left off, and has established herself this pre-season as the team’s short-reliever.

In the field, the name of the game for CSUSM is versatility. Every athlete on the roster can play multiple positions, and Coach Milo is entering the season planning to take full advantage of that.

“We’re basically two-deep at every position,” explains Milo. “The friendly competition for playing time is helping push the players.”

The squad’s excellent pitching staff will be throwing to catchers Tasha Stokes and Lindsey Preovolos. While both are very talented in their own right, Coach Milo expects them to split time throughout the season, due to the physical demands of playing the position. They’re also solid at the plate - Stokes has “tremendous” power, according to Milo, and the potential to be an All-American.

In fact, both players will likely be in the lineup at the same time, with the one that’s not catching playing first base. Sophomore Aly Brown will be in the rotation there as well.

At second base, Milo believes she has a good mix of players who are all solid defensively. Freshman Malarie Barnard will definitely see a lot of action there, and Erica Coelho figures to play second when she’s not pitching.

Filling the key position of shortstop will be Holly Russell and Samantha Valenzuela. Russell, a Mission Hills High grad, is one of the team’s most experienced players. She’s expected to bat in the middle of the lineup due to her excellent hitting potential and power.

Freshman Amanda Sanchez is expected to play third. She has very good reaction time – a crucial trait to playing the hot corner. Melissa Lerno, whose .353 batting average at Palomar was overshadowed by her pitching, will also see time at third when she’s not on the mound.

Coach Milo expects the outfield to be the strength of the team’s defense.

“As whole, they’re very quick and cover a lot of ground,” she says. “All our outfielders could play any position in the outfield.”

Leading the group is centerfielder Danielle Tucker. Lake Elsinore High’s 2006 Female Athlete of the Year, Tucker’s commitment this fall to giving 110% effort at all times earned her co-captain status on the Cougar softball team. Her blazing speed serves her well both in the field and at the plate, where the slap-hitter is expected to bat leadoff for the team.

Joining Tucker as a co-captain is leftfielder Leilani Madrigal. As the only junior on the team’s freshman-heavy roster, Madrigal provides leadership and experience to the group. She also provides a great bat – a .535 average at Los Angeles Valley College. She’ll likely hit second and share time in the outfield with Clairemont High grad Lauren Turner.

Finally, right field is expected to be anchored by Elizabeth Bush and Joy Leon. Leon was Fallbrook High’s Most Valuable Offensive Player last year, and is moving to the outfield from first base. Bush, also a freshman, will see time in centerfield as well as right.

Though the Cougars’ inaugural team brings plenty of talent to the table, making the playoffs will be a challenge. CSUSM competes in the very difficult Region II of the NAIA, and will face all the powerhouse schools from the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC).

According to Coach Milo, the biggest key to succeeding will be for players to step into leadership roles and carry the team through its tightly-packed 50-game schedule. The team will also need support from the Cougar community, and all fans are encouraged to head out to Mission Hills High to catch some great softball action. The squad will lead off its season on Saturday, February 10th in a home double-header against Vanguard University starting at noon. Admission is always free, so come out and support your CSUSM softball team throughout its first season!