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This article first appeared
March 12, 2012
Press Enterprise
By Eric-Paul Johnson

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alexandria Blevins, Heritage, So., Pitcher
Gordy Bravo, Roosevelt, Sr., Outfield
Alyssa Fuimaono, Beaumont, Jr.,
Pitcher Samantha Galarza, Valley View, Sr., Shortstop
Nikki Hoffman, Citrus Valley, Jr., Shortstop-Pitcher
Sahvanna Jaquish, Redlands East Valley, Jr., Catcher
Courtney Laughlin, Colton, Jr., Outfield
Emily Lockman
, Norco, Sr., Pitcher
Monica Maddox, Cajon, So., Second base

Jasmin Mejia , Arlington, Sr., Outfield

Danica Mercado, Great Oak, Sr., Infield
Mo Mercado, Great Oak, Jr., Infield
Alexis Osorio , King, So., Pitcher
Kylie Reed, Norco, Jr., Shortstop
Erin Rodriguez, Santiago, Sr., Pitcher-First base
Erica Romero, Santiago, Jr., Pitcher
Sierra Romero, Vista Murrieta, Sr., Shortstop
Jasmine Smithson-Willett, Lakeside, Sr., Pitcher
Ashley Stassin, Paloma Valley, Sr., Pitcher
Selina Ta’amilo, Vista Murrieta, So., Pitcher

Dawna Tyson, Corona, Sr., Second base
Austen Urness, Lakeside, Jr., Catcher
Danielle Vega, Aquinas, Sr., Shortstop
Amanda Weis, Redlands, Sr., Third base
Jaelyn Young, Chaparral, Jr., Catcher-Third base

PLAYERS TO WATCH

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BOLINGER STRONG IN TOURNAMENT WIN OVER KOFA

Posted by Dolly Wright at Mar 7, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

This story first appeared

March 8, 2012

Arizona Central

By Kelsey Perry

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BULLHEAD CITY -- Yuma Kofa Coach Emma Morrison said her team came into the Mohave Tournament of Champions expecting some heat coming off the mound.

What it got was a baptism by fire.

Yucaipa, Calif., starting pitcher Brooke Bolinger gave up no runs and just a single hit while striking four of seven Kofa batters -- most with her crafty sinker -- in her two innings on the mound Thursday.

Yucaipa had the opposite luck at the plate, putting up nine runs in the first two innings to eventually defeat Kofa 9-0 in first round of the tournament at Mohave High School.

Nerves and severe winds didn't help Kofa's defense, which struggled against a hard-hitting Yucaipa offense that used the wind to its advantage.

"This team's never been here before," Morrison said. "It was tough in the beginning, battling the wind and then (Yucaipa) going out like that."

Yucaipa's nine runs on 11 hits in the first two innings included two home runs. Kofa pitcher Sarai Camacho said she has never pitched in such windy conditions. The sophomore had some trouble settling in on the mound, but she battled back in the final two innings, holding Yucaipa scoreless and allowing just one more hit.

"The wind's blowing in your face, and it slows you down a little bit," Camacho said. "I started throwing the ball a little lower. I wasn't throwing them as high so they couldn't hit them as far."

Kofa's defense eventually found its rhythm, but its offense never would. Yucaipa's relief pitcher Becca Harps threw the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four of 12 batters. Kofa managed just three hits all game.

Morrison said Bolinger's sinker made it difficult for her batters at the plate.

"They weren't swinging at bad pitches, coming in they looked good," she said. "But then they just dropped down. She did a good job throwing those drop balls."

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JARAMILLO HITS HOMERUN AGAINST GLENDORA

Posted by Dolly Wright at Mar 5, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

This story first appeared
March 6, 2012
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
By John Honell, Correspondent

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SOFTBALL: Glendora High takes down Northview of Covina in San Dimas Tournament

SAN DIMAS - The Glendora High School girls softball team got timely hitting and solid pitching to defeat Northview 4-2 in pool play of the San Dimas Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

The game was shortened to 5 1/2 innings due to the 90-minute time limit for tournament games.

The win clinched their pool and moved the Tartans (3-1), sixth in the Tribune's preseason rankings, into the semifinals Friday at 3:15 or 5:15 p.m. against a team to be determined.

Fresno State-bound Taylor Langdon settled down and retired the final seven batters to improve her record to 3-0. She set down the Vikings on three pitches in the final inning for the win.

"The last two innings she was the real Taylor," Tartans coach Reese Mitchell said. "Early in the game she might have been trying to overthrow a little bit but then she got in a groove."

The Vikings (0-2), ranked seventh, jumped on top when leadoff hitter

Sarina Jaramillo hit a long home run off Langdon.

"She really hit that," Vikings coach Jeff Butler said. "But the whole difference was their 3-4-5 hitters got RBIs and ours got zero. We had our chances in the middle innings. We left two on base in the third and left the bases loaded in the fourth. One key hit and we're right in it."

The Tartans came right back in the bottom of the first to take the lead.

With two out and no one on base, Alicia Brown singled. Brandi Wilson fouled off four pitches before driving a single through the left side of the infield.

That set the table for Langdon, who tripled to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs.

"It was outside so I went with it," Langdon said. "After that I just trusted my infield big time. They always have my back and it's always good to have a decent infield behind you that you can rely on to catch ground balls."

The Vikings got an unearned run in the top of the second to tie the score. Jocelyn Marquez hit a line-drive single to right field to drive in Haley Gomez, who had reached base on an error.

"Jocelyn's been struggling so that was good for her," Butler said. "That's why we want to play teams like this in preseason. It gets us better for league. I want our kids to face Fresno State-type kids."

Sarah Glenn put the Tartans ahead for good in the top of the third. Her groundball drove in Pavin Argyle with the go-ahead run.

It could have been a much bigger inning but a perfect throw by Vikings center fielder Marquez cut down Kayla Sok at the plate.

"We felt like we'd have a chance if we put the ball in play," Mitchell said. "We've got good balance but we're young so some things are unexpected and it comes in strange ways."

The Vikings got runners to second and third in the top of the fourth after pinch-hitter Jennie Hidalgo laid down a two-strike sacrifice bunt. A walk to

 

Jaramillo loaded the bases. but Langdon got out of the jam.

"That was an unintentional, intentional walk," Mitchell said. "We had a 4-2 lead and all of a sudden they had the bases loaded. One big hit and we're down. If someone was going to beat us, it wasn't going to be her. Fortunately Taylor made some pitches. She was just outstanding."

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LANDEROS TO LEAD REED IN 2012

Posted by Dolly Wright at Mar 4, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

This article first appeared
March 5, 2012
Sparks Tribune

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The Reed softball team was two wins away from winning the Northern 4A crown a year ago, but couldn’t find a way to solve Bishop Manogue and its ace Megan Dortch in the winners’ bracket final or the championship game.

With Dortch graduated, and Reed returning a strong core of five seniors, the Raiders are hoping to be one of the teams to beat this spring.

We’ve got five seniors and they all get along. We’ve got great, great senior leadership," Reed softball coach Jon Wunder said. "In girls sports, chemistry is everything. Right now, it looks like we’ve got really good chemistry."

Ace pitcher

Shivaun Landeros will anchor that group of Reed seniors. Landeros is also a strong two-way threat. Last year she batted .406, scored 32 runs and drove in 19 RBI.

We fully expect her to carry the load this year," Wunder said. "She’s worked hard all offseason. Every time I drove by here, she was out here working out. I expect big things from
Shivaun."

Her battery mate, senior catcher Makaela Moore, returns to her spot behind the plate.

Senior infielders Andi Lee and Cori Gammon will be back at third and second base respectively, and Hannah Martini will roam the outfield.

Reed has four of its five first team all-league honorees from last year returning this season. Moore,
Landeros, Lee and junior outfielder Mary Dettling all received first-team selections.

Dettling led the team in most offensive categories. Her .452 batting average, .517 on-base percentage, .625 slugging percentage, 47 hits, 34 runs, 27 RBI and eight doubles were all tops on the Blue and Gold.

A pair of Raiders second teamers are also back, Gammon and sophomore Megan Dettling.

Of Reed’s 14 players, 11 are returners. The only everyday starter Reed graduated from a year ago was standout pitcher Destinee Levesque. Tyler Sumpter also did not come back due to a stress fracture she suffered during the basketball season. However, Wunder believes junior Danaya Thompson will do a good job manning first base in place of Sumpter.

Another new face in the infield will be Laura Frost. A utility player last season, Frost will be the starting shortstop.

"Based on what I saw Saturday, that is a great move," Wunder said. "She did really well."

Joining Mary Dettling and Martini in the outfield will be junior Lindsay Yearman and sophomore Megan Dettling. Megan Dettling will also see time in the pitcher’s circle.

"I would match our speed in the outfield with anybody," Wunder said.

But it’s the pitching that has Wunder especially excited. Newcomer Jacquelin Sertic pitched eight of 14 innings during Saturday’s scrimmages. The sophomore allowed two hits and struck out nine.

The Raiders have a fourth pitcher in sophomore Marriah Levesque, the younger sister of Destinee.

"We have four kids who could probably pitch for just about anyone around here," Wunder said.

Wunder expects to be challenged by Manogue, Spanish Springs, Damonte Ranch and Carson for the regional title, much like last season.

It’s not just the potential for success that has Reed excited for this softball season, but a new field is currently being constructed on the Reed High campus. Work on the dugouts started Monday and progress is coming along. Wunder said weather permitting, the team will host games on the field in mid-April.

Reed will compete at the Victory Pre-season Tournament in Sacramento this week. The Raiders open the tournament Thursday night at 6:45 p.m. against Oakmont. On Friday, they will take on Righetti at 5 p.m. and Spanish Springs at 6:45 p.m.

Wunder believes the trip will be a good team-bonding experience.

It’s early but we’ve got great team chemistry," Wunder said. "It starts with the seniors, and we’ve got a great group of seniors. I think the younger kids feed off that. They’re very helpful. They look forward to Sacramento. It’s a great opportunity for them all to get to know each other. I tell them we’re only going to go as far as you take us as a group. If we have in-fighting, then we’re going to have problems. We’re not seeing that."

Reed’s league opener is at Douglas on March 15th.