San Diego State opens the new millennium with a team which has the potential to put Aztec softball on the map. Head coach Kathy Van Wyk enters her fourth season at the helm of the Aztecs with what may be her most talented squad yet.
"We're really excited about this season," said Van Wyk. "We've got a talented group who should elevate our program to a new level."
Last season, the Aztecs' roster included eight freshmen and seven transfers and suffered growing pains early in the season but won 10 of their final 16 games to end the year 24-24 overall and tied for third with a 16-8 conference record.
"We were an extremely young squad last season," said Van Wyk. "We did a lot of growing up over the course of the season, but I felt that we came together and learned a lot as a team."
This season San Diego State returns 10 letterwinners and eight players who started over half the Aztecs' games in 1999. Although seven student-athletes will wear a SDSU softball jersey for the first time in 2000, this Aztec squad has enough experienced players that the team should not have as many bumps in the road.
"I feel like we finally have some continuity this season," Van Wyk said of the squad. "We've got players who know our system well, transfers who have solid Division I experience and newcomers who bring new energy into our club."
Pitchers
Sandra Durazo has been the Aztecs' best pitcher the past two seasons, and 2000 should be no different. Durazo enters the season poised to break several Aztec career records. The junior set a school record for wins in a season with 18 last year, and she will again be the Aztecs' go-to pitcher.
"Sandra is the foundation of our pitching staff. She is a team leader, and she comes through for us when we need her."
Sophomore Korin Gregory made 22 appearances last season, and overcame her freshman jitters to become the team's No. 2 pitcher. With a year of experience under her belt, she has the potential to easily earn more victories than the five she recorded last season.
Tiffany Goudy is a sophomore transfer from Colorado State who will compete with Gregory for the second spot. Goudy had the best record of any pitcher on the Rams' staff and was also their only hurler with a winning record. True freshman Olivia Catron is the fourth member of the staff. Also a first baseman, Catron could find herself in the pitching rotation this season.
"Our rotation is as deep as it's been in a long time," Van Wyk remarked. "Tiffany was a great bonus and Korin has made great strides in improving from last season. "We have a sound replacement if someone is not playing to her potential, and that's a big step for our program."
Catchers
Catcher may be the biggest question mark for the Aztecs going into the 2000 season. Sophomore Brooke Johnson was the obvious choice in the fall, but a wrist injury she suffered in January may sideline her in the early portion of the spring.
Three players will vie for the position. Redshirt freshman Alicia Ortman came to San Diego State as an infielder but spent 1999 learning the role of a Division I catcher. She may own the starting role early in the year, but that is not a guarantee. True freshmen Katie Cobos and Kathy Urrutia are Ortman's competition. Urrutia arrives on Montezuma Mesa from Riverside, where she was an exceptional catcher at Rubidoux High School. Cobos is a native of Phoenix and also plays outfield.
"Right now it looks as though we may redshirt Katie and give Kathy the opportunity to play as a true freshman, but that's not set in stone," said Van Wyk. "This position is somewhat up in the air but I believe we have personnel who will be successful with a little more experience."
Infielders
For the first time in four years, Erryn Gutjahr will not be at first base for the Aztecs. Gutjahr finished her career as an Aztec listed as San Diego State's all-time leader in several categories, including games played (220), hits (184), doubles (34), home runs (17), RBI (102) and total bases (275).
"Erryn is a huge loss for the program," Van Wyk said. "She will be difficult to replace both on and off the field."
Enter Vanessa Valenzuela. Valenzuela is a junior transfer who spent the last two seasons at Fresno State. Although Valenzuela played sparingly in Fresno, she is still an experienced player who was a member of the Bulldogs' national championship team as a freshman. She is capable of becoming one of the Aztecs' top hitters this season and contributing on defense as well.
Redshirt freshman Kristina Kirk and true freshman Olivia Catron will contend for playing time at first base along with Valenzuela. Kirk is the more likely replacement as she has more experience and Catron doubles as a pitcher.
Sophomore Sarah Hershman established herself as San Diego State's second baseman last season. The San Diego native started 44 of SDSU's 48 games and had the third-best batting average on the team at .288 (38-132). Her offensive production did not stop there as she was second on the team in homers and RBI with five and 20, respectively. Hershman also was solid on defense with a .958 fielding percentage.
The battle for shortstop could be one of the most competitive. Senior Vanessa Villegas made the transition from second to short successfully last season, and she is the likely starter going into the season.
Junior college transfer Tashie Agui?aga will compete with Villegas for the starting spot as she gets more experience. Also in the mix is Kristal Montgomery. Montgomery had her first taste of collegiate experience last season as a freshman and could be competitive at shortstop.
It is likely that third base will see two players splitting time. Senior Christy Sears had a solid junior season, batting .237 (27-94), while sophomore Summer Ehrsam was consistent defensively.
Although it looks like Sears may get the nod early in the year because of her potential contribution on offense, Ehrsam is an apt replacement.
"We have two exceptional athletes at third base," Van Wyk believes. "Christy is a great hitter and Summer comes through for us defensively. With the two of them, this may be one of the positions we have the most depth."
Outfielders
The Scarlet and Black's outlook in the outfield is very bright as every member of the Aztecs' outfield has at least one season of Division I experience.
Leading the way is senior Kellie Labor. Labor walked on to the team in 1999 after a two-year stint in junior college and was possibly the biggest surprise of last season. The La Crescenta, Calif., native led the team in four offensive categories and was the first Aztec to earn first-team all-conference honors since Van Wyk came to San Diego State in 1995. Labor's contributions mainly came as the Aztecs' designated player, but this season she will see more time on the field as a rightfielder.
Sophomores Kellie Nordhagen and Alexis Gutierrez will contend for the starting spot at centerfield. Nordhagen was another walk-on who made her presence felt, starting 37 games. Gutierrez transferred from The University of Tulsa after a successful freshman season. Both players are solid hitters and play well defensively.
Seniors Tami Simpson and Malina Contreras round out the outfield. Simpson is a two-year starter and her speed qualifies her as the Aztecs' biggest base-stealing threat. Contreras played in 32 games last year and should see more playing time in 2000.
"Our outfield is exceptional." Van Wyk believes. "We have great players in starting and supporting roles in all three positions. We should get offensive production and great defense from each of these young women."
Schedule
The 2000 season ushers in the inaugural season of the Mountain West Conference. Of the teams which migrated from the Western Athletic Conference to the MWC, only New Mexico finished ahead of the Aztecs in conference play. The fact that Fresno State and Hawai`i are no longer in the same league is the biggest change in the new conference.
"Without Fresno and Hawai`i, the conference championship is up for grabs," said Van Wyk. "If we put together a good conference season like we did last year, we have a chance of being one of the top teams in the league."
As always, the pre-conference schedule will see the Aztecs facing off with several teams that qualified for NCAA Regionals in 1999. Van Wyk believes this is the most effective way to get the most out of her players.
"Every year we play a difficult non-conference schedule," said Van Wyk. "That is the best way we can prepare ourselves for a run at the conference title."
The Aztecs' goal this season is to qualify for postseason play, but the MWC will not receive an automatic bid to regionals.
"It's going to be tough," remarked Van Wyk. "But I believe that if we prove ourselves in our non-conference games and do well in the new league, we definitely have a chance to be playing the last week of May."