Scorpions still strong
ACHS softball team ranked sixth in Division I preseason poll
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers A SWING AND A DRIVE- Camarillo High sophomore Jennifer Manuel crushes a pitch during batting practice Wednesday afternoon. The Scorpions are focused on a CIF title this year.

It was May 31 of last year when jealousy started to kick in.

While the Camarillo High baseball team competed for the CIF-Southern Section Division II championship at Dodger Stadium, the school's softball team watched from the stands.

Although the softball squad was happy for their high school friends, a big part of them wished they could be in a similar situation.

"I was ecstatic for the boys' team, but I was also a little jealous that our team wasn't in a championship game as well," senior Delaney Willard said. "Last year our team wanted a CIF title so bad, and it just slipped away from us."

A year since losing in the CIFSS Division I quarterfinals to Hart of Newhall, 5-4, the Scorpions are now motivated to get into the championship game themselves.

"Our goal is always to win a CIF championship," senior center fielder Laura King said. "Earlier in the season, we made T-shirts that read: 'Play through May.'"

During the regular season, there may not be a more dominating team in Ventura County than the Scorpions.

Over the past three years, Camarillo has gone 8012 overall and 30-1 in Pacific View League play. Last season, ACHS was 28-2 overall and 10-0 in league.

"I've been fortunate to have had some very talented players while I've been coaching," head coach Jack Willard said. "Another big reason for our success is my assistant coaches- Brooke Lambert, Nichole Pinedo and Beth Boskovich. They all played Division I college ball, and our team gets to work with them every day."

Camarillo has some potential Division I talent on this year's team.

Delaney Willard, the team's shortstop, is the reigning Pacific View League Player of the Year. Last season, Willard, who's headed for BYU in the fall, hit .505 with a league-leading nine home runs and 44 RBI.

"I definitely didn't expect the year I had last season," Delaney Willard said. "In order to have the same kind of season I need to continue to play hard every day. My swing is never perfect, so I need to always work on that. I want to be better at hitting balls that are middle-away."

Also returning to the Scorpions are allleague firstteam members Hannah Klein and Amanda Soedjadi. Soedjadi hit .325 with two home runs and 19 RBI last year. Klein batted .400 with two home runs and 15 RBI.

While Klein will be a force on offense, her biggest impact may be as a pitcher.

With last year's Pacific View League Pitcher of the Year, Lindsey Dean, having graduated, Klein moves up in the rotation to become the Scorpions' ace. Klein, a Seattle University commit, was solid in the No. 2 spot last year, winning five games while posting a 1.24 ERA. She also struck out 58 batters in 39.1 innings.

Klein said she learned a lot from Dean.

"It feels a lot different being the ace, but it's something I love," Klein said. "It'll stink not to have (Dean) around this year because she helped me so much.

"It's hard to pinpoint just one thing that she's helped me with, but I'd say she helped the most with my changeup and my composure."

Early on, Jack Willard has been impressed with Klein in the top spot in the rotation.

"It's something she knew was going to happen eventually," Willard said. "She's extremely competitive, and she loves the fact that she's now the ace because she loves to pitch so much. If you were to ask her what her favorite thing in the world was, she'd tell you it was pitching."

Following Klein in the rotation will be sophomore Jennifer Manuel, who also plays first base.

Other hitters looking to give Klein and Manuel some run support will be seniors Shannon Trefts and King, as well as sophomore Lindsey Helland.

Last season, King and Helland were secondteam allleague selections. King batted .482, while Helland hit .348. Trefts hit .333 in 16 games.

King, who will bat leadoff for the Scorpions, said she's trying to become more of a triple threat this season and become more of a pure hitter, rather than just a slapper and bunter.

Willard said he's impressed with King's attitude.

"I want to encourage her to do more things at the plate," Jack Willard said. "She's going to be a great college player, and when she's in college she's going to be asked to do more than just slap at the ball.

"Would it benefit us more if she was just a slapper? Yeah, probably. But her overall development is what's most important to me," the coach said.

With Annissa Lagos graduating last spring, junior Sarah Carmody will take over behind the plate. Freshman infielder Kristie Dederick could also make an impact for the Scorpions.

Jack Willard is hoping Camarillo's combination of solid hitting and pitching can help get his team back in the postseason, but he's not taking anything for granted.

"This year we probably have the most competitive schedule in my seven years of coaching," Jack Willard said.

"Oxnard, Pacifica and Rio Mesa are all real solid teams in league. I scheduled some tough preseason games as well, so we'll be ready for league play."

Camarillo opens its season on the road today against Edison.