2008 Woodie Awards
Women's Softball Coach, Players Hold High Hopes for Upcoming Season
Women's team hopes for a better season, works on fundamentals
Sindy Diaz
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
After ten years of failing to qualify for the Western State Conference playoffs, the Citrus College softball team has a lot of room for improvement.
With 14 games in, in the spring 2003 season, the team was without a victory in sight.
Now with six strong returnees, 15 promising freshmen and a new head coach, the women's team is more than ready to take up that challenge.
"We hope to be increasingly competitive and change the people's perspective on Citrus softball," said head coach Jackie Boxley. "In the past, the team has not done so well and we are working really hard to improve."
In spring 2004, the women's team finished in last place out of eight teams in the WSC with a record of 1-26, and 1-15 in league.
Boxley hopes the women will improve this season by playing extra hard.
"We are looking to work on fundamentals of the game and working as a team to get to where we want to be," Boxley said.
Boxley anticipates that with the returnees' experience and the newcomers' enthusiasm, the team will make it to the playoffs.
"The combination of both groups striving to improve is definitely essential to an upcoming successful season," Boxley said.
Freshmen Patricia Chavira from Baldwin Park and Ashlie Paredez from Bonita High School and sophomore Tina Cleveland from La Salle High School are emerging as promising players, she said.
"We are excited about starting off the season well," Chavira said. "We are confident that when people come out and see us, they will see a major transformation from last season's team."
The Owls' toughest opponents this season are likely to be WSC champions College of the Canyons (30-9 and 21-3) and Bakersfield College (30-11 and 19-5.)
The Owls first home game is scheduled for Friday against Orange Coast College.
With 14 games in, in the spring 2003 season, the team was without a victory in sight.
Now with six strong returnees, 15 promising freshmen and a new head coach, the women's team is more than ready to take up that challenge.
"We hope to be increasingly competitive and change the people's perspective on Citrus softball," said head coach Jackie Boxley. "In the past, the team has not done so well and we are working really hard to improve."
In spring 2004, the women's team finished in last place out of eight teams in the WSC with a record of 1-26, and 1-15 in league.
Boxley hopes the women will improve this season by playing extra hard.
"We are looking to work on fundamentals of the game and working as a team to get to where we want to be," Boxley said.
Boxley anticipates that with the returnees' experience and the newcomers' enthusiasm, the team will make it to the playoffs.
"The combination of both groups striving to improve is definitely essential to an upcoming successful season," Boxley said.
Freshmen Patricia Chavira from Baldwin Park and Ashlie Paredez from Bonita High School and sophomore Tina Cleveland from La Salle High School are emerging as promising players, she said.
"We are excited about starting off the season well," Chavira said. "We are confident that when people come out and see us, they will see a major transformation from last season's team."
The Owls' toughest opponents this season are likely to be WSC champions College of the Canyons (30-9 and 21-3) and Bakersfield College (30-11 and 19-5.)
The Owls first home game is scheduled for Friday against Orange Coast College.