The Cougars softball team had a strong start to their 2017 season this weekend at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, where they played five games within a two day period.
The Cougars positioned themselves for victory, as they won all three games on Friday, Feb. 3, and won one of two on Saturday, Feb. 4, jumping out to a 4-1 overall record. After a successful weekend, the team is ready to take the momentum from the tournament and use it to have a powerful season.
Their first win, against Western Oregon, came with a complete game three-hitter from senior starting left-handed pitcher, Carly Xepoleas. Xepoleas’ three hits and three walks were evenly spread throughout all seven innings, as well as the team collectively recording three double plays in the game.
The second win came a bit differently on Friday afternoon against Western New Mexico. Rather than a steady yet strong increase through the seven innings, Senior starting infielder Nicki Sprague, hit a two-run home run in a three-run first inning. Sprague was named the Pacific West Player of the Year in 2016, making her the first three-time recipient of the conference’s top honor. Being a leader and one of the team’s top players, Sprague has set team goals for the new group of girls this season.
“I think the team goal is cohesion. We have a lot of new people on the team, and chemistry is nothing you can really force, but it’s something you can encourage,” Sprague said. “I think the best thing to do early in the season is to come together and learn how to fight together and I think we did such a good job of that this weekend.”
After that, the team continued to dominate in their second game with a 12-1 lead by the third inning with starting Junior first baseman Kayla Jimenez adding a two-run third inning shot. While Western New Mexico got a few runs back by the fourth inning, Sophomore right-handed pitcher Megan Mejia held down a scoreless fifth inning, which called for the mercy rule to end the game.
After having one steady win, and one landslide win, the third game on Friday against Cal State University San Bernardino reached its victory a bit differently. Pitchers Kat Ung and Mejia teamed up to consistently shut out San Bernardino the whole game. Ung started the game, and Mejia finished things off after the fourth inning. The Cougars had a slow start and middle section of the game, with the first six innings being scoreless for both teams. It wasn’t until Jimenez delivered a two-out bases loaded single that helped score the only runs of the game by Cayla Broussard and Abry Moreno.
“Earlier in the game, I wasn’t doing so well up to bat. I thought, ‘It’s my time to step up and get my job done.’ The team was counting on me with two outs by the bottom of the seventh, then my confidence came up and it was now or never,” Jimenez said. “I was proud of our team not giving up, we really fought all the way through that.”
The success this weekend was a confidence boost for some of the older girls who hoped for a smooth transition with new and old teammates all on the same team.
“We were a little nervous coming out with half returners, half new girls, so we were like, ‘We got to come together and make something work,’ and we have been,” Jimenez said. “We have a great team. It’s really exciting to see it come together so well this weekend.”
In the midst of a successful weekend, head coach Carrie Webber celebrated her 400th overall collegiate coaching victory. Among the 400 is 116 wins in five years at the junior college level and 285 wins as the tenth year head coach at Azusa Pacific. Webber earned the 2016 Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year and led the Cougars in their first NCAA Division II postseason appearance in the program’s second season of active Division II membership. Last season, Webber led the team in a successful campaign of 40-12.
“When I heard it, I was obviously very excited and happy for the girls. It was a great way to continue our winning streak we had for the season. It’s nice to hit milestones,” Webber said.
The team has come into this season with a well-earned status of having both a hardworking and successful team and head coach. While the leverage is nice among competitors, it puts the team on the “most wanted” list to beat.
“It’s important for them to understand at the beginning of this year that we are the [PacWest] champions. And when you are the champions, you now have that target on your back and everyone wants a piece of you,” Webber said. “That’s a hefty challenge for a team, but they need to embrace it and use that as motivation and confidence to go out and play well.”
The Cougars played two home games against Biola on Tuesday, Feb. 7, and will go back on the road on Feb. 18 to face off against UC San Diego.