Maumausolo Is a Driving Force

Some day, perhaps years from now, Scia Maumausolo will recognize the significance of her athletic accomplishments as a Cal State Northridge softball player.

But on Thursday, after setting a school record for career runs batted in, Maumausolo was her humble and stoical self. She didn’t know how many RBIs she had or whose record she was chasing. But most of all, she didn’t much care.

“I’ve just never been concerned with my stats,” she said. “The biggest thing to me is that we win.”

With the help of Maumausolo’s record-breaking, run-scoring single in the fourth inning and Tara Glaister’s one-hitter, Northridge defeated Iowa State, 11-0, in a nonconference game that was called after five innings because of the mercy rule.

Maumausolo, a 5-foot-9 senior from Mt. Carmel High near San Diego, is simply not the kind of player who craves the spotlight. Not the kind who smiles broadly and waves to the crowd after it is announced on the public address system that she has just set another record at Northridge. Never has been, never will be. Period.

“She doesn’t look at records,” Northridge Coach Janet Sherman said. “We don’t talk about it. It’s just an extra. [But] it’s an incredible feat for her.”

Northridge (17-4), which had nine hits, scored five runs in the first inning and finished it with five runs in the fifth.

Chelo Lopez’s two-run double and Jennifer Parker’s two-run home run keyed the first-inning onslaught. In the fifth, Jeanne Pray ripped a three-run triple over the head of right fielder Jaime Kahler to end it.

But it was clearly Maumausolo’s day to remember.

She claimed the RBI record--previously owned by Beth Calcante (1991-94)--with a ground ball up the middle to score Julie Sessler for her 142nd career RBI.

Maumausolo, who had to ask whose record she broke, set the career home run record earlier this season. Calcante had 33. Maumausolo has 36 with at least another 36 games to play.

She is two doubles away from breaking Calcante’s career mark of 31.

But since this is Maumausolo’s last chance at a national title, team goals are more important to her.

“Bottom line is she wants to win the [Women’s College] World Series and her job is to lead us there,” Sherman said.

Glaister kept Iowa State (5-6) off balance with a mix of fastballs and riseballs out of the strike zone. Glaister, who threw 109 pitches in five innings, walked five batters and threw three wild pitches.

“I was a little off today,” said Glaister, who struck out 10. “I threw too many pitches.”

Sherman wasn’t about to complain about a one-hitter.

“She was off today,” Sherman said. “[But] if that’s her off day, that’s pretty darn good.”