THE TIMES 1996 ALL-CONTY SOFTBALL TEAM

Player: Amanda Freed

Position: Pitcher

School: Pacifica

Year: So.

A two-time selection, Freed finally lost after 20 consecutive victories to begin her career (dating to last year). She pitched a perfect game against sixth-ranked Garden Grove, and had the county’s third-best ERA among eligible pitchers. Her dominance extended to her offense: She hit .345 with 22 runs and 22 RBIs.

1996 pitching record

IP: 98

W-L: 13-3

SO: 173

BB: 29

ERA: 0.14

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Player: Ashley Boone

Position: First Baseman

School: Woodbridge

Year: Jr.

Few first basemen in Orange County are as highly regarded as Boone. A second-team selection last year, she did nothing to tarnish her reputation this season. She batted third for the fourth-ranked Warriors and helped them to the Division II championship game. She scored 16 runs and complemented her offense with fine defensive play.

1996 batting record

AB: 106

H: 37

HR: 1

RBI: 12

BA: .349

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Player: Dana Gulick

Position: Outfielder

School: El Toro

Year: Sr.

A first-team player two years ago, Gulick is one of the finest outfielders in the county. She batted .363, scored 15 runs and stole 15 bases. Her average might have been higher, but her quickness to first base created a lot of errors on slap hits. Her on-base average was .495. A left fielder, she’s headed to Arkansas.

1996 batting record

AB: 91

H: 33

HR: 0

RBI: 2

BA: .363

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Player: Marie Gieron

Position: Pitcher

School: Foothill

Year: Sr.

A second-team choice last year, Gieron’s off-season weight training program added 18 pounds and made her one of the best pitchers around. She responded by doubling her strikeout ratio (0.97 per inning), and her walks/hits per inning was a scant 0.59. The county’s winningest pitcher, she will also play first base at Creighton.

1996 pitching record

IP: 172.1

W-L: 22-3

SO: 167

BB: 27

ERA: 0.40

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Player: Jamie Clark

Position: Infielder

School: Foothill

Year: Fr.

Not only was Clark a terrific shortstop--she was voted the outstanding defensive player at the Santa Maria Righetti tournament--but she was a diverse offensive player, batting leadoff or cleanup. She broke the single-season school record for runs batted in (31), scored 29 runs and had 16 stolen bases. And she’s only a freshman.

1996 batting record

AB: 94

H: 0

HR: 2

RBI: 31

BA: .426

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Player: Debbie Tomoguchi

Position: Outfielder

School: Irvine

Year: Jr.

Tomoguchi, a second-team all-county outfielder last year, turned this year’s performance into something her sister, Natalie (Ohio State), never achieved--a spot on the first team. Her 31 RBIs were the county’s fourth-best total, and she also scored 17 runs, providing key contributions to make Irvine the county’s eighth-ranked team.

1996 batting record

AB: 85

H: 36

HR: 2

RBI: 31

BA: .424

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Player: Christy Robitaille

Position: Pitcher

School: Woodbridge

Year: So.

Robitaille pitched Woodbridge to the Division II title last year and nearly did the same this season, throwing 19 shutouts along the way. Her walks/hits to innings pitched ratio was 0.62, and she struck out more than a batter an inning. A second-team all-county selection as a freshman, she was three innings shy of leading the county in that category.

1996 pitching record

IP: 186.1

W-L: 21-5

SO: 192

BB: 48

ERA: 0.34

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Player: Kelsey Kollen

Position: Infielder

School: Mater Dei

Year: So.

Batting leadoff, Kollen set the Southern Section record for hits (67) and had the county’s third-highest average. The result? She scored 39 runs and stole 16 bases for a team that averaged eight runs per game, won the Division I title and finished ranked No. 1 in the state. A second-team selection last year, Kollen has batted .547 over two years.

1996 batting record

AB: 115

H: 67

HR: 1

RBI: 11

BA: .583

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Player: Kelly Hauxhurst

Position: Designated Hitter

School: Westminster

Year: Jr.

An all-county outfielder last year, Hauxhurst again slapped and bunted her way to success. Her 34 runs and 27 RBIs were among the county’s best totals, and her 39 stolen bases tied her for the county lead; she was second, with 36, in 1995. Filling a need, she played out of position, at second base, for the ninth-ranked Lions.

1996 batting record

AB: 94

H: 47

HR: 4

RBI: 27

BA: .500

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Player: Marissa Young

Position: Pitcher

School: Mater Dei

Year: Fr.

Young posted the county’s lowest earned-run average (0.06) and its highest strikeout total (216) in 126 2/3 innings. A batter reached about every 2 2/3 innings. She was a key reason Mater Dei (No. 2 in OC at regular season’s end) finished No. 1 in the state. She also batted .402 with 35 RBIs--the second-best total in the county.

1996 pitching record

IP: 126.2

W-L: 18-1

SO: 216

BB: 15

ERA: 0.06

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Player: Lisa Tully

Position: Infielder

School: Mater Dei

Year: Sr.

Her coach, Doug Myers, says Tully has been the heart and soul of the Monarchs the last two years, and they’ve won 56 games during that span. Not only does Notre Dame-bound Tully supply solid third-base play and consistent performance at the plate, her greatest contribution is leadership on a team that starts only three seniors at the most.

1996 batting record

AB: 106

H: 46

HR: 2

RBI: 18

BA: .434

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Player: Toni Mascarenas

Position: Utility

School: Pacifica

Year: Jr.

A three-time all-county choice (pitcher, utility), she solved Pacifica’s concerns about scoring runs when she moved to the leadoff position, where she scored 33 runs. Not only is she a tremendous shortstop, but filled in admirably as a pitcher--she had a 10-1 record, a 0.28 ERA and struck out 79 in 74 innings.

1996 batting record

AB: 95

H: 39

HR: 6

RBI: 21

BA: .411

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Player: Jenny Topping

Position: Catcher

School: La Habra

Year: So.

Topping set the standard for catchers. Saugus Coach Ron Hilton said she’s the best he’s seen “in a long time.” His catcher last year, Jeanine Giordano, is starting at Washington, the College World Series runner-up. Not only is Topping a terror at bat, but also behind the plate, with a strong arm and quick release.

1996 batting record

AB: 80

H: 47

HR: 7

RBI: 42

BA: .588

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Player: Lauren Bauer

Position: Outfielder

School: Foothill

Year: Jr.

Any all-county outfield begins with center fielder Bauer, who is a two-time selection for her considerable defensive skills as well as her notable offensive ones. She batted third for the county’s top-ranked team and performed brilliantly, displaying speed (19 stolen bases, 33 runs) and power (three homers, 22 RBIs) for the Knights.

1996 batting record

AB: 102

H: 39

HR: 3

RBI: 22

BA: .382

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Second Team

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PITCHERS SCHOOLS YEAR IP W-L SO BB ERA Heather Hibben Huntington Beach Sr. 116.2 12-5 41 24 0.24 Brooke Hofstetter Mater Dei Sr. 78.2 12-0 83 7 0.18 Carrie Jeffries El Dorado Jr. 144.1 13-6 125 25 0.24 Julie Luna Rosary Sr. 180.1 19-8 135 47 0.35

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POSITION PLAYERS SCHOOLS YEAR AB H HR RBI BA C Natasha Sisco Pacifica Sr. 68 27 5 19 .397 1B Lindsay Fossatti Foothill So. 93 35 3 26 .376 IF Lizzy Lemire Woodbridge Jr. 107 39 1 23 .364 IF Christy Ring Calvary Chapel So. 103 65 3 13 .631 IF Cyndi Tredway Los Alamitos Jr. 75 29 2 18 .387 OF Shealee Dunavan Mater Dei Jr. 81 28 3 20 .346 OF Jennifer Hamer El Toro Sr. 88 27 1 15 .307 OF Geney Orris Brea Olinda So. 98 34 10 21 .347 DH Krissy Keene Westminster Jr. 67 29 7 26 .433 UT Veronica Lopez Canyon Jr. 95 39 1 16 .411

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