California Golden Bears
Overall Rank: #6
Conference Rank: #4 Pac-12
On paper this could be one of the best teams in the history of the University of California program. Big issues for Coach Diane Ninemire will be avoiding any serious injuries and keeping the team chemistry solid. "I think we've got a very strong schedule," Ninemire noted. "We're playing in some really strong preseason tournaments, which will help us get prepared to play in the Pac-12." Half of Cal’s 38 opponents in 2012 advanced to the NCAA Tournament with six making it to the Super Regionals. "We start the season with a real bang against Tennessee," Ninemire said. "It's really important to do well in preseason because it's going to be a real slugfest in the Pac-12.” For the sixth year in a row, Cal will play the defending national champion in conference play hosting Arizona State to close the conference slate in Berkeley.
2011: 45-13, 15-6
2011 Postseason: CWS
Coach: Diane Ninemire
Field Players:
Cal returns seven starters including Victoria Jones (2B), Britt Vonk (SS), Jace Williams (3B), Jamia Reid (LF) and Frani Echavarria (CF) along with pitcher Jolene Henderson, the ace of the staff. Also back is starter Valerie Arioto, who sat out the 2011 season with an injury. She can play first as well as pitch and will give the Bears added power after hitting 19 homers in 2010. In 2011, the entire team only hit 34 homers with the leader, senior Elia Reid, hitting only nine. Besides having better power than in 2011, the Bears will still have excellent speed on the base paths as Reid (31-of-37) and Vonk (26-of-31) combined to steal 57 bases. Vonk, however, must improve on defense, making a team-high 21 errors in 2011. Outfielder Reid was second on the team in batting (.394). Echavarria also has good speed, stealing seven bases in 10 attempts in 2011. Williams led the team in RBIs (41) and was sure-handed at third with a .966 fielding percentage. Leading the newcomers is freshman Cheyenne Cordes, who was a member of the gold medal-winning USA Junior National Team, which won the title in South Africa. The 5-4 Cordes can play the infield or the outfield and was one of the stars of the USA Team, leading in hits (15), total bases (28), slugging percentage (1.077), sharing the lead in homers (2) and placing second in batting average (.577). She is one of the nation’s premier freshmen and her versatility will add to an already solid line-up.
Pitchers:
One of the nation’s best, Henderson is being tabbed for All-America and Player of the Year honors after a 40-10 record in 2011 with an 0.99 ERA (third in the nation) and 333 strikeouts (12th in the nation).The number of wins led the nation as well as her 18 shutouts. She was 1-2 in the College World Series with 20 batters fanned in 19 innings and a 2.95 ERA. In the WCWS the Bears lost to Alabama, then beat Oklahoma State before being eliminated by runner-up Florida. Henderson hurled 18 shutouts, two one-hitters, two no-hitters and one perfect game. The opposition batted only .189 and she allowed only four homers in 333.1 innings. If the Bears can get her some help, that would be a plus, considering Henderson can go the distance as evidenced by her 36 complete games in 2011. She will be the ace of the staff, but also being counted on is Valerie Ariota, who can pitch as well as play first base. She was redshirted in 2011 (injury) after being a first-team All-American in 2010 with a 21-9 pitching record and a 1.43 ERA. She can also send the ball over the fence after leading the team in 2010 in homers (19), which was 31st in the nation. The opposition batted only .169 in 205.2 innings against Arioto. With her and Henderson, this easily will be one of the most formidable one-two pitching tandems in the nation and figures to take the Bears back again to Oklahoma City.
Final Projection:
The Golden Bears are looking to return to the Women’s College World Series and again contend for top honors, seeking their second national title. The Golden Bears batted .289 in 2011 and the team ERA ranked 15th in the country. Those numbers figure to improve as opposition will be wise to not take the Bears lightly. This team is picked sixth nationally but could be even better if the defense-offense jells and the Bears peak at the right time.
Projected Postseason: WCWS
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Britt Vonk, SS, 176
Hits: Britt Vonk, SS, 73
Home Runs: Valerie Aliota, 1B/P, 19
RBIs: Jace Williams, SS, 42
Runs: Britt Vonk SS, 47
Stolen Bases: Jamia Reid, OF, 31
Wins: Jolene Henderson, P, 40
Innings Pitched: Jolene Henderson, P, 333.1
Strikeouts: Jolene Henderson, P, 333
Saves: Jolene Henderson, P, 1
Madness 2012 NPF Draft Rankings:
#9 Jamia Reid
Madness 2012 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#2 Cheyenee Cordes
#24 Danielle Henderson
#42 Breana Kostreba
