Oct. 28, 2001
SAN DIEGO- - The 24th-ranked San Diego State softball team invites former Aztec players and local media to take their shot at beating the 2002 team in the annual Alumni/Media game, Sat., Nov. 17th at 11 a.m. at the SDSU softball field.
All interested media and alumni should contact assistant coach Kelly Howard at 594-5853 to reserve a spot on the 2001 team.
2002 Softball Preview
If seeing is believing, then the 2002 San Diego State softball team has seen enough to know what it takes to reach the College World Series and returns to Montezuma Mesa with its sights set on a trip to Oklahoma City.
"There is no better time to be an Aztec," said San Diego State head coach Kathy Van Wyk. "This program continues to grow and we look to be one of the final 16 again this year."
The 2001 Aztec softball team enjoyed the best season in school history, recording a program-record 41 victories and advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time in its history. San Diego State ended the campaign with a 41-25 record and advanced to the final day of regional competition - a distinction that only 16 other programs earned. The Aztecs also finished the season with a .621 winning percentage - the best of any SDSU softball team - and made its debut in the top 25, finishing the year with a national ranking of 24 in the USA Today/NFCA postseason poll.
"With a strong group of veterans returning the only question mark lies in our pitching," Van Wyk said.
The Aztecs will be without starting pitcher Sandra Durazo, who finished her career last year and permentantly etched herself in both the single-season and career school record book. The senior was named Mountain West Conference pitcher of the year and was named to the Louisville Slugger West all-region team and a was also tabbed a member of the NCAA all-region team.. Durazo finished her senior season with a 30-15 record and a 1.97 ERA. She, along with fellow seniors Tashie Anguinaga and Vanessa Villegas will be remembered among the best players in school history.
Leading the chase into 2002 will be senior second-baseman Sarah Hershman, who along with Durazo and Anguinaga were honored on the All-MWC championship team. Hershman also received Louisville Slugger all-region as well as all-league honors. Junior outfielder Kellie Nordhagen was named to the all-league team.
In addition to Hershman and Norhagen, the 2002 Aztec softball teams returns several players that were major factors during the 2001 season. Senior Tiffany Goudy started 64 games as a junior. Goudy, an outfielder and pitcher, had 201 at-bats with 63 hits, a team-leading 32 RBI and a .408 slugging percentage. Third base will once again be manned by senior Summer Ehrsam, a 5-9 from San Diego. Ehrsam finished the season third on the team with two home runs and nine RBI. Hershman, a 5-5 senior is back after finishing last season with a team-leading four triples and five doubles. With 74 RBI she is currently second on the career RBI list and needs just 28 to surpass Erryn Gutjahr with 102. Janna Kovensky started every game as a freshman and is expected to again fill that slot. Kovensky led the team with four home runs and added four doubles and a triple during the 2001 season. Joann Figueroa, also a member of the freshman class, played in 50 games with two doubles and 11 RBI.
Van Wyk has had more success than any previous coach at SDSU. Under Van Wyk's leadership, the Aztecs have finished above .500 in five of six seasons. She is also the first coach to achieve a top-25 ranking.
Van Wyk knows that it takes a smart scheduling and ranked opponents will increase their odds for next year.
"Our schedule looks to be a tough one this year," said Van Wyk. "But it's one that I know will make us better as a team and give us the experience against nationally-ranked teams to prepare us for the postseason."
The 2002 Aztec schedule boasts eight nationally-ranked teams. The Aztecs open on the road at the Cal State Northridge tournament before returning home for the Aztec Invitational, Feb. 8-9. A number of nationally-ranked teams including No. 3 Stanford, No. 8 Michigan and No. 18 Pacific will compete at the San Diego State-hosted 2002 Campbell/Cartier Tournament held in Poway, February 15-17. Other top 25 teams on the Aztec schedule include Fresno State, Washington and Cal State Fullerton. Conference action begins at home, March 29-30, when the Aztecs take on Utah and BYU.
With the experience returning from last years team and a schedule that can only make this group a stronger force among the nation's elite the 2002 season of Aztec softball will be an exciting one.
" The future looks to be a bright one for the 2002 San Diego State softball team. The prospects of a new stadium and the opportunity to play in San Diego and represent San Diego State. Who could ask for more?"