Announcement
This story first appeared
March 12, 2012
OC Register
By Brent Shaver
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Irvine High's softball team has a new head coach leading it this season.
But Tim Jacobs has been around the program long enough for it to be a seamless transition for the Vaqueros.
He has been a teacher at Irvine for 14 years and a softball coach on the lower levels for much of that time.
Jacobs inherits a team with a lot of solid returning players.
And Irvine, which went 10-0 in the Pacific Coast League to capture the title last year under the guidance of Mandy Tucker, is once again the favorite.
The Vaqueros had a record of 2-3 entering this week.
After winning its first two games to start the year, the team has dropped three straight.
It fell to Warren, 5-2, and Paramount, 7-4, in tournament games last Saturday.
Bria Madrid knocked in two runs and Tori Duquette had a double and scored two runs against Paramount.
Hitting and scoring runs won't be a problem for the Vaqueros.
Pitching is one of the few question marks.
"After losing our two starting varsity pitchers from last year, our pitching staff should make or break our season," Jacobs said. "I think we should be fine offensive and defensively, I just worry about our pitching keeping us in games."
Star pitchers Allison Cukrov, who was named the MVP of the Irvine World News all-city softball team, and Josie Tucker graduated and moved on to college careers.
The pitching duties this season will be handled by freshman Carlie Chaulsett-Utley and senior Megan Brophy.
Irvine's top returning players include junior third baseman Brittney Vansway, who batted .489 with seven home runs and 26 RBI last season. She was named the league's most valuable player and a first team all-CIF selection.
Duquette, a senior second baseman, hit .318 a year ago, senior shortstop
Jasmine Jenkins batted .316 with 17 RBI, senior outfielder McRae Cayton hit .282 and Madrid, a senior catcher, batted .279 last season.
Along with Chaulsett-Utley, another freshman to watch out for is center fielder Linnea Donahugh.
The starting lineup: C, Bria Madrid, senior; 1B, Sarah Miles, freshman, or Sarah Stewart, senior; 2B, Tori Duquette, senior; SS,
Jasmine Jenkins, senior; 3B, Brittney Vansway, junior; LF, McRae Cayton, senior, or Jessica Dunkle, senior; CF, Linnea Donahugh, freshman; RF, Daniela Chambers, sophomore or Natasha Flores, junior.
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