The Trinidad State Junior College softball team is ready for an exciting 2010 season
TSJC softball coach Steve Swazo enters his fourth season at the helm for the Lady Trojans posting consecutive winning seasons the past two years. Last year his Lady Trojans made it to the Region IX championship game falling one game short of advancing to the national championships.
“I am expecting some great things from this team,” Swazo said. “We had a very good fall and the girls really worked hard in the off-season. If we can keep the injury bug away from this team, I don’t see why this team cannot make it all the way to nationals. They have a goal and that is to win the Region IX championship and I don’t see why they should not achieve that.”
The Trojans were 27-23 last season and finished second at the regional tournament while setting numerous team records such as runs scored (330), hits (473) and team batting average (.346). They also destroyed the team homerun record with 72 long balls. Gone is Region IX Player of the Year Julia Diehl, who re-wrote the record book in batting average and homeruns and is currently playing for Metro State College.
“Last year’s team definitely had some power but this team will also surprise some people,” Swazo said. “We have some hitters that will be able to go yard. Now I don’t know if we will hit 72 homeruns like last year, but then that is what records are for, to be broken, and this team is aware of that.”
The Lady Trojans will return four sophomores with playing experience and one transfer to begin the 2010 season. Leading the way will be returning sophomore All-Region First-Team selection Leah Hanson, a shortstop who hit .445 with 13 homeruns, 42 RBI, along with 17 doubles last season. She also made the All-Tournament team at the Region IX tournament.
“Leah is a complete player,” Swazo said. “She can hit both for average and power and does a great job for us at shortstop. I am expecting Leah to have another great year at the plate and also challenge some of the hitting records we have here at TSJC.”
Also returning for the Lady Trojans will be: Jessica Apodaca (Las Cruces, NM) who hit .306 with 2 homeruns and will see action at first base and pitch. She has committed to play next year at Western New Mexico; Ariel Navarro (Pueblo, CO) will see time behind the plate and hit. Amanda Snyder (Thornton, CO) an outfielder who hit .425 before getting injured last season and had to medical redshirt and Cherray Blan (Denver, CO) who was also a medical red-shirt last year and will see time as an infielder and utility player this season. Also new to the team is Sara Permenter (Amarillo, TX), a transfer pitcher from Barton County CC, who will see time on the hill and also time at first base for the Trojans.
“I am expecting our sophomore class to step it up and provide good leadership on the field and also off the field,” the TSJC softball coach said. “Each player will contribute and believe they will be successful this coming year. Amanda and Cherray will definitely help us this year after sitting out last season with injuries as both can make things happen offensively and bringing in Sara will give us someone who has pitching experience at the college level.”
Along with the returning sophomores, the Lady Trojans bring in nine talented freshmen who are expected to see a lot of playing time this year. The freshman class includes: Chelsea Blais, a 3B from Castle Rock, CO; Vanessa Brogdon an outfielder from Roswell, NM; Brittany Conger an outfielder from Delta, CO; Niki Iacobbo a 2B from Colorado Springs, CO; Katie Kerr a 3B from Aurora, CO; Shelbi Long a catcher from Amarillo, TX; Krysten Lopez a 3B from La Junta, CO; Jordyn Randolph a pitcher from Arvada, CO; and Cecely Rodriguez an outfielder from Amarillo, TX.
“This is a very talented freshman class and expect them to see a lot of playing time this year,” Swazo said. “They know the game very well and have been well-coached at their perspective high schools and travel ball teams. Some had a great fall season and have earned starting positions and some are battling it out for some key positions.”
