Toros Included in First NCAA DII West Region Softball Top 10 Poll of Year
April 2, 2007

Carson, CA -- Prior to winning four of seven games against the best teams amongst the California Collegiate Athletic Association, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Pacific West Conference at last weekend’s Mizuno Tournament of Championships, the Cal State Dominguez Hills softball team found itself amongst the Top 10 squads in the first NCAA Far West Region poll of the year released late last week.

Currently at 20-18, 8-10 CCAA, this year’s squad welcomed eight freshmen and seven transfers, and is led by Araceli Martinez (Downey, CA/Warren HS), the team’s lone senior.

Freshmen Katie Jordan (Huntington Beach, CA/Marina HS), Jennifer Frazier (Buena Park, CA/John F. Kennedy HS), Jodi Nakawatase (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) and Michelle Medina (Lakewood, CA/St. Joseph HS) have emerged as bright spots for this year’s squad, while junior transfer Bri Mahr (Fullerton, CA/Cypress College) leads the Toros with her .358 batting average.

Offensively, Nakawatase and Frazier have combined for 26% of the team’s total hits and extra base knocks, and 24% of the squad’s RBI. Additionally, the phenoms have made 36 and 37 starts, respectively, in the team’s 38 games, giving head coach Jim Maier a solid foundation for the future.

Senior Martinez, meanwhile, has tallied 26 hits and 19 RBI, with her run production second amongst the Toros in her final year in Cardinal & Gold. In addition, she has garnered 23 walks against just nine strikeouts, a walk-to-strikeout ration of 2.5-to-1

Junior transfer Jennifer Martinez (La Habra, CA/Cal State Long Beach) has been the primary threat in the circle with a 16-15 record in 34 starts, logging 202.0 innings and 79 strikeouts and allowing opponents just a .265 batting average against while freshman Medina, in her first stint as a college infielder-turned-spot starter, boasts a 2.60 ERA and a 4-3 record in 35.0 innings pitched.

Here is the complete list of teams included in the Far West Region in alphabetical order:

1. Cal State Dominguez Hills (CCAA)
2. Cal State San Bernardino (CCAA)
3. Cal State Stanislaus (CCAA)
4. Central Washington (GNAC)
5. Hawaii-Hilo (PacWest)
6. Hawaii Pacific (PacWest)
7. Humboldt State (CCAA)
8. San Francisco State (CCAA)
9. Seattle (GNAC)
10. UC San Diego (CCAA)

The Toros host Sonoma State this week in their final regular season homestand of the 2007 season. In its final home twinbill of the year on Friday, April 6, CSUDH will honor A. Martinez in a pre-game ceremony.