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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (6-10-09) — Lee University second baseman DANIELLE BALOUGH (Santana HS) has been selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region team for the 2009 season.

Balough, a sophomore, hit .405 for the NAIA 16th-ranked Lady Flames this past year, socking three home runs and 16 doubles. She also scored 31 times and recorded 48 RBI, earning an All-Southern States Athletic Conference berth to lift Lee (39-14 overall) to a second-place finish in the SSAC Tournament.

Her sister, freshman BRITTANY BALOUGH, posted an 11-7 pitching record for the Lady Flames.

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MEMPHIS (5-20-09/UPDATED 5-29-09) — Former Valhalla High standout KIMMI HAYDEN, the 2005 East County player of the year, just became the youngest head coach in NCAA softball.

Kimmie Hayden

After Hayden's injury, the Tigers were kind enough to keep the school's multi-record holder on scholarship. Meanwhile, while still attending classes, Hayden was picked up by CBU as an assistant coach, helping the young Division I program equal its school record for most victories in a season.

"The players on this year's team really like Kimmi," Nadicksbernd said. "I believe she is a perfect fit to be our new coach. She is extremely organized and is excited about this opportunity to coach college softball."

The San Diego native was a three-year starter at catcher for Memphis before suffering a career-ending shoulder injury. She graduated magna cum laude from the Sports Management program at Memphis , and she is enrolled in its graduate program,

Hayden replaces Donna Crone, who was CBU's head coach for 10 years before being promoted to Assistant Athletics Director / Compliance Coordinator.

Rising from the ashes
As the door to her playing career was closing, Hayden worked hard to close the process.

"Overcoming surgery may have been one of the hardest things I have had to endure in my career," Hayden recalled. "After my first shoulder surgery, I never thought I was going to be able to throw a ball again. I did my physical therapy in San Diego , but at that point, I was really just trying to get my range of motion back."

"Once I got back to Memphis , as usual the doctor and the training staff at the University of Memphis took very good care of me and got me ready for my sophomore season."

However, the problems in her shoulder continued to mount.

"I struggled at the beginning of my sophomore season, especially with my throwing because I basically had to learn how to throw again," she added. "But I worked very hard on it and ended up having a great season."

"But in my junior year, I dove for a ball, and I remember feeling something pop and had the most excruciating pain."

The anchor that tacked her labrum to the bone pulled out from her first surgery. A clean-up operation during the ensuing summer saw the doctor clean up the labrum, rotator cuff and re-tack the labrum back into place.

"However, my left shoulder was popping out of socket and because of the wear and tear from catching, a minor injury from my sophomore year, and over-compensating from two shoulder surgeries."

Soon, everyday activities were nearly impossible because of her left shoulder. The decision for a third surgery just six months later was "heart-breaking."

"That's when I received the sad news that my playing days were most likely over," pointed out Hayden. "This was news I had not expected and I became an even bigger fan of the training room, hoping I could continue playing if I worked hard enough."

"I spent a lot of my collegiate career in there, and I love the staff. The head athletic trainer, Amos Mansfield, was great to me; Amos and his training staff and Dr. Phillips took great care of me while at Memphis , and they still do. However, I came to accept the fact that my softball playing days were over."

Following 17 years excelling in softball, the chapter closed quickly.

"Believe me, leaving softball was one of the most heart-wrenching decisions I have made because I love the sport so much. But I truly believe in the saying that when one door closes, another one opens, and so I began a new phase of my life without sports."

"Or so I thought."

The fork in the road
One of the requirements for Hayden to graduate was to complete nine credit hours in an approved internship. A friend happened to be long-time friends with Crone, the head coach at Christian Brothers University , and offered to call Donna to find out if she had anything open for an internship.

"I met with coach Crone, who was not only the softball coach, but also the Senior Women’s Administrator and Compliance Officer. She was in need of an assistant to help with compliance paperwork with my background, she thought I could be of assistance to her department."

Hayden registered for the 3-hour internship class and after weeks of working on compliance paperwork, Crone then asked if Hayden would be interested in doing the strength and conditioning coach with the softball team for the balnce of the fall term to fulfill the remaining required hours for the internship.

"She didn’t need to ask me twice -- this would be a way for me to still be involved in the sport," added Hayden, who jumped at the opportunity. "This for me was an opportunity of a lifetime; I was going into my second semester of my senior year and had the opportunity to coach a collegiate softball team in the same city I was attending college."

"This was not just an internship for me; this was the start of a new career path with my playing days over. Coaching was the next best thing."

As fate would have it, toward the end of the season, Crone received a grant from NCAA to become the Assistant Athletic Director for CBU, and she suggested for Hayden apply for the head coaching position.

"I knew at that point that because I was only 21, my age would be a factor with this position, but being given the opportunity to at least compete for the job was a huge honor in itself."

"I thought it would be a long shot on actually obtaining the position."

On May 19th, much to her surprise, Hayden was announced as the head coach.

"I am so appreciative of the opportunity Joe Nadicksbernd and Coach Crone have given me, and I am looking forward to a long career with this wonderful university." I love the atmosphere at CBU; my players, the Athletic Department, the students, and staff at this gorgeous campus have all made me feel so welcome. I think this is a great place for student-athletes and I am so proud to be a part of this institution and athletic program."

Kristen Medrud (Loyola photos)

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CLEVELAND (4-14-09) — Former Santana High standout KRISTEN MEDRUD slugged a pair of home runs, including the game-winner in the 9th inning, powering Loyola University Chicago past host Cleveland State, 3-2, in a Horizon League ballgame Friday (Apr. 10).

Medrud batted 3-for-4 and scored all three Loyola runs, giving the Ramblers (20-12, 8-2 Horizon) their 20th victory of the season, just two short of their season total for 2008 with 18 contests remaining.

Medrud walloped her third home run of the season over the fence in right center in the 4th, extending the Ramblers' lead to 2-0. The host Vikings struck back immediately in the bottom half of the inning however, tying the contest on Amanda Houchin's two-run homer.

Neither team was able to generate much offense the rest of the way until Medrud stepped to the plate with one out in the top of the ninth and deposited Amanda Macneko's offering over the left field fence for the game-winner.

Medrud, a first baseman, is batting .250 this year, ranking among the leaders in every power category, including homers, RBI and slugging percentage.

Loyola advanced to within 1 1/2 games of Cleveland State, with Illinois-Chicago (7-1) the leader in a close Horizon pennant chase by percentage points.

Vanessa Adame	Kyrstin Gemar
Game Action Photos HERE (Slideshow by Lenny Gemar)

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DECATER, Ala. (5-20-09) — Dickinson State (S.D.), which features a pair of East County products in VANESSA ADAME (Steele Canyon) and KYRSTIN GEMAR (Grossmont College), finished where they started at the NAIA National Championships.

Ranked third in the nation entering the 32-team, double-elimination event, the Blue Hawks' season ended one game short of the championship, finishing third after falling to St. Gregory, 3-1, in the challenger bracket final.

St. Gregory, the 7th seed, received 10 more strikeouts from Sharon Bell to gain a title-round berth on Wednesday against top-rated Cal Baptist. Bell now has 78 strikeouts at the event, a new NAIA Tournament record.

Dickinson State went 6-2 at nationals, finishing the season with a 42-5 overall mark.

One of the victories at nationals featured a victory over Missouri Valley College, avenging an earlier loss on Mar. 20. Sara Jane Webster struck out 12, backed by a 2-run homer by Gemar.

Adame, who anchored the Blue Hawks outfield in center, batted .393 this season, ranking among the conference leaders with 53 basehits. Included were four triples and nine stolen bases.

Gemar ranked among the leaders in both average and power hitting. She batted .516 with seven home runs and 32 RBI, posting a stellar .952 slugging percentage.

Dickinson State (36-3) is ranked third nationally in the NAIA, downing Minot State, 9-0, to capture its fourth consecutive DAC Tournament crown.

In the final game in a 4-game series sweep of visiting Mayville State (N.D.), the Blue Hawks received a game-tying basehit by Adame in the bottom of the 7th inning. Gemar later recorded the game-winner in the 9th with a pinch-hit basehit in a 9-8 triumph to complete the sweep.

“Kyrstin is a big stick in our lineup and we’re going to count on her for a lot of things,” said head coach Guy Fridley. “We’re just fortunate enough to have somebody like her to call upon to come off the bench and get a big hit.”

Meanwhile, Adame batted 5-for-6 with three RBI in the contest. Both former East County players also went 2-for-3 in the first game of the Mar. 29 doubleheader, a 13-0 victory, as Blue Hawks pitcher Sara Jane Webster tossed a no-hitter.

Dickinson State sports a record 17-3 this season (4-0 DAC), including a 2-0 victory over Cal State San Marcos at the Tucson Invitational on Mar. 21.

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EAGLE ROCK (5-19-09) — Former Grossmont High standout ALYSSA ESCALANTE, who currently starts for Occidental College, was voted to the All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team.

The coaches voted Escalante, a junior catcher, to the All-SCIAC second team.

Escalante started all 37 games for Oxy this season and finished with an overall .286 batting average. She hit at a .266 clip during conference action, handling every pitch from the Tigers pitching staff over the entire season.

Occidental (14-23) tied for the most wins in a season since 2000.

At Grossmont, Escalante made the 2006 All-East County second team.

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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (5-11-09) — Former Santana High standout LAURIE LINDOW was named to the all-tournament team, helping Tennessee-Martin capture its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship.

Laurie Lindow (UTM photo)

UTM (35-21) advances to the NCAA Regional in Louisville , meeting No. 9 seed Arizona, an 8-time national champion. The other two teams in the regional include Purdue and the host Cardinals, with the double-elimination event slated for May 15-17 at Louisville 's Ulmer Stadium.

Lindow caught every pitch throughout the Ohio Valley event, which started on a down note with a 1-0 loss to Tennessee Tech. However, UTM captured its next five ballgames with victories over Moorehead State (5-0), Jacksonville State (2-0), an avenge win over T-Tech ) 4-2), then a finals sweep of Southwest Missouri (3-2 and 4-1).

Lindow, a junior majoring in forensic geology, batted a solid .556 over the first three contests of the tournament. Teammate Savannah Roberts then took over, hitting a pair of homer in the finale. The event MVP was Skyhawks pitcher Kara Harper.

For the season, Lindow is batting a solid .273, leading the team to a late-season 7-1 run to qualify for the playoffs, topping the ballclub in RBI during the stretch.

Lindow was a 4-year starter at Santana, helping the Sultans to the 2004 CIF Division III championship. She was a three-time All-East County selection, twice on the first team (2003, 2006).

Jesse Peterson (CSUEB photo)

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HAYWARD (5-6-09) — Former Grossmont College standout JESSE PETERSON made a mighty impression on coaches in the California Pacific Conference. Depsite playing for a Cal State East Bay ballclub which posted a disappointing 13-25 overall record this season, Peterson was named co-winner of the Cal-Pac player of the year award. The announcement was made by commissioner Don Ott.

Peterson, the Pioneers' first baseman, ranked among the conference's leading hitters all season with a .312 average. She also shared pitchin duties, posting a 9-11 record with 136 strikeouts over 134 innings.

Peterson, a senior, shared the award with Valerie Brionez of Cal-Pac champ Holy Names University.

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HAYWARD (4-12-09) — Cal State University East Bay senior Jesse Peterson, an alum of Grossmont College, was selected as the California Pacific Conference women's fastpitch pitcher of the week for the period from Mar. 30 thru Apr. 6.

Peterson struck out 23 batters in four games, helping the Pioneers move into third place in its final season in the Cal Pac (NAIA); the school joins the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2009-10.

During the week, Peterson recorded hits and RBI in all six contests, batting a solid .529 (9-for-17). Her hitting streak reached nine games before finally ending on Apr. 10 against Bethany.

For the season, Peterson owns a 9-9 record with a 2.30 earned-run average. She is also the runaway CSU East Bay leader in batting with a .348 average; the next closest Pioneer is at .282. Not too bad for a player who never played varsity softball in high school; Peterson attended Helix High.

© East County Sports.com

Ashley Mottola (Belhaven photo)

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (5-2-09) — Former Grossmont College standout ASHLEY MOTTOLA pitched a complete-game shutout for Belhaven College, propelling the Blazers into the championship round of the NAIA Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on Apr. 25.

Mottola, who posted a 13-7 record this season, finished with a 6-hitter in defeating Spring Hill College, 4-0. It was her second shutout of the season.

Belhaven went on to avenge an opening-round loss to University of Mobile, 4-2, but then fell in the tournament final, 12-2, to 5th-ranked William Carey University (40-6). Nevertheless, Belhaven finished the season with the most victories in school history with a 36-19 overall record.

Mottola, a junior from Dulzura who prepped at Santana High, recorded 70 strikeouts in 127 innings.

CSU San Marcos

Alyssa Dronenburg

Brenna Sandberg

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TUCSON, Ariz. (3-27-09) — A pair of former East County softball standouts lifted Cal State San Marcos to a successful weekend at the Tucson Invitational. Included were Helix High alum ALYSSA DRONENBURG, the CIF Division I Player of the Year, and former West Hills High pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG.

Dronenburg, who was also a first-team All-San Diego CIF selection by the media last season, registered two strong games at the event last weekend (Mar. 20-21).

Against Trinity Christian, whe posted a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI at the plate, including a walkoff, 3-run triple to invoke the run rule in an 8-0 triumph. She later went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in a 15-6 pasting of Mayville State.

Meanwhile, in a second game with Trinity Christian, Sandberg, a sophomore, tossed a 2-hit shutout in a complete-game effort. She struck out 7 without issuing a walk, as the Cougars extended their winning streak to five straight games.

Cal State San Marcos (20-14 overall) plays Friday (Mar. 27) at USD in a 4 p.m. doubleheader, then host Vanguard in a Saturday (Mar. 28) twinbill starting at noon.

Diaz Update - TERESE DIAZ, the former Helix High standout, currently ranks 5th in the nation in strikeouts among NCAA Division I freshmen. Overall, the University of Buffalo pitcher is tied for 22nd at 9.3 strikeouts per every 7 innings (thru games of Mar. 22) according to the most recent NCAA statistical update.

Seymour delivers Dordt © East County Sports.com SIOUX CITY, Iowa (4-9-09) — Former Christian High standout SARAH SEYMOUR delivered the game-winning hit Wednesday (Apr. 8), helping visiting Dordt College to a 7-4 triumph over Dakota State. Sarah Seymour (Dordt photo) Coming up with the bases loaded, Seymour lined a basehit to center for the go-ahead run, but when the ball was misplayed, another runner came home for a 6-4 advantage. The Defenders (13-17), which opened the season with a 6-17 mark, have now won seven straight contests thanks to Seymour – the school's longest win streak since 2002. It's also a nice turnaround for a program which went 6-31 prior to Seymour 's arrival. During the winning streak, Seymour is batting a cool .600 (15-for-25) with 7 runs and 9 RBI. Seymour, a sophomore first baseman, leads the ballclub with a .361 batting average. The left-handed hitter also paces the team in home runs, triples and total bases, and is second in doubles and RBI. Dordt currently is in 5th place in the 13-team Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA), just two full games behind front-running Morningside College (Iowa). At Christian, Seymour was a 2-time team MVP, earning a 2007 first-team All-East County berth after batting .378 as a senior.

Rachel Failla (Chico St. photo) Failla has Chico winning © East County Sports.com TURLOCK — Former Santana High standout RACHEL FAILLA recently lifted Chico State to five consecutive victories at the Mizuno Tournament of Champions, held at Pedretti Park on Apr. 3-5. Rachel Failla (Chico St. photo) Failla, a freshman first baseman for the Wildcats, batted a team-leading 368 (7-for-19) at the event, posting victories over Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin's, Central Washington, Western Washington and Western Oregon. The Wildcats (16-29) fell to nationally-ranked Grand Canyon in the final tournament ballgame. For the season, Failla has started in 41 of 45 games as one of seven freshmen playing for Chico State. She owns a current batting average of .258, leading the team in home runs and in fielding percentage.

Balough sisters to play for first place in SSAC © East County Sports.com CLEVELAND, Tenn. (4-10-09) — The championship of the NAIA Southern States Athletic Conference will be on the line Tuesday (Apr. 14), when first-place Shorter College of Georgia comes to town to meet second-standing Lee University, which features former Santana High sister combination of DANIELLE and BRITTY BALOUGH. Shorter, ranked 12th, leads Lee's 19th-ranked Flames (23-9) by one game entering the doubleheader, with both ballclubs riding hot streaks. Danielle (left) and Britty Balough (Lee University photos) Shorter (27-9) recently established an NAIA narional record by going 45 consecutive innings without allowing a run. However, Lee has kept pace, winning 15-of-17 ballgames – including an 11-game win streak – to overcome an 8-7 start to the season. Danielle Balough is batting a solid .387 to rank third on the ballclub, starting in 28 of the Flames' 32 outings. She rates second in total hits and doubles. Meanwhile, Britty Balough, a freshman and the heir-apparent to starting pitcher Johana Gomez of Venezuela , is keeping up with her veteran teammate. Balough leads Lee in innings pitched, owning a 7-4 record and a 2.87 ERA, including eight complete games. And when not pitching, she has contributed with the bat, to. Included was Thursday's (Apr. 9) doubleheader sweep at Brewton-Parker College Mount Vernon, Ga.). In the second game, Balough registered a pair of basehits worth three RBI, while also scoring twice.

Samantha Beasley (SDSU photos)

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (4-8-09) — There is more than one pitcher earning recognition at San Diego State this season.

Beasley, a sophomore out of Steele Canyon HS, earned her third Mountain West Conference pitcher of the week citation. A righthander, Beasley went 2-0 in two appearances with a 0.50 ERA over 14 innings. She struck out 23 and allowed just two walks for an impressive 11.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Beasley gave up seven hits, five of them singles, and one run, allowing her opponents to hit .140.

On Wednesday (Apr. 8) at USD, Beasley tossed a 2-hit shutout, striking out 10 batters. Both Toreros hits were singles, with no runner advancing past second base.

Against UNLV in the MWC opener on Saturday, Beasley had 13 strikeouts – the second-most in her career – and walked none over seven innings. She allowed five hits, three of them to Marissa Nichols, and one run. Beasley got out of a major jam in the 5th inning with two runners in scoring position and one out by getting a popout and a strikeout on a 12-pitch at-bat.

On the season, Beasley is 12-9 with a 1.91 ERA over 139 innings, and leads the MWC in innings pitched, strikeouts (174), saves (4) and appearances (29, tied-first). She is striking out 8.76 batters per seven innings in 2009, the most in school history. With at least 14 games to go in the season, Beasley also ranks fourth in saves and opponents average (.196), sixth in strikeouts and tied for seventh in solo shutouts (since 1999) (5).

The Aztecs (25-13, 2-0 MWC) are receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and the ESPN.com/USA Softball polls. SDSU had won seven straight games, and 20 of their last 25 contests.

Terese Diaz

Kimmie Hayden

© East County Sports.com
A series of notes on former East County softball players at 4-year schools:

Buffalo's Terese Diaz
BUFFALO, N.Y. (3-17-09) – Former Helix High standout TERESE DIAZ made her opening week in college a successful one. The Bulls freshman was a Mid-American Conference honorable mention selection for pitcher of the week honors after posting a 2-0 mark at the K-Club Classic at Kennesaw State.

The frosh right-hander picked up complete-game wins over Drexel and Memphis, striking out 19 in 16 innings of work. At the plate, she batted .286 and knocked in a pair of runs.

Memphis' Kimmie Hayden
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The playing career for former Valhalla High standout KIMMIE HAYDEN may be over, but not her softball career. After leading the Tigers in batting (a .311 average – third-highest in school history) as a junior for the Tigers in 2008, surgeries on both shoulders ended her stint as a 3-year starting catcher.

However, while Memphis was kind enough to keep her on scholarship for her senior year – afterall, she set more than a dozen school records in three seasons with the Tigers – Hayden is now serving as an assistant coach at crosstown Christian Brothers University, an NCAA Division II program. The Lady Bucs are off to a 10-6 start, the school's best this decade.

Jodie Schmehr

Taylor Kelly

Schmehr, the RedHawks' starting second baseman as a freshman, helped straighten Seattle's ship following a 2-6 start by winning a season-high 3 straight ballgames at the event. Included was a 2-game sweep of Utah Valley, as Schmehr scored three runs in the series, then she turned a key double play in the 6th inning during a victory over St. Mary's.

Although Seattle lost to host Loyola Marymount in the finale, the freshman still collected two of the Hawks' six hits.

Seattle will join St. Mary's and Loyola Marymount in the new Pacific Coast Softball Conference in 2010.

Cal's Taylor Kelly
HONOLULU – Former Santana High standout TAYLOR KELLY is helping Cal remain in the NCAA national rankings. The Golden Bears (21-4) are ranked 9th nationally after sweeping all four games at the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament, hosted by the University of Hawai'i on Mar. 11-14.

Serving as the starting shortstop, Kelly has started every game but one, posting a solid .264 batting average. Included was one of three 1st-inning home runs slugged by the Bears against Wisconsin at the tournament, her second of the season. Cal also defeated Memphis, St. John's and the host Rainbow Wahine.

Cassidy Baggett

At West Hills, Baggett finished third among East County batters with a .457 average as a senior in 2008, gaining a first-team berth on the All-East County team.