Thursday, February 10
Tempe, Ariz.
3 PM
California Baptist University
at
#21/21 Arizona State
Softball Preview: New Look Lancers Eager to Open 2022 Season
2/8/2022 9:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University softball will be underway in just a matter of days, looking to build on a long legacy of success on the dirt diamond. New and returning, Head Coach Mike Smith has hit the ground running since his arrival in July, inheriting a team that runs deep at every position, possesses no lack of leadership, and aims to use every situation this season to learn from.
The Lancers begin the season with 11 new faces, including seven freshmen, joining 17 returners set to close the book on the Lancers' transition into Division I with some momentum and success. With so many new options on the roster, CBU will likely use more than a few different starting lineups during the non-conference schedule in an effort to sort things out.
"[In the field] I could see us platooning a lot of players early on in the year to see who has the chemistry in the field to work well together," said coach Smith looking over his 2022 roster. "Offensively, I think we are well balanced with some players who are more gap-to-gap, others who can run and put pressure on defenses, and we've got some who can leave the yard with one swing of the bat. I think we're going to surprise some people with what we can do both offensively and defensively."
Amanda Argomaniz, a third-year Lancer, Samantha Demyon, a UC Riverside transfer who came across town last season, and Priscilla Estrada, a freshman likely to fill the shortstop position this season, have emerged as the team leaders heading into the start of play.
Coach Smith expanded on those three, saying, "I gave the team an opportunity at the end of fall to let me know who they thought were the top three or four players were that they could go to battle with and go to if needed and their names came up more than any of the other ones. It's important when your peers recognize that, especially as a freshman; I think that is really important."
Two of the four transfers who now call Riverside home are come from the pitching staff and are set to make an immediate impact, possessing significant collegiate experience. Jazmine Castaneda (Fresno City College) and Jordan Schuring (Boise State) will add much-needed depth in the circle as the Lancers reload after losing their three most-used starters from a season ago. Raegan Cheyne (Ole Miss) and Kenzie Yamakoshi (Santa Clara) bring a combined four years of DI experience to the Lancers, bolstering the outfield and middle-infield depth chart ahead of a long season.
CBU was picked to finish fifth out of the six teams in the Western Division of the WAC Preseason Polls. Seattle U is the preseason favorite, followed by NM State, Grand Canyon, and Dixie State, with CBU landing ahead of Utah Valley. Stephen F. Austin walked away with the Preseason Pitcher and Player of the Year honorees while also being named the Southwestern Division favorites, followed by Sam Houston, Abilene Christian, Tarleton, and Lamar.
KAJIKAWA CLASSIC INFORMATION – FEB. 10-13
Opponents: #21 Arizona State, #20 Duke, #5 Oklahoma State, Missouri State, and Utah
Times: 2/10 – 3 pm | 2/11 – 8 am | 2/12 – 8 am & 1 pm | 2/13 – 9:30 am
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Venue: Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium
Video (Not all games may be available): Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: Link Pending
The Lancers will face a gauntlet to open the 2022 season, facing three-straight ranked opponents at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. Play begins against the host program, the #21 Sun Devils, who finished fourth in a very strong Pac-12 last season with a 33-16 (12-9) record.
The Blue Devils come in just ahead of ASU at No. 20 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason polls. They boast two players in Deja Davis and Shelby Walters, who landed on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. Duke finished the 2021 season in third place in the ACC, just half a game behind Florida State and three games back of Clemson.
Oklahoma State checks in at No. 5 on the preseason list but is expected to be runners-up in its own conference behind top-ranked and reigning NCAA Champions, Oklahoma. The Cowgirls list three Preseason All-Americans on their roster as shortstop Kiley Naomi garnered First Team honors, while designated player Hayley Busby and pitcher Miranda Elish were selected to the Second Team.
A long-awaited rubber match between CBU and Central Missouri will close out day three of the tournament. The Bears and Lancers split a pair of games at the Ole Miss Classic back in February 2020, but the Lancers' win in the second contest earned them a spot in the tournament final against the host Rebels. Pitching duals in both games saw the two teams combined for five runs in Oxford.
The final opponent of the weekend will provide another rubber match for the Lancers, as CBU and Utah split a pair of games last season at the UNLV Desert Classic. California Baptist came back from a 3-0 hole after just the second inning to defeat the Utes 5-3 in their first matchup. The Utes would go on to finish last in the Pac-12 standings in 2021, going 22-33 on the year but managing just three wins in 24 contests in league play.
The Lancers begin the season with 11 new faces, including seven freshmen, joining 17 returners set to close the book on the Lancers' transition into Division I with some momentum and success. With so many new options on the roster, CBU will likely use more than a few different starting lineups during the non-conference schedule in an effort to sort things out.
"[In the field] I could see us platooning a lot of players early on in the year to see who has the chemistry in the field to work well together," said coach Smith looking over his 2022 roster. "Offensively, I think we are well balanced with some players who are more gap-to-gap, others who can run and put pressure on defenses, and we've got some who can leave the yard with one swing of the bat. I think we're going to surprise some people with what we can do both offensively and defensively."
Amanda Argomaniz, a third-year Lancer, Samantha Demyon, a UC Riverside transfer who came across town last season, and Priscilla Estrada, a freshman likely to fill the shortstop position this season, have emerged as the team leaders heading into the start of play.
Coach Smith expanded on those three, saying, "I gave the team an opportunity at the end of fall to let me know who they thought were the top three or four players were that they could go to battle with and go to if needed and their names came up more than any of the other ones. It's important when your peers recognize that, especially as a freshman; I think that is really important."
Two of the four transfers who now call Riverside home are come from the pitching staff and are set to make an immediate impact, possessing significant collegiate experience. Jazmine Castaneda (Fresno City College) and Jordan Schuring (Boise State) will add much-needed depth in the circle as the Lancers reload after losing their three most-used starters from a season ago. Raegan Cheyne (Ole Miss) and Kenzie Yamakoshi (Santa Clara) bring a combined four years of DI experience to the Lancers, bolstering the outfield and middle-infield depth chart ahead of a long season.
CBU was picked to finish fifth out of the six teams in the Western Division of the WAC Preseason Polls. Seattle U is the preseason favorite, followed by NM State, Grand Canyon, and Dixie State, with CBU landing ahead of Utah Valley. Stephen F. Austin walked away with the Preseason Pitcher and Player of the Year honorees while also being named the Southwestern Division favorites, followed by Sam Houston, Abilene Christian, Tarleton, and Lamar.
KAJIKAWA CLASSIC INFORMATION – FEB. 10-13
Opponents: #21 Arizona State, #20 Duke, #5 Oklahoma State, Missouri State, and Utah
Times: 2/10 – 3 pm | 2/11 – 8 am | 2/12 – 8 am & 1 pm | 2/13 – 9:30 am
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Venue: Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium
Video (Not all games may be available): Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: Link Pending
The Lancers will face a gauntlet to open the 2022 season, facing three-straight ranked opponents at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. Play begins against the host program, the #21 Sun Devils, who finished fourth in a very strong Pac-12 last season with a 33-16 (12-9) record.
The Blue Devils come in just ahead of ASU at No. 20 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason polls. They boast two players in Deja Davis and Shelby Walters, who landed on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. Duke finished the 2021 season in third place in the ACC, just half a game behind Florida State and three games back of Clemson.
Oklahoma State checks in at No. 5 on the preseason list but is expected to be runners-up in its own conference behind top-ranked and reigning NCAA Champions, Oklahoma. The Cowgirls list three Preseason All-Americans on their roster as shortstop Kiley Naomi garnered First Team honors, while designated player Hayley Busby and pitcher Miranda Elish were selected to the Second Team.
A long-awaited rubber match between CBU and Central Missouri will close out day three of the tournament. The Bears and Lancers split a pair of games at the Ole Miss Classic back in February 2020, but the Lancers' win in the second contest earned them a spot in the tournament final against the host Rebels. Pitching duals in both games saw the two teams combined for five runs in Oxford.
The final opponent of the weekend will provide another rubber match for the Lancers, as CBU and Utah split a pair of games last season at the UNLV Desert Classic. California Baptist came back from a 3-0 hole after just the second inning to defeat the Utes 5-3 in their first matchup. The Utes would go on to finish last in the Pac-12 standings in 2021, going 22-33 on the year but managing just three wins in 24 contests in league play.
Players Mentioned
CBU Softball vs Seattle U Series (Cinematic Highlight)
Tuesday, June 18
CBU Softball Hype Video 2023-2024
Monday, June 17
California Baptist University Athletics Master Facility Plan Update
Wednesday, August 17
CBU Palm Walks - Amanda Argomaniz
Friday, February 04
