Softball’s Cindy Perry, Valerie Long and Kate Groden Selected First-Team All-Region
Toros begin postseason play Thursday afternoon
May 11, 2005

Carson, CA -- The No. 10-ranked Toros placed three members on the First-Team All-Far West Region squad, it was announced Wednesday afternoon by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Cindy Perry (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS) and Valerie Long (Stockton, CA/St. Mary’s HS) make their second consecutive appearances on the team, while junior newcomer Kate Groden (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro HS/SE Missouri Univ.) makes her first career appearance.

Cindy Perry (left) and Valerie Long make their second consecutive appearances on the Far West All-Region team, which was just announced. Photos by Michael Foo

With their respective selections, each now is eligible for All-America honors, which will be announced later this month.

Entering Thursday's regional, Perry ranks 14th in the nation in stolen bases, leads the CCAA Conference in batting average, hits and stolen bases, and is tied for 2nd in runs scored. In just her third-year in Cardinal Red & Gold, the 2004 All-American and 1st-team All-Region selection broke two of her own records this season for hits and stolen bases, and tied the single game record for hits with five.

Additionally, Perry holds the records for stolen bases in a game and consecutive stolen bases in a season, and already has established the CSUDH career mark for runs scored. The Victorville native also is approaching the single-season record for at-bats (nine from tying), batting average and the career mark for hits as a Toro (four from tying).

Long, who established the CSUDH career marks for both wins and strikeouts, earned her second All-Region nod after being selected to the 2nd-team in 2004. She ranks 21st nationally in strikeouts / 7 innings, leads the conference in strikeouts and opposing batting average, is 2nd in wins and 3rd in ERA. She’s posted a 20-4 record entering the postseason, fanning 184 batters in 154.1 innings pitched and earning two CCAA Pitcher of the Week awards.

In her first season in Cardinal Red & Gold, Groden leads the conference in RBIs and runs scored, is 5th in hits and 10th in batting average. She twice has been named CCAA Player of the Week, establishing Toro records for RBIs, runs scored and doubles in a season, as well as doubles in a single game.

Humboldt State, the Far West Region’s top seed, was the only other school to place three members on the first-team, while fellow CCAA schools San Francisco State and Cal State Bakersfield each placed two members on the squad.

The 10th-ranked Toros, chosen as hosts for the NCAA DII Far West Softball Regional, completed the regular season with an overall 45-10 ledger, the most wins in school history. CSUDH begins postseason competition Thursday afternoon, playing the winner of Montana State University Billings vs. Chico State at 4:30 p.m.