USD Softball 2003

2003 TORERO SOFTBALL OUTLOOK

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Toreros Embark On 1st Year In Pacific Coast Softball Conference The 2003 version of the University of San Diego softball program will be a mix of key returners and an impressive group of new– comers. Second year head coach Melissa McElvain will have the luxury ofjust one senior and six upperclassmen as she returns nine letterwinners and six starters from last year 's 14-41 ball club. The lone senior is infielder Desi Collo (La Costa Canyon HS) who will see action at both first base and third base. She will be joined by five juniors that all started last season - pitchers Anna Russell (Granada Hills, CA) and Allison Williams (Danvill e, CA), third baseman Ashley Miller (Sa linas, CA), first baseman Jennifer Delpit (Pa los Verdes , CA), and outfi elder Cindy McGee (Burbank, CA). McGee has been tabbed the 2003 Team Captai n by her teammates. Russe ll and Williams were the team's key pitchers in 2002 with Russell finishing with a team-best 3.80 ERA in 29 appearances and 154.0 innings of work. Jennifer Delpit is the team 's top returning hitter after batting .284 with 42 hits, 8 doubles and 13 RBl. Ashley Miller chipped in with a .244 batting average and 11 runs scored, 29 hits, 2 doubles and 9 RBI. Sophomore Hilary McHugh (Vista, CA) wi ll aga in start in the outfield, and redshirt freshman Kim Delpit (Palos Verdes, CA) is projected to start at second base. Other returners back that will see plenty of playing time this season include sophomore outfielder Francesca Ramos (San Diego, CA) and sophomore outfielder/infielder Taryn Nagata (Honolulu, HI). Coach McElvain will look to her first recruiting group of six fresh– men to come in and play key roles in 2003. Strengthening the pitching corp will be Kari Lohse (Orland, CA), Erin Harmonson (San Diego, CA) and Gina McFarland (Santa Rosa, CA). Ashlee Nunes (Roseville, CA) is expected to start at shortstop, while Sara Mason (Santa Rosa , CA) should get the starting nod at catcher. Marissa Merchain (La Mirada, CA) will back-up at catcher and see playing time at third base. The Toreros will be embarking on one of their toughest schedules to date as they participate in five tournaments through the first half of the season. The Toreros will play in the Cal Poly Mustang Roundup (Feb. 7-9), the UC Santa Barbara Softball By The Beach Tournament (Feb . 21-23), the LMU Round Robin Tourney (Feb. 28-Mar. 2), the SDSU Tournament (Mar. 7-9) and the USD/SDSU Tournament (Mar. 14-1 6). This competition should get the Toreros conference ready for their first season in the newly fo unded Pacific Coast Softbal l Confer– ence. The Toreros wil l take on the likes of PCSC members Port– land State, Loyola Ma rymount, Santa Clara, Sai nt Mary's and Sacramento State.

Torero Senior: Desi Collo

Torero Juniors (1-r): Olaya Salazar, Ashley Miller, Anna Russell , Jenni fer Delpit, All ison Williams, Cindy McGee.

Torero Sophomores (1-r): Francesca Ramos, Hilary McHugh, Kim Delpit, Taryn Nagata.

Torero Freshmen (1-r): Sara Mason, Eri n Harmonson, Kari Lohse, Ashl ee Nunes, G ina McFarland, Marissa Merchain .

2003 University of San Diego Torero Softball - usdtoreros.com