The CSU-Pueblo softball program, fresh off their 2009 season when they were the Central Region runner-up, have added 10 new student-athletes to the roster for 2010 season, coach Shane Showalter announced today.
The class includes Pueblo native and Central High School alum, Dannielle Oliva (Central HS, Pueblo, Colo.), Windsor High School pitcher Ashli Kemp (Windsor HS, Windsor, Colo.), Greeley native Reagan Best (Northridge HS, Greeley, Colo.), Otero Junior College transfer Carrie Henry (Lewis-Palmer HS, Monument, Colo.), and Frederick High School catcher, Annalyse Garcia (Frederick HS, Frederick, Colo.). The class also includes four California products: Shelby Dopps (San Dimas HS, San Dimas, Calif.), McKenzie Joseph (Centennial HS, Bakersfield, Calif.), Lacey Chesser (Buena HS, Ventura, Calif.) and Ashley Corrigan (Bonita HS, La Verne, Calif.), as well as a Las Vegas, Nev. product, Tiffany Parker (Silverado HS, Las Vegas, Nev.).
Of the 10 signees, seven will be freshmen. Parker, Corrigan and Henry are all junior college transfers and will be juniors in 2010.
Oliva, a catcher and utility player with the Wildcats, helped Central to the state championship game in 2007. She has played club softball with the Pueblo Shockers from 2001 to 2009, and was named to the 2006 United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Western Region 18U All-World Team. She was a three-time all-South Central League selection at Central, and was an all-state selection as a senior. She will former Wildcat Desiree Carrillo (Fr., Pueblo, Colo) on the ThunderWolf softball squad.
“Dannielle is one of the top high school softball players Pueblo has ever had, and it will be great to add her to our squad,” Showalter said. “Her work ethic and experience will be a great addition to our team.”
Kemp, who helped Windsor to the cusp of a state championship in 2008, was an all-state selection as a pitcher in 2008. In her career, she went 11-3 with a 1.73 ERA, striking out 114 batters in 85 innings. With the departure of two senior pitchers from the program, Kemp will immediately see playing time in the circle for the Pack.
“Ashli is a powerful pitcher and has shown she can measure up against stiff competition,” Showalter said. “She has what it takes to be an elite pitcher at the Division II level, and we’re excited to welcome her to our program.”
The Pack’s Colorado crop is rounded out with a trio of former all-state field players.
Best, who helped Northridge to the 4A state semifinals, was an all-state selection at Northridge, hitting .400 as an outfielder. She had an on-base percentage of .538 as a senior, and led Northridge with 18 RBI during their 22-game season.
Henry, who helped lead Otero Junior College to an NJCAA Region IX Championship in 2009, prepped at Lewis-Palmer High School, where she was an all-state selection as an outfielder. She was a career .429 hitter at Lewis-Palmer.
Garcia, a catcher who helped Frederick to the 2008 4A State Championship game, was an all-state selection in 2008. She hit .411 as a senior and boasted a .404 career batting average. A speedy catcher, Garcia stole 23 bases in three seasons at Frederick.
The Pack’s lone Nevada product, Parker, helped lead the College of Southern Nevada to the cusp of an NJCAA Region XVIII Championship, hitting .409. Her .670 slugging percentage led the team, and her fielding as the team’s catcher was stellar, committing just two errors and seven passed balls in 31 games behind the dish.
A quartet of California-based field players round out the Pack’s class.
Joseph, a second baseman at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, Calif., hit .461 for the Golden Hawks, only striking out four times in 102 at bats. A stellar fielder, she has only committed two errors in 2009. She was also an all-area selection at Centennial.
Dopps, also a second-baseman, prepped at San Dimas High School in San Dimas, Calif., where she hit .348 and only committed one error in the field. She helped San Dimas to the Valle Vista Conference title.
Chesser, a third baseman at Buena High School in Ventura, Calif., helped Buena to a Channel League championship in 2009. She hit .386 with four home runs as a senior, and was an all-Channel League selection.
Corrigan, a junior college transfer from Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., is a utility player who has shown the ability to be unflappable in the field and get on base. She hasn’t committed an error in her time at Citrus, and drew eight walks in just 47 plate appearances.
“All four of these girls will help us to fill holes in our infield,” Showalter said. “We pride ourselves on being solid defensively and having strong contact-hitters, and they certainly have a chance to be great with the ThunderWolves.”
With its new players in tow, CSU-Pueblo will look to make a repeat appearance in the NCAA Division II Central Regionals when it opens its season in February 2010.
