COLLEGE SOFTBALL CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE PREVIEW : Matadors Have All the Pieces for a Winner

Cal State Northridge softball Coach Gary Torgeson knows the difference between a favorite, an underdog and a longshot.

He has coached all three in his 11 years at Northridge, watching the Matadors slip from the perennial favorite at the NCAA Division II level in the early 1980s, to an also-ran in 1988-90, to the quintessential dark horse when the program went Division I in 1991.

His goal, of course, is to climb back on top. After only two seasons as a Division I independent, Northridge is on its way--and in the driver’s seat now that it is a member of the Western Athletic Conference, according to Torgeson.

“When you’re going from March to May with only rankings to rely on, you’ve got somebody else’s hands in (determining postseason bids),” Torgeson said. “We’ll be a lot more in control of our own destiny this year.”

Northridge, which will open the season at 1 p.m. today with a nonconference doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara, received its first Division I preseason ranking (No. 14) earlier this week. Mainstays UCLA (No. 1), Arizona (No. 2) and Fresno State (No. 3) are front-runners, but Torgeson says the Matadors are not far behind.

“This team is right on par with those Division I teams, even UCLA,” Torgeson said. “They’ve got great pitching, but so do we now.”

Mediocre pitching kept Northridge out of the Division I elite the past two years. Although the Matadors (45-25-1 in 1992) were ranked in every regular-season Top 20 poll last season--as high as No. 9 at one point--Torgeson knew the team needed stronger, more consistent pitchers.

Sophomore right-hander Kathy Blake, who became the winningest freshman in Northridge history with a record of 25-7 last season, was the team’s only true ace. Blake led the team in earned-run average (0.66), complete games (26), shutouts (12) and strikeouts (105 in 223 innings). The rest of the staff was a collective 20-18.

“We tried to rely too much on Blake (last year),” Torgeson said. “But, we’ve got a stud pitching staff this year--a major Division I pitching staff.”

Amy Windmiller, a junior transfer from Sacramento City College, compiled a 27-1 record and allowed only two earned runs in 197 innings last season, leading her team to the state junior college championship.

Windmiller, a right-hander, was originally recruited by Fresno State out of Mira Loma High in Sacramento. In 1991, Windmiller threw a no-hitter in her collegiate debut for the Bulldogs, but received little playing time and transferred to Sacramento City after one season.

Windmiller is predominantly a rise-ball pitcher with 65-m.p.h. velocity, but her consistency and poise impress Torgeson most.

“She’s strong as an ox,” Torgeson said. “She’d hit (a batter) and her expression wouldn’t change. She’s amazing. I love it.”

Rounding out the pitching staff are right-handers Tracy Tousley (2-0), a junior returning letterman, and freshman Jennifer Richardson from Etiwanda High.

Offensively, the power-hitting Matadors have had little problem producing runs. Northridge outscored opponents, 248-126.

Except for the graduation of catcher Patti Pearson (.278, 25 runs batted in), Northridge lost little offensively. Nine lettermen return, six of whom are starters.

Junior Beth Calcante (.276), a preseason All-American candidate who hit 10 home runs and had a team-high 31 RBIs last season, has moved from shortstop to left field. Filling the void at shortstop is junior transfer Vicky Rios, who played with Windmiller at Sacramento City last season.

Two other recruits expected to start are freshman Scia Maumausolo from Mt. Carmel High in San Diego and junior Shannon Jones, a transfer from Louisiana Tech.

Maumausolo, who hit three home runs in a scrimmage against Cal State San Bernardino last week, will back up senior Missy Cress (.276, 28 RBI) at catcher. When Maumausolo is not catching, she will hit in the designated-player spot. Jones will start at third.

Juniors Jen Fleming, who hit a team-high .322 last season, and Tamara Ivie (.310, 28 RBIs) return at center field and first base, respectively.

“I don’t know how we’re going to do,” Torgeson said. “But this is the best team I’ve had in a long time.”