Cuesta College Athletes of the Month

Cuesta College is proud to announce this month’s selections for the Athlete of the Month. This distinct honor recognizes two Cuesta College Athletes each month during the school year who have performed to the highest standards in their sport.

Our male selection for March is sophomore relief pitcher Marcus Martinez.

Marcus is the Cougars’ Closer, a role that Marcus has defined at Cuesta College over the last two years. In 2004, Marcus became the first relief pitcher at Cuesta to be used as a modern style closer and he blossomed in the role. He set Cuesta’s single season and career save records by protecting eight Cuesta wins as the Cougars rallied for their eighth straight conference crown. His efforts also earned him a spot on the 2004 All-Western State Conference Second Team. In 2005, Marcus has reprised his role and after the first month it appears that the sequel is even better. In the first seven Cuesta wins, Marcus collected three saves and has yet to allow a run despite a team-high five appearances. He has also increased his strikeout ratio and has allowed opponents to reach base at a rate of once every two innings, which for a specialist like Marcus is every other outing. A first rate fireman is a luxury for the Cuesta starting rotation and the Cuesta Coaching Staff, because if they can reach the late innings with a lead they can unleash Marcus and seal the victory.

The Cougars ranked #7 in Southern California with a 7-3 overall record. This is their eighth straight season that the Cougars have been defending their Western State Conference title and while the Cougars chase their ninth consecutive WSC crown they will also be looking for their tenth playoff berth in a row.

Christina Grimm
Softball

Our female selection for March is sophomore Pitcher and First Baseman Christina Grimm.

Christina was selected as a 2005 Preseason All American before she even played a game of Community College Softball. She has surpassed any and all expectations one month into the season. Christina has split time this year at first base and pitcher and excelled at both positions. Her deft glove work at first has aided an infield without a returnee at any of the skill positions, but it as a hitter that she has announced her presence with authority. Either pitching or fielding one thing is certain and that is that Christina’s bat must be in the line up. She is hitting .513 and over half of her twenty hits have gone for extra bases. She has already slugged four home runs, third all time at Cuesta, and driven in 16 runs to power the Cuesta offense. In the pitching circle Christina has been equally dominant, with a record of 6-1 and a minuscule earned run average of 0.97. Her 91 strikeouts, in only 57.2 innings of work, put her on pace to break the Cougars single season and career marks.

The Cougars won their first twelve games of the season and moved up to #6 in the State rankings. The Cougars are chasing their fifth straight playoff berth and competing for their third Western State Conference title of the last four years.