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| Congratulations Coach Clarin (WSC Coach of the Year) and Elyssa Fox (WSC Pitcher of the Year) more info..... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Softball
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spending the 2007 season as the Cougars’ interim head coach. She led the Cougars to the playoffs her first season as the Cougars Head Coach after helping them to the 2006 State Tournament as an assistant coach. In 2006, she split the day-to-day duties with former Coach Allison Merzon andalso assumed third base duties at every game as well as head coaching duties on all road games. She and Merzon led Cuesta to its first State Tournament appearance and
helped the Cougars, who had been 7-13 in the playoffs under Merzon, make the leap from playoff team to title contender. 
| # | Name | Ht | Pos | Yr | Hometown/High School |
| 1 | Lauren Vancil | 5-2 | 2B/3B | Fr | Fallbrook/ Fallbrook |
| 2 | Danielle Crawford | 5-2 | SS | So | Pismo Beach/ Buchanan |
| 3 | Elyse Garza | 5-4 | OF | So | Three Rivers/ Woodlake |
| 4 | Jules Hall | 5-4 | Utl | So | Hollister/ San Benito |
| 5 | Alex Sweeney | 5-3 | C | Fr | Arroyo Grande/ AGHS |
| 7 | Chelsie Rodriguez | 5-7 | RHP/1B | Fr | Carmichael/ Arroyo Grande |
| 8 | Danielle Flores | 5-4 | OF | So | Bakersfield/ Stockdale |
| 9 | Lindsey Thompson | 5-6 | OF | Fr | Paso Robles/ Paso Robles |
| 12 | Elyssa Fox | 5-8 | RHP | Fr | Fallbrook/ Fallbrook |
| 13 | Sara Clinton | 5-5 | RHP/OF | So | Clovis/ Buchanan |
| 14 | Keryn Kerns | 5-8 | 3B | Fr | Atascadero/ Atascadero |
| 15 | Courtney Minton | 5-10 | C/1B | So | Paso Robles/ Templeton |
| 18 | Jenna Robinson | 5-5 | 1B | Fr | Morro Bay/ Morro Bay |
Head Coach: Sara Clarin |
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Stats
Quick Facts/Clarin Record
Softball
Coach: Sarah Clarin
Record/Years: 26-19/2nd
Assistant: Heather Sanders
Office Phone: (805) 546-3100 ext. 2704
Email: sclarin@cuesta.edu
2007 Record: 26-19
2007 WSC Record/Finish: 19-6/2nd
2007 Playoffs: 1st Round
Sports Information Director: Pete Schuler (805) 546-3211
Athletic Trainer: Sue Gin/John Malinowski ( 805) 546-3225
Athletic Director: Bob Mariucci (805) 546-3100 ext.2709
The Clarin Record
Overall Conference Playoffs
Year win loss tie win loss place win loss State
2007 26 19 0 19 6 2nd 0 2 ----
Total 26 19 0 19 6 0 0 2 0
Archives
Coaches' Records | Season Hitting | Season Pitching | Career Hitting | Career Pitching |
STATS: 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07
2008 Preview
Cuesta Softball Opens this 2008 in Visalia this Thursday
SAN LUIS OBISPO (January 29, 2008)—The Cuesta Softball team continues to climb the State rankings. The Cougars have not finished lower than second in the Western State Conference since 2000. Last year the Cougars installed former Cal Poly Star Sara Clarin as the interim head coach and after leading the Cougars to second place in the Western State Conference and into the playoffs Athletic Director Bob Mariucci removed the interim label and named her the head coach. Clarin will have six players back from her first year, including 2007 WSC Player of the Year Danielle Crawford (Pismo Beach: Buchanan HS). Clarin feels that her returning six sophomores will be major factors in this team’s success, she says, “Our six sophomores are good leaders, understand what is expected of them and have set goals as a team.” The Cougars also have a good group of freshmen and they will join the veterans as they push towards a conference title and another playoff berth.
The Cougars will begin their season this Thursday in Visalia. They will play a doubleheader with the College of the Sequoias beginning at noon. The Cougars hope opener with Riverside scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed until March 22nd. The Cougars will instead host Reedley on February 5th for their home opener.
Pitchers
2007 All Western State Conference First Team selection Sara Clinton (Clovis) returns to the pitching circle for the Cougars along with a pair of hard-throwing freshman. Clinton was the Cougars’ ace last year and has a lot of command and poise in the pitching circle. Last year her bloated earned run average of 3.26, still the best on the team, was overshadowed by her 15 wins and her ability to make big pitches. When Clinton is not pitching this year she will continue to be a threat at the plate and play in the outfield. Last year she hit .333 and was second on the team with 10 stolen bases. Freshman Elyssa Fox (Fallbrook HS) is a two-time All Avocado League choice and is expected to develop into a dominating pitcher. Fox will battle every game with an over-powing fastball, but her success will be determined by how well she hits her spots. Fellow freshman Chelsie Rodriguez (Carmichael: Arroyo Grande HS) is the sister of former Cuesta pitching star CJ Harmon, who won 15 games and set a school record with seven saves in 2001. Rodriguez can pitch or play first base. She is physically strong and provides the Cougars with a hard thrower and a power hitter.
Catcher
Sophomore Courtney Minton (Paso Robles: Templeton HS) spent the fall of her freshman year at San Francisco State and showed up just in time for Cuesta’s season. A natural catcher, Minton made the transition to first base because sophomore Olivia Martinez was already entrenched behind the plate. Minton started slowly, but ended up hitting .339 with four home runs. Coach Clarin says that she will be much more comfortable back behind the plate this year and expects her to have more consistency at the plate. Minton is a good handle of pitchers and her softball knowledge will give the Cougars an extra edge. Freshman Alex Sweeney (Arroyo Grande HS) is a very athletic player and will learn a lot by playing behind Minton. She will also allow the Cougars to rest Minton or move her to first base for a rest. Freshman Keryn Kerns (Atascadero HS) will also be able to catch if needed.
First Base
Former All-SLO Country Jenna Robinson (Morro Bay HS) will begin the season at first base, but she is still adjusting to the collegiate game. Clarin says, “She is very intense, works hard and wants to get better.” Freshmen Chelsie Rodriguez (Carmichael: Arroyo Grande HS) and Courtney Minton (Paso Robles: Templeton HS), who earned 2007 All-WSC honors there last year, will both see time at first base. Sophomore Jules Hall (Hollister) and freshman Keryn Kerns (Atascadero HS) can also fill in if needed.
Second Base
Sophomores Jules Hall (Hollister) and Sara Clinton (Clovis) have both filed in at second base, but Hall will get the first call to start the season if freshman Lauren Vancil (Fallbrook HS) doesn’t slide over from the hot corner. Hall redshirted last year after seeing limited playing time in 2006. Clarin says, “She is a mature player and knows the system. She is fundamentally sound, which allow us to move her around.” Hall saw action in only ten games as a freshman, but hit .500 in her limited at bats. She is expected to be a tough out. Clinton will probably only move into the infield in an emergency, she is better suited to the outfield, when she is not pitching. Vancil has a good glove and quick hands. She will have a home somewhere in the infield.
Third Base
Lauren Vancil (Fallbrook HS) is slated to begin the season at third base, but fellow freshman Lindsey Thompson (Paso Robles HS) may force her to move across the diamond. Thompson is one of the best raw athletes on the team and will take over one of the corners. She should also be a solid hitter for the Cougars, but she needs to overcome some of her preseason injuries. Keryn Kerns (Atascadero HS) has a good glove and strong arm and is also very athletic. The two-time All SLO Country selection should fill one of the corner infield positions or move to the outfield. She is also expected to hit for power.
Shortstop
2007 Western State Conference Player of the Year Danielle Crawford (Pismo beach: Buchanan HS) played all four of the infield positions last year, but found a home at shortstop. Last year, expected starting shortstop Krista Simko accepted a scholarship to CSU Northridge just before the start of 2007 campaign and the Cougars tried several players in her spot before Coach Clarin just decided to plug in her best athlete, Crawford. Once there Crawford made a home for herself and now Clair says, “She has taken to the position and is a smarter and more polished player.” Crawford will anchor the Cougars infield and the batting order. She was named to the 2007 All State Team after hitting .414 and driving in 38 runs.
Outfield
Taft transfer Danielle Flores (Bakersfield) while Sara Clinton (Clovis), Keryn Kerns (Atascadero HS), Jules Hall (Hollister) and Elyse Garza (Three Rivers) share the rest of the yard. Flores will play centerfield for the Cougars and run the outfield. She also adds good gap power to the Cougars’ line-up. Clinton, Kerns or Hall will be in the outfield on a regular basis, while Garza may begin the season as a starter, she be primarily used to add speed and defense in the late innings. Garza is switching to the left side of the plate to tray and take advantage of her speed. She scored 14 runs as a pinch runner last season.
Associated Students of Cuesta College, the Athletic Booster Club and other individual fund raising projects.