Pac-10 pitcher brings expertise to Camarillo clinic
Olympic hopeful to give group, personal instruction
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Photo courtesy of the University of Arizona BRINGING THE HEAT- Former University of Arizona standout softball pitcher and Olympic hopeful, Alicia Hollowell, will teach a free pitching clinic for Camarillo Girls Softball Association players at Mission Oaks Park next Sat., Dec. 8 and Sun., Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Camarillo Girls Softball Association will have a very special guest in town next weekend.

Alicia Hollowell, an Olympic hopeful and former superstar pitcher for the University of Arizona softball team, will participate in a free pitching clinic for registered players from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., Dec. 8 and Sun., Dec. 9 at Mission Oaks Park.

"All of us parents are really excited," said board member Sherri Lauritson. "We hope the girls are."

Camarillo Softball is hoping 100 to 150 girls will attend the clinic, where Hollowell will instruct youngsters on the fine art of pitching.

Hollowell will lead a general session before giving more personal instruction to smaller groups of players based on experience.

The 6-foot-1 right-hander led Arizona to its seventh World Series title in 2006 and finished her career as the university's leader in wins (144), strikeouts (1,762) and no-hitters (17). Hollowell made her USA national team debut in 2005 for the World Cup and is on the roster for the 2008 Olympic team that will try to win another gold medal in Beijing.

Hollowell, who grew up in Suisun, Calif., and attended Fairfield High School, holds the national prep record for strikeouts in a game, with 61 against Woodland.

Camarillo Softball board member Jeff Berman was able to snag the pitcher because his sister-in-law, Amy Hillenbrand from Thousand Oaks, is involved with the national softball team and recommended the former Wildcat ace.

Berman hopes Hollowell's presence will inject interest in the sport in Camarillo, especially since it's an Olympic year and softball and baseball are not expected to be official events in the 2012 games.

"We're trying to provide every player the opportunity to develop and be successful at whatever position they choose," Berman said.

"Alicia's played the game; she knows the game, and she's played it at the highest level. She knows what it takes to be successful. She's given my own daughter a lesson, and I know she can get her point across. She knows how to deal with kids."

Camarillo Softball expects to have a variety of clinics in December and January. Camarillo resident Jessica Mendoza, who won an Olympic gold medal for the USA softball team in 2004, will be featured during Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 27 at Mission Oaks Park. Opening day is March 8.

For now, the attention will be on Hollowell. Her clinic is restricted to players who are registered for the upcoming season.

Sign-ups for the league, which is for girls ages 4 to 18, began Oct. 15.

At press time, about 120 players had signed up, but Camarillo Softball hopes to get 500 players on board for this season after 450 youngsters hit the diamond last year.

"We want as many kids who are thinking about pitching or had experience pitching to come out and enjoy the clinic," Berman said.

For more information, visit www.cgsasoftball.com.