The Colleges : Texas A&M; Goes Long Way to Bring Home a Winner in Softball

There is something familiar about the Texas A&M; Aggies to Orange County softball fans.

It’s not just that they are the defending College World Series champions. The Aggies field a team that includes four Orange County players--three who started and a fourth who was watching from the dugout with a knee injury when Texas A&M; opened the Pony tournament at Cal State Fullerton Thursday.

The starting battery of Julie Carpenter and Karen Robertson is from Orange County--Carpenter, a junior pitcher, is from Huntington Beach, and Robertson, a sophomore catcher, is from El Toro.

Senior shortstop Liz Mizera is from Garden Grove.

Texas A&M; (19-9) has five Californians on the roster, all who would be starting were it not for injuries.

“I swear we’re going to end up with a lineup all from California,” Robertson said.

Carpenter, Robertson and Mizera are joined by Catherine Steadman of Fullerton and Julie Lewis of Glendale as the Aggies’ California connection.

Thursday, the unranked Aggies defeated No. 19 Minnesota, 3-2, and Oregon State, 3-1, to get a good start in the tournament.

Carpenter won both games for Texas A&M; to make it three victories on the day for the Carpenter family. Earlier Thursday, Carpenter’s sister, Terry, struck out 20 for Edison High School in its 1-0 victory over Valencia. Terry also is being recruited by Texas A&M.;

“I’m letting her make her own decision,” Julie said.

Carpenter chose A&M; because “they are competitive in softball and have really good academics.”

The other county players echoed those reasons as being the most important in choosing the Texas school.

Another reason for going to Texas A&M;, the players said, is that the Aggies play in California, so they get a chance to play in front of their families.

“We tell (recruits) that we come out to California,” said Bob Brock, Texas A&M; coach. “There seems to be a lot of quality players out here.”

But how is he able to attract these players away from California? Winning the College World Series helps, but Brock really isn’t sure.

“It depends on what they’re looking for,” Brock said.

“I didn’t want to stay in California,” Robertson said. “I like California, but (College Station is) a neat town.”

Steadman, a freshman pitcher who is suffering from an injured knee, was not necessarily looking to leave the state, but felt very comfortable with the coach and the team.

“It’s totally different from here,” Steadman said.

And though the players usually don’t complain about being in Texas, they said it is nice to see their families.

“I get homesick,” Carpenter said. “It’s good to play here because we get to see the folks.”

Brock understands the players’ feelings and allows them to spend time at home during the tournament. He also brought the injured Steadman and Smith on the trip so that they could go home.

“I let them stay out with their families until midnight,” Brock said. “As long as it doesn’t affect their play, I think it’s great.”

Pony Tournament Notes

Cal State Fullerton split its two games Thursday, losing to United States International University, 3-2, and defeating Minnesota, 4-0. The No. 2 Titans are 28-6. . . .