The 2010 Big West softball season was arguably the most unpredictable race in league history, culminating in co-champions for the first-time in 16 years, an initial foray into postseason play for one club and several other milestones around the conference.
UC DAVIS HEADS TO POSTSEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME
For the first time in its short Division I history, UC Davis is headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies historic postseason journey took place in Stanford, Calif., as the selection committee placed the team in the Stanford Regional. UCD’s opening game was a loss to #16 national seed Hawai’i, with the season ending the following day in a pitchers duel against Texas Tech.
The Aggies were co-winners of the 2010 Big West softball title with a 15-6 league mark, sharing the crown with Cal State Northridge. UCD claimed the league’s automatic bid thanks to a series win over the Matadors, giving it the first NCAA bid in just its third season at the Division I level. UCD also won double-digit conference games for the first time as a full fledged Division I institution.
AGGIES AND MATADORS CLAIM 2010 BIG WEST TITLE
After one of the most unpredictable regular seasons in Big West history, it was fitting that two teams claimed the 2010 title as UC Davis and Cal State Northridge ended the conference slate with identical 15-6 records. How expected was that result? The Big West softball preseason poll had the two clubs in sixth and fifth place, respectively. It also marked just the fourth time in conference history and the first season since 1994 that two teams shared the title. Ironically enough, the Aggies’ first NCAA opponent, Hawai’i, was one of the two teams that tied for the championship back in ‘94.
UC DAVIS NABS THREE BIG WEST SOFTBALL AWARDS
UC Davis followed up its Big West championship season with a lot of hardware as three Aggies claimed Big West major awards. Alex Holmes claimed Pitcher of the Year, Elizabeth Santana was named the Freshman Field Player of the Year and Karen Yoder was honored as the Coach of the Year. The remaining awards saw Anna Cahn of Cal Poly named the Field Player of the Year and Pacific's Nikki Armagost named the Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
Cahn became the first player in league history to go from winning Pitcher of the Year in one season to Field Player of the Year the following year, while Holmes became the first Aggie to win Pitcher of the Year honors in the program’s short membership in the Big West.
TWO PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-REGION LISTS
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced the 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region teams and two Big West players have been named to the list. Cal Poly’s Anna Cahn was named to her second All-West Region mention, while UC Davis' Alex Holmes claimed the accolade for the first time. Cahn, who was a first team All-Region selection in 2009, was named to the second team West Region list as a utility/designated player. Holmes became the first Aggie to earn All-Region honors with her selection to the second team in the Pacific Region as a utility/pitcher.
CSUN'S BOUNCEBACK SEASON
After finishing in a tie for fourth a year ago, Cal State Northridge surged to a Big West co-championship and the first 30-win season for the club since 2004. The season seemed bleak with just a 1-9 start, but the club rebounded to go a league-best 30-13 the rest of the way. The Matadors were handsomely rewarded for their efforts as the club placed four players on the All-Big West first team and had five All-Conference selections overall. The four first team all-stars are the most for the program since it was honored with the same amount of players on the 1998 list.
SOLID SEASON FOR UCR
UC Riverside’s 2010 season may have ended roughly, but the Highlanders reached several milestones during the course of the year. UCR equaled its DI records for overall (22) and conference (7) victories, won a series from Cal State Fullerton for the first time and won its first two Big West series for another first in its DI tenure. In addition, senior pitcher Marissa Alvidrez broke the single-season program record for wins with 15.
TIGERS LED BY FRESHMAN STARS
Pacific had itself an improved season from 2009, with several freshmen leading the resurgence. Nikki Armagost claimed Freshman Pitcher of the Year, first team All-Big West accolades as a pitcher and second team honors as a utility player, Megan Hom was placed on the first team All-Conference list as an outfielder and shortstop Megan Allen filled in admirably for Nicole Matson on her way to honorable mention All-Big West status. The freshman trio represented half of the Tigers' All-Conference selections.
CSF, UCSB NOT QUITE USED TO THIS
A pair of traditional Big West powers struggled in 2010 as Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara endured seasons they never have before. The Titans finished with 30+ losses for the first time since 2004 and had more defeats than any other season as a member of the Big West. The CSF schedule wasn’t against a bunch of patsies either as the club played 23 of the 64 teams that made the 2010 NCAA Softball Tournament, including eight squads that claimed their league’s automatic berth.
Meanwhile, the Gauchos' seven-year run of winning seasons came to a close this year and the team recorded 30+ losses for the first time since 2002.
FINE YOU STAY, WE'LL GO
Cal Poly and UC Riverside posted interesting historic numbers in the stolen base department. First, the Highlanders were 53-57 in the stolen base department this season, becoming the first team in Big West history to steal 50+ bases and not be caught at least 10 times.
Conversely, Cal Poly was not exactly the stuff of legend on the basepaths this season, going 3-for-5 for the entire season. In fact, the Mustangs did not even attempt a stolen base in conference play. Cal Poly is the first team in Big West history to not attempt a steal against Big West foes and is the first to have less than 10 steals and attempts in a single season.
TWO ODDITIES CONTINUE FOR CAL POLY
One of the stranger oddities in the country continued this season for Cal Poly. Since Jenny Condon took over in 2005, there has been a pronounced difference in the club’s record in even numbered years against odd numbered seasons. Now through 2010, the Mustangs are 74-69 overall and 35-25 against league foes in even years, while posting a 115-45 overall mark and a 47-13 showing in Big West play in odd years. In addition, the only league titles and NCAA appearances for Cal Poly came in odd numbered years, 2007 and 2009.
Also, the Mustangs have played their last 136 games in the state of California, the longest streak in the country of one team playing in one state. The last time Cal Poly played outside of the Golden State was the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic back on February 15-17, 2008. Of course, when your conference opponents share your state its easier to accomplish such an odd feat.
NEW (OLD) VOICE IN THE DUGOUT
Cal State Northridge has a new voice at the helm of the program as associate coach Roni Sparrey takes over. Sparrey is a veteran of Big West battles as she played and coached at Cal Poly before joining the CSUN coaching staff prior to the 2007 season. In her three seasons as an assistant with CSUN, the Matador defense has posted an average fielding percentage of .966 and has finished among the top fielding teams in the Big West Conference and Division I. Sparrey also helped the 2009 Matadors lead the Big West in stolen bases, finishing the year with 62 stolen bases. She has also overseen several Matadors receive All-Big West Conference honors, ranging from First Team awards to Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
GROMACKI NEARS COACHING MILESTONE
A year ago, Cal State Fullerton head coach Michelle Gromacki became just the fourth coach in league history to win 350+ overall games and 150+conference outings during Big West membership. Gromacki has a significant milestone on the horizon as the 11th-year coach is just 19 wins from 400 for her career. In addition, the Titans are inching closer to their 1,000th win as a member of the conference with 994 victories and counting.