1996 Softball Preview : Sunset League
Edison: 5-18, 0-10 in 1995. Coach: Harry Schmidt (fourth year, 13-70). Prospects: This is a tough league to turn around a program, but pitching and defense give the Chargers a chance to win some games. Pitcher Cristie Webb and outfielder Angela Mandich return, as do junior catcher Kortney Kaa and junior second baseman Annie Bennington.
Esperanza: 5-5, 10-13 in 1995. Coach: Geri Patton (first year). Prospects: The Aztecs will be as young as any team in the league with only only two senior returners, pitcher Danielle Wilson and outfielder Chrissy Bryant. They are joined again by junior pitcher Catie Lacy and catcher Julia Cappelli, and sophomore infielder Kim Dornen.
Fountain Valley: 15-14, 6-4 in 1995. Coach: Cary Baker (14th year, 254-110-2). Prospects: The Barons had one of the county’s better offenses last year, but lose shortstop Laurie Gillis (Northwestern, .345, 11 runs, 14 runs batted in) and second baseman Lynea Backlund (Iowa State). Among key returning players are junior catcher-outfielder Lindsey Collins (.398, 20 runs, four RBIs), a Times all-county second-team player her freshman year. Returning seniors, outfielder Carolyn Caforio, catcher-first baseman Alicia Burdick, and pitcher Keary Camunas (12-11, 1.09), comprise the nucleus of the team. Junior third baseman-second baseman Lisa Layton and sophomore utility player Marti McKeever also return. The offense should again be a strength, and experience should pay dividends along the way, but this year’s defense must improve over last year’s.
Huntington Beach: 12-15, 4-6 in 1995. Coach: Julie Anderson (ninth year, 93-107-1). Prospects: Ten players are back from last year, including Florida-bound shortstop-outfielder Nicole Kreipl, an all-league player. Other notable returners are catcher-third baseman Jennifer Krill (Virginia), a second-team choice last year, and pitcher-third baseman Jessica Walker, who didn’t play last year but was a second-team all-league player as a sophomore. The Oilers got a big addition in the form of transfer Heather Hibben (Kansas), a first baseman-pitcher from Marina who didn’t play last year. Huntington Beach has plenty of experience and isn’t hurting for depth.
Los Alamitos: 21-7, 6-4 in 1995. Coach: Jami Shannon (18th year, 267-142-2). Prospects: Shortstop Michelle Schneider (Stanford, .386, 18 runs, 14 RBIs), catcher Jennifer Slaney (Fresno State, .217) and outfielder Amanda Peterson (Northwestern, .356, 24 stolen bases) are gone from a Division I semifinalist. The Griffins won with defense, and if they support pitcher Mandy Rockwell (11-1, 0.36), they are again playoff threats. Dana Olmstead (6-4, 0.41) did not return this season. Junior shortstop-third baseman Cyndi Tredway (.389, 25 runs, 26 RBIs) was a Times second-team and All-Southern Section player, and juniors Dinha Mead (first base) and Brooke Donberg (second base), and senior Megan Barnes (outfield) were second-team all-leaguers.
Marina: 24-5, 9-1 in 1995. Coach: Shelly Luth (sixth year, 108-28). Prospects: No team was hurt more by graduation than two-time defending Southern Section Division I champion Marina, which lost 10 players, including Marcy Crouch (.297, 14 runs, nine RBIs), the Times player of the year and two-time section player of the year. Crouch (Stanford) was 22-4 with a county-best 0.11 ERA. Catcher Heather Williams (.368, 11 RBIs) was also a Times all-county selection. Hoping to pick up the pieces are outfielder Jenny Hoff, third baseman Monica Mora, junior pitcher Holly Lenard and sophomores Alicia Velazquez at catcher and Heather Hagen at second base.