COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT : Corson’s Demeanor Belies Potent Pitch

Laura Corson settled into her seat for an interview when someone knocked at the door. Corson, a sophomore pitcher for Cypress, swung the door open slowly to see Coach Brad Pickler.

“She owes it all to me. . . “ Pickler started to say with a smile, but Corson closed the door in his face, cutting him off.

Corson has spent the season silencing opponents as well. She is 25-7 and Cypress (42-10) has set a single-season mark for victories. It won the Orange Empire Conference and Corson was named pitcher of the year.

The Chargers play in the first round of the State tournament today at Golden West College against Ohlone (34-10).

Cypress was 40-8 last season and Corson was 20-3 as the Chargers advanced to the State tournament in San Jose. But Cypress lost twice in three games in less than 24 hours and was eliminated.

“Everybody is excited about playing and having a chance to win it,” Corson said. “Last year, everyone was more excited because we got to go on a plane ride. This year, we all get along great and it is really fun.”

For those who watch Corson pitch, fun is hardly the word that comes to mind.

She normally stands on the rubber with a distant look on her face. Her stoic expression is constant, whether she throws a strike, a ball, whether the bases are loaded or empty.

Some slight expression of joy invades her face as she congratulates a teammate for a good play, but as soon as she returns to the rubber, the look of indifference returns.

“Everyone tells me that I look like I don’t even try,” Corson, 19, said. “But I guess it is because I pitch worse when I get really intense.”

Corson’s calm demeanor comes partly because of the pitches she throws.

While many pitchers use exaggerated windups in an effort to throw the ball past batters, Corson uses mostly a curve and change. She tries more for groundouts than strikeouts and has struck out only 105 batters in 214 innings. Her earned-run average is 0.42.

“When it happens to someone else,” Corson said about being named pitcher of the year, “I think it’s really exciting, but for me it wasn’t that big a deal. I know that without my team making the plays behind me, I wouldn’t be where I am.”

Corson came to Cypress from La Habra High, where she was an all-Freeway League selection in soccer and softball. She pitched in youth leagues but didn’t pitch in high school until her senior season because she was needed at shortstop.

She chose Cypress because Pickler told her if she could earn it, she would get a chance to play in the field as well. Corson hit .265 last season playing in the outfield and pitching. She hit .260 this season, mostly as the designated hitter.

“I like playing in the field,” Corson said. “There is less pressure than pitching, especially when Brad (Pickler) says things like ‘we will do fine if our pitching holds up.’ Then I start to feel the pressure. But once I get on the field I will be fine.”

Palomar, Cypress and Sacramento are considered the favorites in the double-elimination tournament.

Orange Coast (35-14) plays Sacramento (48-6) and Cypress (42-10) plays Ohlone (34-10) at noon. Chabot (48-5) plays Pasadena (33-12) and San Mateo plays Palomar (36-8) at 2 p.m. The winners will play at 6 and 8 p.m. The losers play Saturday at 10 a.m.

The tournament continues through Sunday with the title game at 1 p.m.

State Tournament Notes

Orange Coast (35-14) is making its first appearance in the State tournament since 1981 when the Pirates lost in the final game to Golden West. OCC is led by pitchers Alisha Nelson (22-8) and Kristin Heizer (12-5). Tina Fuata leads with a .333 average and Shannon Ebert leads with 30 runs batted in for the Pirates, who hit .262 as a team. . . . Laura Corson (25-7), Cindy Hover (9-0) and Karrie Swartz (8-3) give Cypress (42-10) pitching depth. Cypress hit .272 as a team and had three players batting over .300. Nikkani Andrews leads at .320, Tricia Barr is second at .318 and Susan Dugas is hitting .305. Andrews is the RBI leader with 30. Barr has six home runs and 21 RBIs.