CSUDH Softball Moves Up to No. 12 in NFCA Poll
Toros jump seven positions after weekend sweep that claimed CCAA Championship
April 20, 2005

Starkville, MS – The Cal State Dominguez Hills softball team moved up to No. 12 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll after the Toros claimed the CCAA Championship last weekend with sweeps over San Francisco State and Sonoma State, their first title since the 1983 season. Heading into the Cal State Bakersfield “Mountain Dew Classic” this weekend, CSUDH now stands at 37-7, 22-4 CCAA, with the 37 wins already equaling the school record for wins in a season.

Juniors Cindy Perry (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS) and Kate Groden (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro HS/SE Missouri Univ.) lead the potent CSUDH offense, while Valerie Long (Stockton, CA/St. Mary’s HS) and Jackie Miller (Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap HS/CS Stanislaus) pace the Toros’ stingy pitching staff.

Perry, a 2004 third-team All-American who already holds five CSUDH records and is on pace to shatter the Toro mark for batting average, leads the conference in stolen bases and hits and is 2nd in average and runs scored, while Groden paces the CCAA in RBIs, runs scored and doubles, and has already broken the CSUDH record for RBIs in a single season while earning one CCAA Player of the Week nod. Perry and Groden have led the the Toros to a collective .312 average compared to .194 for CSUDH’s opponents, while the Toros have outscored the opposition by a whopping 195 runs (258-63).

In the circle, Long has improved upon last season’s stellar campaign, pacing the hurlers with a 17-3 record, four shutouts and a miniscule 1.24 ERA. In her final year in Cardinal Red & Gold, Long established the CSUDH career all-time records in wins and strikeouts in a 10-inning 3-2 win over Concordia (CA) on March 17, and the single-season strikeout record against Seattle University on April 3. She has recorded 159 strikeouts in 130.0 innings pitched, including two outings in which she fanned a career-best 13 batters, and leads the CCAA in wins, strikeouts and opposing batting average, winning two CCAA Pitcher of the Week awards thus far this year.

A junior transfer from Cal State Stanislaus, Miller has been the Toros’ game-two ace, having amassed a 14-3 record and 1.06 ERA. Miller has 15 complete games in 16 starts, and has limited the opposition to a meager .220 batting average. The Bremerton, WA, native has fanned 74 batters in 112.0 innings pitched, and is 2nd in the CCAA in ERA, and 4th in both wins and opposing batting average. Additionally, Miller has fared well at the plate, blasting five home runs with 23 RBI, including the week of April 4-10 during which she hit .579 (11-for-19) and tallied 12 RBI, 10 runs and a 1.421 slugging percentage, which earned Miller her first-career CCAA Player of the Week honor.

The Toros compete in the CSUB “Mountain Dew Classic” this weekend, featuring teams from both the CCAA and Far West Region. CSUDH will battle SFSU and Sonoma State on Friday, followed by Western New Mexico and the host ‘Runners on Saturday. Saturday afternoon and Sunday’s final competition will consist of Championship Bracket Play in which the seedings of the competing teams will be based on the most current NCAA West Region rankings.

Fellow CCAA school San Francisco State was the only other conference school to make the poll, coming in at No. 20, while Far West Region foe Humboldt State made the highest appearance on the poll, coming in at No. 3.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Top 25 is voted on by eight NCAA Division II head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. The complete poll can be found on www.nfca.org.