Softball Set for 2020 Season
1/30/2020 10:30:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE -- California Baptist University's 2020 season is approaching quickly, and this year's team is set to improve on its inaugural season in NCAA Division I. The campaign officially begins in Davis at the NorCal Kickoff Tournament, with the first game against host UC Davis on February 6.
The Lancers will return seven starters from last season, led by seniors Caitlyn Lloyd, Mackenzie Budinger, Brittany Galvez and Deanna Alarcon. The four have combined for 188 starts, a .336 batting average and accounted for 37.6 percent of the offense in 2019.
Lloyd and Galvez were named second team All-Western Athletic Conference at the end of last season, with Lloyd also receiving third-team All-West Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The pair also recently received their first awards of the 2020 season after being named to the Preseason All-WAC team by the conference coaches.
Lloyd will lead the team into 2020 after she posted team-highs in batting average (.331), runs scored (23), and was among the team leaders in hits (48), doubles (7), triples (3), home runs (6) and walks drawn (12). Galvez was right with Lloyd statistically in hits (46), doubles (13), triples and homers, while maintaining the third-highest fielding percentage (97.6) on the team among qualified players.
Pitching will have the toughest task as the Lancers lost ace Kellye Springstead to graduation. Springstead was the lone All-WAC first-teamer honoree from last season after leading the conference with 18 wins and an earned-run average of 2.91.
Head Coach Bill Baber has full faith in second-year starting pitcher Giana Lopez and BYU transfer Kerisa Viramontes to handle the circle work.
"Gianna is looking very good, she worked a lot on her game, so she is ready to take over," Baber said. "Kerisa is coming in as more of a power pitcher which should compliment Gianna's style really well. The two of them can really be powerful, not only in the season but in the conference specifically."
Depth is something Baber has in abundance, and is thankful for after fighting through numerous injuries a year ago. The Lancers' 2019 season was highlighted by a trio of three-game win streaks and a run-rule win over longtime powerhouse Fresno State in its first home game as a DI program. CBU finished the year in fourth place in the WAC, with a 21-33 overall record and 8-10 mark in conference.
A wealth of talent will lend itself favorably to the Lancers' challenging schedule in 2020, as they will be on the road for their first 14 games and 38 of 55 games.
"We're very deep this year since we brought in so many freshmen and transfers. We're two deep at every position and many positions are even three deep," Baber said. "Most of our players can play multiple positions, too, which is nice because it will just come down to who is hitting at that point."
The 16 newcomers will work to fill a significant void left by the 12 players who departed after last season.
While starters are not set in stone, transfers bring in a wealth of experience that will allow them to contribute right away in key positions. Abby Robertson at shortstop, Ali Belloc on either side of her and Tiana Patrick behind the plate are virtual locks for significant innings of work.
Robertson was a two-year starter for the University of Utah, and brings Pac-12 talent and experience to Riverside with her. Belloc started almost every game for Weber State her freshman year before being forced to use a redshirt season in 2019. Patrick joins the Lancers from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette by way of Santa Ana College and will be welcomed in the backstop depth chart and is likely to see plenty of early playing time.
"They've all done a really good job acclimating to our program and our culture," Baber said. "We're getting a lot of positive feedback that they really enjoy being here and working hard with their team. They all bring something different to the team, some bring leadership as they've been in that role before, and they brought a lot of talent that's for sure."
Freshmen Katelyn Mangrello, Nicole Stark and Deja Westbrook have all shown early flashes of promise and are likely to see significant playing time in February at their respective positions.
CBU will host their first home game against San Diego State on February 26 at 5:00 p.m. and tickets are now available online for this and all home games through the Lancer Athletics ticket website.
The Lancers will return seven starters from last season, led by seniors Caitlyn Lloyd, Mackenzie Budinger, Brittany Galvez and Deanna Alarcon. The four have combined for 188 starts, a .336 batting average and accounted for 37.6 percent of the offense in 2019.
Lloyd and Galvez were named second team All-Western Athletic Conference at the end of last season, with Lloyd also receiving third-team All-West Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The pair also recently received their first awards of the 2020 season after being named to the Preseason All-WAC team by the conference coaches.
⭐️⭐️
— CBU Lancers (@CBULancers) January 29, 2020
Seniors Caitlyn Lloyd and Brittany Galvez honored as WAC releases annual preseason awards and coaches poll!
👉 https://t.co/sgmXDWeADx#LanceUp⚔️
Lloyd will lead the team into 2020 after she posted team-highs in batting average (.331), runs scored (23), and was among the team leaders in hits (48), doubles (7), triples (3), home runs (6) and walks drawn (12). Galvez was right with Lloyd statistically in hits (46), doubles (13), triples and homers, while maintaining the third-highest fielding percentage (97.6) on the team among qualified players.
Pitching will have the toughest task as the Lancers lost ace Kellye Springstead to graduation. Springstead was the lone All-WAC first-teamer honoree from last season after leading the conference with 18 wins and an earned-run average of 2.91.
Head Coach Bill Baber has full faith in second-year starting pitcher Giana Lopez and BYU transfer Kerisa Viramontes to handle the circle work.
"Gianna is looking very good, she worked a lot on her game, so she is ready to take over," Baber said. "Kerisa is coming in as more of a power pitcher which should compliment Gianna's style really well. The two of them can really be powerful, not only in the season but in the conference specifically."
Protect What You Earn#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/9fqjR4cvJC
— CBU Softball (@CBUSoftball) January 14, 2020
Depth is something Baber has in abundance, and is thankful for after fighting through numerous injuries a year ago. The Lancers' 2019 season was highlighted by a trio of three-game win streaks and a run-rule win over longtime powerhouse Fresno State in its first home game as a DI program. CBU finished the year in fourth place in the WAC, with a 21-33 overall record and 8-10 mark in conference.
A wealth of talent will lend itself favorably to the Lancers' challenging schedule in 2020, as they will be on the road for their first 14 games and 38 of 55 games.
"We're very deep this year since we brought in so many freshmen and transfers. We're two deep at every position and many positions are even three deep," Baber said. "Most of our players can play multiple positions, too, which is nice because it will just come down to who is hitting at that point."
🥎🗓️🥎
— CBU Lancers (@CBULancers) November 26, 2019
The 2020 @CBUSoftball schedule was released today and it is loaded with challenges! The Lancers will face off with three teams who played in last seasons NCAA Super Regionals!
👉 https://t.co/CTD6c2AX86#LanceUp⚔️
The 16 newcomers will work to fill a significant void left by the 12 players who departed after last season.
While starters are not set in stone, transfers bring in a wealth of experience that will allow them to contribute right away in key positions. Abby Robertson at shortstop, Ali Belloc on either side of her and Tiana Patrick behind the plate are virtual locks for significant innings of work.
Robertson was a two-year starter for the University of Utah, and brings Pac-12 talent and experience to Riverside with her. Belloc started almost every game for Weber State her freshman year before being forced to use a redshirt season in 2019. Patrick joins the Lancers from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette by way of Santa Ana College and will be welcomed in the backstop depth chart and is likely to see plenty of early playing time.
"They've all done a really good job acclimating to our program and our culture," Baber said. "We're getting a lot of positive feedback that they really enjoy being here and working hard with their team. They all bring something different to the team, some bring leadership as they've been in that role before, and they brought a lot of talent that's for sure."
Freshmen Katelyn Mangrello, Nicole Stark and Deja Westbrook have all shown early flashes of promise and are likely to see significant playing time in February at their respective positions.
CBU will host their first home game against San Diego State on February 26 at 5:00 p.m. and tickets are now available online for this and all home games through the Lancer Athletics ticket website.
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