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SPORTS
UPDATE
Great
finish by softball team
| All-Conference
pitcher Julia Jimenez |
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The
women's softball team has issued a challenge to all future
Eagles’ teams. The 21 wins recorded by the squad are
the most in the short history of the program.
It is the standard that all future softball teams will have
to exceed to be judged better.
The Eagles just missed a playoff spot after winning seven
of their last eight games. The strong finish left them in
third place in the Western State Conference, just shy of a
qualifying berth.
While last year’s team finished under .500 in Coach Kelly
Lovato’s first season, the 2004 squad finished 21-17-2
– and 13-11 in conference.
"The 21 wins are fantastic for a program in only its
second year," said Athletic Director John Klitsner. "There
are a lot of teams that have been around a lot longer that
can’t claim that many wins."
Lovato credits the mid-season turnaround to better execution
by her players and to the maturity of pitcher Julia Jimenez.
Originally a second base player, Jimenez grew into her role
as the starting pitcher and helped spark the winning streak,
Lovato said.
In addition to Jimenez, three other Eagles were named to the
All Conference team: Samantha Dempsey, first base; shortstop
Tamara LaBreche; and outfielder Jenna Puetz.
The season
marked the end of Lovato’s coaching tenure. She is returning
to Europe to compete semi-professionally with Antorchas, a
women’s softball team in Valencia, Spain. Over the next
year, she’ll also compete in Moscow and South Africa.
"I realized I’m at an age where this might be my
last opportunity to play professionally," she said. The
Mission College program will be in good hands when assistant
coach Sandra Durazo takes over the reins next season, Lovato
added.
Photos:
Adrian Gonzalez / Lydia Chung
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