Borders Enrolls at Whittier

The point of Ila Borders’ collegiate baseball career was never about being the first woman to do it. It always was--and continues to be--about playing.

That’s why she left Southern California College, where she made history by stepping on the mound as a freshman pitcher in 1994, and enrolled at Whittier College for her senior year, Borders said Tuesday.

She obtained a release from SCC and is eligible to play for Whittier this spring.

“Basically, just to put it in a nutshell, I thought my opportunity was better at Whittier College,” she said.

Borders fared well in her freshman season for the Vanguards, finishing with a 2-4 record and a 2.91 earned-run average in 49 1/3 innings, but she has struggled since. Last season as a junior, she had a 5.18 ERA in 24 1/3 innings.

Kevin Kasper took over as SCC baseball coach before last season, replacing Charlie Phillips, who signed Borders out of Whittier Christian High.

SCC finished 12-34 last season, 7-17 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Borders would not comment on the effect the Vanguards’ coaching change might have had on her dwindling playing time.

“I don’t know what was going on. Just, basically, the year didn’t go as I planned, so I just decided to move somewhere else,” she said. “I went [to Athletic Director Bob Wilson] and said, ‘I’m going somewhere else to pursue my baseball career’ and he completely understood. There was no bitterness.”

Wilson said Borders requested her release after last season and he sent it to several colleges on her behalf.

“I think she just thought that maybe it was time for her to go in another direction,” Wilson said. “She never said anything negative to me about SCC.”

Borders said her decision was born of her determination to become a professional baseball player. She wanted to play at a school where she could pitch more innings to give professional scouts an opportunity to see her.

“I’m going to give myself a shot to go pro. [Scouts] said, ‘We want you, but we only have 24 innings. We can’t base your abilities on 24 innings,’ ” she said.

Borders wouldn’t be the first woman drafted--Carey Schueler was selected in the 43rd round by the Chicago White Sox in 1993 but never played. Borders also wouldn’t be the first woman to play for an affiliated minor league team--Pam Davis pitched one scoreless inning in an exhibition for the Southern League’s Jacksonville Suns in June.

“What I want to do is get drafted by a major league team and have a contract, not just play in an exhibition game. This is something I want to pursue as a career,” she said.

In looking for a school where she could pitch more innings, Borders also considered Bellevue (Neb.) College, which won the 1995 NAIA national championship.

“After awhile, kind of thinking it over, I decided I wanted to stay in California where the weather is pretty good,” she said.

Borders, whose record at SCC was 4-12 with a 5.09 ERA in 123 2/3 innings, is expected to make an immediate impact at Whittier, which lost four pitchers to graduation last season.

“We [can] use an experienced, college left-handed pitcher,” Whittier Coach Jim Pigot said. “I told her, ‘I can’t make any promises as far as playing time, that’s all up to you.’ ”

Borders said she was overwhelmed by the warm reception she has received from the Poet players, who were 8-29 last year and 4-17 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“I can honestly say I have never met a better bunch of guys,” she said. “I remember the first day, walking out there and six guys came up and said hello and shook my hand and said, ‘If you need anything, let us know.’

Although Borders is moving from the NAIA to the NCAA Division III, she doesn’t expect the transition to be difficult. Two of her victories at SCC came against Claremont, which plays in the SCIAC. She will face her old team twice in nonconference games this season, April 8 and April 29.