COLLEGE DIVISION : CS Bakersfield Sets Sights on CCAA Title

In five years of competition, the Cal State Bakersfield women’s softball team has been something of an anomaly in NCAA Division II.

The Roadrunners have won the past two Division II championships but have yet to win their first California Collegiate Athletic Assn. title.

Bakersfield, which had a 38-23 overall record and finished fourth in the CCAA in 1989, is optimistic that it will finally win a conference championship.

With most of its starters returning from its national championship squad, there is no shortage of talent. The team is led by All-American first baseman Barb Santa Cruz, who batted .364 last season, and pitcher Lisa Drollinger, who was 21-11 with an 0.91 earned-run average.

Other players returning include infielders Lisa Uranday and Dara Ferris, center fielder Tanya Warren, left fielder Amy Van Allen and catcher Leeann Couch. That should give the Roadrunners the experience they need to unseat Cal State Northridge as conference champion.

It would be no surprise, however, if Northridge won the conference title. It has the past eight seasons. Last year the Matadors were 62-19 record and lost to Bakersfield in the Division II playoffs.

Northridge has the talent to go a long way with its one-two pitching duo, three-time All-American Debbie Dickmann and Heather Lindstrom. Dickmann is 76-13 at Northridge and Lindstrom was 22-6 as a freshman last season.

Northridge also has All-American outfielder Lisa Erickson, and is counting on additional support from catcher Patty Pearson and outfielder Erin McGuire.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the CCAA last season was the performance of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which finished second in the conference--its best showing in five years. The Mustangs were 32-18 and reached the Division II playoffs in their first season under Coach Lisa Boyer.

With seven starters back, the Mustangs should have a strong season. They have four All-CCAA players in center fielder Kathy Jones, infielders Lori Peterson and Cheryl Lutes, and catcher Kelly McInerny, and have a deep pitching staff headed by Lisa Johnson.

In her first year as coach, Janis Ruetz guided Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 35-22-1 record and the Division II playoffs. Dominguez Hills has nine returning lettermen and is led by the pitching of Kim Park, who was 13-8-1 with an 0.58 ERA last season, and Jennifer Boen. On offense, the Toros are sparked by outfielder Maria Romero and infielder Nicole Stelter.

UC Riverside lost only two players from a 25-26 team. Returning are All-CCAA third baseman Deanna Dresmann and pitcher Teri Perry, who was 18-12 and had an 0.44 ERA. Still, in a difficult conference, the Highlanders will be hard-pressed to finish among the conference leaders.

With only 10 players, Chapman could have the most problems of any team in the conference. The biggest strength for the Panthers, who were 22-24, is their pitching, led by Jacki Blake and Cheri Schneck.

The Cal Lutheran women’s softball team has won the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District 3 title and reached the NAIA World Series two consecutive seasons, but this year the Regals have loftier ambitions.

They would like to win an NAIA World Series game. Cal Lutheran finished 35-18--best in school history--only to be eliminated from the World Series in two games for the second year in a row.

With six starters returning, the Regals have the personnel to return to the Series in their first season under Coach Tony Venditto. Cal Lutheran has the best pitching in the district with All-American Dee Andra Pilkington, who has a 45-18 career record and .320 batting average, and Leslie Stevens, 23-8 last season.

The offense also benefits from the return of shortstop Danielle Piotrowski, second baseman Kim White and outfielders Brenda Frafjord and Michelle Campos.

If any team has the personnel to contend with Cal Lutheran in the district race, Azusa Pacific is the likely candidate. The Cougars, who were 16-18 overall and third in the district last season, have five starters returning, among them all-district players Kristi Van Zee at first base, Kim Young at shortstop and Lisa Perry at catcher.

Southern California College has returning all-district players Linda Bilyeu in center field and Stacey Mounce at first base and catcher Joyce LaPointe. The big question is whether the Vanguards, who were 18-22 overall and fourth in the district, can develop a reliable starter from an untested pitching staff.

In the NCAA Division III, independent Cal State San Bernardino did not make the playoffs last year, despite a 25-16 record. But, with four all-region players returning, postseason play is a realistic possibility for the Coyotes under first-year Coach Sue Strain.

The leader is center fielder Anne Cordaro, a two-time all-region selection who batted .464 last season. San Bernardino also has second baseman Tammy Shearer, shortstop Lisa Hilborn and pitcher Marnie LaFleur.

In the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Whittier, La Verne and Redlands are expected to lead the way.

Ending months of speculation, Cal State San Bernardino announced this week that it intends to move its athletic program from NCAA Division III to Division II and accept an invitation to join the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Said Judith Rymer, vice president for university relations at San Bernardino: “We think the timing is right, with the strengths of our program and the growth of our university and in our community.”

She added that the school’s enrollment has surpassed 11,000.

David Suenram, the school’s athletic director, said the Coyotes expect the move to take effect in time for the 1991-92 school year, when the program will fulfill Division II requirements and be eligible to compete for CCAA championships.

“Realistically, that’s about as soon as we could be eligible for championships in the NCAA Division II,” Suenram said. “Next year we’ll still compete at the national level as a Division III independent.”

To compete for championships in Division II by the fall of 1991, Suenram said the school must petition for reclassification with the NCAA by June 1. He said San Bernardino will also seek a waiver of Division II schedule requirements so the school can still compete for Division III championships during the 1990-91 season.

College Division Notes

The Cal State San Bernardino women’s basketball team established a school record by winning its 17th game in a row, 66-48, over Biola on Saturday.