© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (7-8-09/UPDATED 8-20-09) — Following the greatest season in Grossmont College history, five of seven sophomores from the Griffins women's fastpitch team earned scholarships to four-year schools, assistanrt coach ANA LANDEROS announced.

The list includes shortstop ALYN KALAMAHA (Point Loma Nazarene), third baseman KATIE THOMAS and catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY (Northwestern Oklahoma St.), and pitchers CHARNEL ZETSCH (Dickinson State, S.D.) and JANELLE HAVENS (Tarleton State, Texas).

Kalamaha is the biggest of those gaining scholarships, moving to a program which placed sixth at the NAIA nationals and finished ranked fourth in the country. The Sea Lions are now coach by CHERYLE SCHAEFER following the resignation of DAVE WILLIAMS, who is taking over at Cal State San Marcos.

Thomas and Lovelady will remain teammates in Alva, Okla., joining a Rangers program which finished as runners-up in the Sooner Athletic Conference behind NAIA No. 2 ranked Lubbock Christian.

"It's a good school and Katie and Ashley should have quite a bit of success there," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS.

Thomas and Lovelady will travel some 1,500 miles to renew a local rivalry, too.

"I understand that Palomar's shortstop and second baseman are going to a school in that conference, so they all should have a good time going against each other," added Landeros.

Thomas is considered "one of our best third basemen ever," according to the coach. Meanwhile, Zetsch elected to continue folowing the parade of former Grossmont players who are attending Dickinson State (S.D.).

Zetsch registered 17 victories this past season, including a school-record three during the playoffs, as Grossmont (34-12) moved to within one game of advancing to the state finals for the first time ever moving being eliminated by eventual state champ Mt. San Antonio.

Sat., May 16
Winners Bracket Semifinals
College of the Siskiyous 5, Sierra 0
Mt. San Antonio 8, Cypress 7
Challengers Bracket
Cerritos 10, Riverside 4 (winner vs. Cypress)
Sacramento 3, Ohlone 2 (winner vs. Sierra)

Winners Bracket Final
Mt. San Antonio 4, College of the Siskiyous 3
Challengers Bracket
Cerritos 11, Cypress 10
Sierra 6, Sacramento 2
Sierra 6, Cerritos 1

Sun., May 17
Sierra 2, Siskiyous 0 (challenger bracket final)
Championship: Mt. San Antonio 7, Sierra 1

© East County Sports.com
WALNUT (5-11-09) — The greatest season in Grossmont College women's fastpitch history came to an end as 3rd-seeded Mt. San Antonio College eliminated the Griffins, 8-4 and 8-0, to take the best-of-three series, 2-1, in the CCCAA Southern California Super Regionals.

In Sunday's (May 10) first game, the Griffins would leave a season-high 13 runners on base. The flux in offense carried over to the rubber game of the series, as Mounties pitcherMichelle Escarmilla tossed a 1-hit shutout to clinch the series with an 8-0 run-rule victory.

Mt. SAC, the state champions in 2003, 2005 and 2007, will make its 7th consecutive trip to the state finals, which will be held this season at the Salinas Sports Complex in Salinas. Although the Griffins (34-12) fell one game short of the state finals, it was still the deepest postseason run in school history.

Fri., May 15
California State Championships
At Salinas
First Round
College of the Siskiyous (North-1) vs. Riverside (South-4)
Sacramento (North-2) vs. Mt. San Antonio (South-3)
Sierra (North-3) vs. Cerritos (South-2)
Ohlone (North-4) vs. Cypress (South-1)

Grossmont Griffins This Decade Year PCC/Place Overall Pct. 2001 10-5 / 2nd 20-11-0 .645 2002 10-4 / 2nd 27-09-0 .750 2003 8-7 / 2nd 19-16-1 .542 2004 11-4 / 2nd 26-14-2 .643 2005 10-5 / 2nd 16-11-0 .593 2006 8-7 / 2nd 15-15-0 .500 2007 11-4 / 1st 24-09-0 .727 2008 13-2 / 1st 27-12-0 .692 2009 12-3/ 2nd 34-12-0 .739 Totals 93-41 / .694 209-109-3 .656

Pacific Coast Conf. (2001-09)	Conf.	Overall
21st Century Composite	W-L-T	W-L-T
Palomar Comets	121-14-0	279-116-2
Grossmont Griffins	93-41-0	209-109-3
San Diego Mesa Olympians	52-83-0	127-199-3
San Diego City Knights	49-87-0	158-184-7
Southwestern Jaguars	45-89-0	108-172-3
Imperial Valley Arabs	44-90-0	126-157-3
(.513)	404-404	986-937-21

RF Heather Brewer: Game-tying Home Run in 7th Inning

CF Kylee Wilson: Solo Home Run; Mt. SAC elects not to challenge her arm.

© East County Sports.com
WALNUT (5-10-09) — A split-second decision which went the wrong way lifted Grossmont College to within one game of a berth in the state community college women's fastpitch championships.

Mt. San Antonio College, which had already scored three times in the bottom of the 7th inning, elected to hold the potential game-tying runner at third base on a basehit. But the Mounties were unable to collect one final dramatic hit off Griffins pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH, as Grossmont held on for a 7-6 victory in the opener of the Southern California Super Regional.

Grossmont, the No. 7 seeds, can capture the best-of-3 series with a victory in Game 2 of the series, which starts at 2 p.m. Sunday. If Mt. SAC wins, a third game will follow. A Griffins victory in either game will propel the school to their first-ever state finals appearance, slated for the Salinas Sports Complex.

Mt. SAC's Samantha Slonicker slapped a basehit to centerfield, but head coach Kelly Ford elected to throw the stop sign on her baserunner heading toward her from second base.

"The coach held her for a reason," noted Zetsch. "Earlier, KYLEE (WILSON , the Grossmont centerfielder) fired a ball to third base, and the girl barely got there. And ANDI (ALFANO, in left field) just hosed a ball to ALYC (KALAMAHA, the shortstop), so she knew we had arms out there."

So Ford elected to go against "the book" on sending home the runner with two outs.

Ford then called upon Katie Manchester, a freshman who wasn't even issued a uniform number when the season began, to pinchhit. However, Zetsch coaxed her to popup to Kalamaha to end the contest.

The win puts Grossmont (34-10) into position to eliminate the No. 3 seeded Mounties (38-11).

"Here's the thing, it doesn't matter who is seeded where," added Zetsch. "Anybody can beat anybody on any given day."

"We we're a little nervous at first, but ASHLEY (LOVELADY, the catcher) and I are on the same page. We're okay covering the slappers, so we just have to pop the ball hard on their power hitters and hit our spots."

Grossmont trailed twice, but rallied for five runs in the 5th to overcome deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.

The big inning featured a lead-off home run by right fielder HEATHER BREWER.

"All of us hit the ball hard -- we just came and played our A-game," said Brewer. "We wanted it more than they did."

Brewer was within a few feet of Wilson on the game-deciding play. Brewer knew the proper decision was made by the base coach.

"I know for a fact that Kylee has a great arm -- a gun," Brewer explained. "I would've held the runner, too."

Kalamaha (safe on error) and Wilson (walk) gave Grossmont a 5-3 lead when KATIE THOMAS belted a double to the wall in left-center field. The hit chased Mt. SAC starting pitcher Diane Ortiz.

Lovelady (walk) and KELLEY SEITZ (safe on error) reached to load the bases. Zetsch then produced a run-scoring single to center to make it 6-3, although Lovelady was thrown out at the plate attempting to take an extra base.

Alfano also singled to center to re-load the bases, then ASHLEY MARX reached on an infield single that the Mt. SAC second baseman was able knock down with her legs to allow only one additional run to come home to keep the score at 7-3.

The Mounties opened the scoring with two runs in the 2nd, the first coming on a lead homer by catcher Ashley Larios.

However, Grossmont got even in the 3rd when Marx led-off with a triple to the gap in left-center. Two outs later, Wilson clubbed a 2-run homer deep to left field.

Zetsch and Alfano each batted 2-for-4 for the G-House.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-4-09) — Grossmont College gained its first-ever berth into the second round of the state playoffs with relative ease Sunday (May 3), scoring three times in the 1st inning to roll past East Los Angeles, 7-1, to sweep the best-of-3 series.

Griffins sophomore CHARNEL ZETSCH batted 3-for-3, including an RBI on the team's first trip to the plate, to pace the offense. The pitcher also carried a shutout into the 7th to halt the Huskies on a 4-hitter.

Meanwhile, ASHLEY LOVELADY established a single-season school record with her 8th home run of the season, while four of her teammates posted two hits and an RBI.

"Everyone did their jobs and took care of business – we didn't want to go to a third game," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "Just look up and down our lineup – everyone did something."

Four Grossmont players – KELLEY SEITZ, KATIE THOMAS, ANDI ALFANO and ASHLEY MARX – all batted 2-for-4. Marx also knocked in two runs, while the remaining trio added one RBI each.

The Griffins (33-10) wasted little time to put away East L.A.

In the 1st, ALYC KALAMAHA walked and stole second base, coming home on a 1-out single to right-center by Thomas.

One out later, Seitz and Zetsch pounded back-to-back doubles for a 3-0 lead, leaving the Huskies in their dust.

In the 3rd, Lovelady stroked a lead-off homer to set the school record.

The Griffins will meet third-seeded Mt. San Antonio (38-10) in next weekend's second round (Southland Super Regional). The Mounties advanced with a sweep of Antelope Valley .

The teams will meet Saturday (May 9) at 7 p.m., then Sunday at 2 p.m., with a third game to follow if necessary. The series winner will advance to the state tournament, which will be held for the first-time ever in Salinas .

Mt. SAC is the state's most successful team over the past decade, including state titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

The sophomores from the 2009 Grossmont College women's fastpitch team. (Photo by Brian Barr) CLICK on photo for full image

Katie Thomas: 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI in playoff opener

Charnel Zetsch: Pitches 2-hitter

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-3-09) — Grossmont College third baseman KATIE THOMAS, who owns as much playoff experience from her high school days as any member of the Griffins, led a lavish hit parade on Saturday (May 2).

The sophomore knocked in two runs with three hits, including a pair of doubles, powering the 7th-seeded G-House to a 5-1 triumph over No. 10 East Los Angeles College in the opening round of the CACC playoffs.

"Nothing seems to bother our team, especially with Katie," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "There can be all sorts of pressure, yet she and the rest of the team just goes about their business like nothing is ever wrong."

"I don't think they realize there are only 16 teams left in Southern California – and we're one of them. The team is just pretty laid back."

Of course, there isn't much stress when your pitcher dominated by throwing a 2-hitter.

Griffins sophomore CHARNEL ZETSCH over-whelmed almost every member of the East L.A. line-up, getting a long string of Huskies batters to keep hitting the ball on the ground.

The lone exception was freshman Samantha Montiel, who recorded both of her team's hits. The first was a lead homer in the 4th inning, then a single in the 6th. But by the time Montiel got her team on the scoreboard, Grossmont already staked Zetsch to a 3-0 lead.

In the 1st, KELLEY SEITZ walked with the bases loaded to force home KYLEE WILSON to open the scoring.

The rally was set-up when Wilson reached on an error, moving to third base on Thomas' first double, a shot to right field. Clean-up hitter ASHLEY LOVELADY followed with a hard grounder to the left side, but Huskies third baseman Stephanie Torres attempted to go after the lead runner.

However, a heads-up Wilson never broke for home and stayed close to the bag, safe on the fielder's choice. Seitz then walked on four pitches for a 1-0 advantage.

An inning later, another 1-out error was followed by four consecutive basehits off Huskies pitcher Vanessa Salinas for two additional runs.

HEATHER BREWER gained first base on a fielding error by the second baseman. The Griffins then went station-to-station around the bases on singles by ALYC KALAMAHA, Wilson, Thomas and Lovelady, a last two hits went for RBI.

Grossmont put the finishing touches on the school's second-ever postseason victory in the 6th.

Elsewhere, Palomar, the only other Pacific Coast Conference team to reach postseason play, was blanked by 5th-seeded Riverside, 3-0. The Tigers, who eliminated Grossmont in the first round last season, need one additional victory Sunday to take out the Comets.

© East County Sports.com
NORWALK (4-27-09) — Grossmont College, a year after gaining its highest seed ever for the CACC playoffs, has done one better.

Following their No. 8 seed in 2008, the Griffins (31-10 overall) were slotted at No. 7 for this season's postseason tournament, gaining a first-round home match-up with No. 10 East Los Angeles College of Monterey Park.

The best-of-3 series opens Saturday (May 2) at 2 p.m., with a second contest slated for noon on Sunday (May 3). An "if necessary" game would follow should the teams split.

"We played them twice during fall ball and they run-ruled us twice," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But we're now a completely different team."

The Huskies finished fourth in the South Coast Conference behind Cerritos , Mt. San Antonio and Long Beach. Although Grossmont did not play East L.A. this season, they did play the three teams above the Huskies, posting a 2-3 composite record against the trio.

Grossmont's placement in the playoffs was the best of any Pacific Coast Conference school, as regular season champion Palomar was placed 12th. The Comets, thus, are forced to play on the road at No. 5 Riverside, the ballclub which eliminated Grossmont in the first round last season.

"It's all about the numbers – there's no politics anymore," added Landeros. "You crunch the numbers – and there you go."

Meanwhile, Griffins catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY gained a first-team berth to the All-Southern California team. However, she became the first Pacific Coast Conference player of the year failing to get selected to the all-state team.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-25-09) — ASHLEY LOVELADY, the former Grossmont High standout who had not played collegiate softball since 2003, marked her return to the diamond by being named the Pacific Coast Conference player of the year.

Lovelady becomes the first Grossmont College player to capture the honor in voting among the six PCC head coaches Thursday (Apr. 23). Lovelady beat out Palomar's Andi Anti for the award.

"Nobody on our team had any doubt that Ashley would win," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "She was so focused and so enthusiastic for every game."

"She directed everyone on the team because she was the leader and always the player to watch."

Lovelady, the Grossmont catcher, ranked first on the ballclub with a .455 batting average (.468 in PCC contests), including a Griffins best seven home runs.

"Winning the award surprised me for a person who didn’t even play last year, but Ashley definitely deserved it," added Landeros. "She called every pitch, ran every game, and did more than anyone could possibly do both on and off the field."

Five other members of the Griffins also gained first-team berths from the coaches.

Included were pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH, shortstop ALYC KALAMAHA, outfielders KYLEE WILSON and ANDI ALFANO, plus KELLEY SEITZ, who was tabbed as a wild card honoree.

"Kelley didn't get the most votes at any one position, but the coaches thought highly of her and didn't believe she deserved to be on the second team," noted Landeros. "So they moved her to first team and called it a 'wild card' position."

"No one else got such special treatment, so it was an honor to be noticed like that for her and the way she played this season."

Zetsch easily led the conference in victories, but Palomar’s Alex Hutchinson, even though she missed more than a month of action due to injury, won the vote because she beat Grossmont in two of the team's three meetings.

Grossmont's lone second-team choice was third-baseman KATIE THOMAS. Honorable mention went to pitcher JANELLE HAVENS, second baseman ASHLEY MARX and right fielder HEATHER BREWER.

The Griffins posted a school-record 31 victories this season. The ballclub (31-10 overall, 12-3 PCC/second place) will learn its playoff future when the CACC postseason committee meets this weekend to determine seeds and pairings.

Based on several computer power-formula models, Grossmont anticipates a No. 7 seeding in Southern California , which would be good enough for an opening-round home series, slated for May 2-3.

ALL-PACIFIC COAST CONFERENCE TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher – Alex Hutchinson, Palomar (Pitcher of the Year)
Pitcher – Charnel Zetsch, Grossmont
Catcher – Ashley Lovelady, Grossmont (Player of the Year)
Catcher – Andrea Nedden, Palomar
First Base – Kristin Dahl, Palomar
Infield – Shawna Barrow, Palomar
Infield – Andi Anti, Palomar
Infield – Alec Kalamaha, Grossmont
Outfield – Becca Mussatti, Palomar
Outfield – Kylee Wilson, Grossmont
Outfield – Andrea Alfano, Grossmont Utility – Amanda Avila, Palomar
Wild Card – Kelley Seitz, Grossmont
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher – Brittany Gomez, San Diego Mesa
Catcher – Victor Trujillo, San Diego Mesa
Infield – Sarah Vlahos, Palomar
Infield – Katie Thomas, Grossmont
Infield – Kayla Calabrese, Southwestern
Outfield – Melissa Elliott, Palomar
Outfield – Brooke Gustely, San Diego City College
Outfield – Krisarah Rosario, San Diego Mesa
Utility – Amber Mann, Southwestern

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-22-09) — Grossmont College received a wake-up call after former Morse High standout Kayla Calabrese slugged a game-tying grand slam in the 5th inning of Tuesday's (Apr. 21) Pacific Coast Conference regular-season finale.

The Griffins answered by pelting Southwestern College pitching for eight runs in the bottom of the 5th, as the run rule was invoked well before the visitors could get out of the inning in Grossmont's 13-5 thrashing of the Jaguars.

ASHLEY LOVELADY belted a pair of home runs for the Griffins (31-10, 12-3 PCC), which capped the regular season with a school-record 31st victory.

The sophomore slugged a lead-off shot to centerfield to tie the game at 1-all in the 2nd inning. Lovelady later sent another missile to an identical spot for two more runs, when Grossmont scored four times in the 4th for a 5-1 advantage.

But after Calabrese tied the game with a single swing of the bat, the entire Griffins batting order got serious. The G-House sent 11 batters to the plate, as another long Southwestern season ended, unable to register the final out.

ANDI ALFANO was credited with the game-winning RBI, a sharp single to left to score Lovelady. The Jags defense then collapsed as the next three Griffins reached on errors, allowing four runs to score.

KYLEE WILSON followed with a 2-run double to center, KATIE THOMAS was hit by a pitch, then Lovelady took an encore at-bat, as her sharp grounder was again booted for the Jags' fourth error of the inning to bring home two more runs to end the contest.

Grossmont finished in second place in the final PCC standings, one game behind Palomar, which was upset in 9 innings by San Diego Mesa, 3-2.

The CACC playoff committee meets Saturday (Apr. 25) to determine pairings for the state tournament, which opens with a best-of-3 series on May 2-3.

© East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL (4-21-09) — JANELLE HAVENS overcame triple-digit temperatures in the Imperial Valley by tossing Grossmont College's school-record 13th shutout of the season, as the Griffins completed a season series sweep of Imperial Valley with Monday's (Apr. 20) 9-0 blanking of the host Arabs.

Havens carried a no-hitter into the 4th inning, finishing with 5 strikeouts in her 2-hitter. It was Grossmont's first shutout of IVC in three meetings this season, giving the G-House their first-ever 30-win season.

Meanwhile, the Griffins offense scored in five of their seven trips to the plate, capped by a 2-run homer by ASHLEY LOVELADY. She slugged a 2-run shot for her fifth homer of the campaign.

Lovelady's 2-for-3 performance was matched by KATIE THOMAS and KELLEY SEITZ, while CHARNEL ZETSCH paced the G-House by going 3-for-4. Lovelady, Thomas and Zetsch each registered doubles.

The victory mathematically clinched a second place finish in the Pacific Coast Conference for Grossmont (30-10, 11-3), which has placed either 1st or 2nd in the PCC standings every year since 1999 – a span of 11 seasons.

The Griffins close the regular season at 3 p.m. Tuesday (Apr. 21) with a home game against Southwestern.

With just two games left in the regular season, the G-House figures to rebound from Wednesday's (Apr. 15) 8-5 loss to Palomar with contests at Imperial Valley, a ballclub with just one victory all season, then at home to Southwestern, a program which has finished in the bottom half of the PCC standings every year except once this decade.

Palomar, winners of the PCC crown for 22 straight seasons until Grossmont unseated them in 2008 (the schools were part of a 3-way tie with San Diego City in 2007), came back from a 5-4 deficit by scoring four times in the 6th inning to end the Griffins' quest for a co-championship.

Comets third baseman Shawna Barrow doubled in the tying run, then a Griffins error allowed three unearned runs to score to make a winner of Palomar pitcher Alex Hutchinson.

"I wouldn't say we're back on top yet, but we’re coming around," said Hutchinson. "We're starting to click as a team."

Hutchinson missed more than five weeks of action, but is finally reaching top form.

"I pitched in our first game of the season, when I pulled a lower abdominal muscle, so I was out for about a month of playing and a month-and-a-half of pitching," added Hutchinson, who will pitch for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next season. "I was bummed because I just had hit my peak when I got hurt."

Andi Anti, the leading candidate for PCC player of the year laurels, also added two more basehits. The conference's second-leading hitter behind Barrow, Anti leads the circuit in homers, doubles and slugging percentage.

"We're coming back with a bang," said Anti, who is ticketed for Abilene Christian this fall. "We believed in it and knew from the beginning who could win the conference."

Grossmont overcame a 3-0 deficit by scoring four times in the 3rd inning.

No. 9 hitter HEATHER BREWER, a candidate for the ballclub's most improved player award, led off with a mammoth, solo home run to centerfield.

"She racked it – she took that deep and I'm really proud of her," exclaimed Grossmont catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY on Brewer's first homer of the season. "That hit really got us going."

The blast also shook up Hutchinson, who walked the next two batters, then saw Lovelady single home ALYC KALAMAHA. Lovelady entered the day ranked third in PCC batting with a .445 average.

KELLEY SEITZ followed with a sacrifice bunt, then CHARNEL ZETSCH was intentionally walked to load the bases. However, Hutchinson also walked KATIE THOMAS to force home KYLEE WILSON for a run, then she failed to cover a squeeze bunt by ANDI ALFANO which brought in Lovelady with the go-ahead run.

The decision will leave the state seeding committee with headaches. Although Palomar (20-14, 12-1 PCC) won the season series, 2-1, the Griffins (29-10, 10-3 PCC) own the clear superior record in non-conference play, including three victories over opponents ranked No. 1 in California .

"We were playing hard, we were up, but bottom line is they took control of the flat balls," added Lovelady. "They hit the ball hard, but I still think we're the better team, but we didn't get any timely hits."

Could the teams again meet in the CCAC playoffs?

"Round Four is on us, so it's just a mental game right now," Lovelady noted. "We've beat the No. 1 team in the state by run rule, so there's nothing we can't do."

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-10-09) — Quite simply, it was the most fruitful day in Grossmont College women's fastpitch history.

Facing California's top-ranked ballclub, the Griffins opened the stretch drive to the playoffs by sweeping visiting Cypress College – and it wasn't even close.

With the Chargers entering the doubleheader with wins in 24 of their previous 25 contests, Grossmont first run-ruled Cypress in 5 innings, 9-1, then completed the sweep by pounding out 14 hits in a 6-4 triumph.

"I overheard Cypress' coach tell the girls, 'we're alright, we're alright,' but this is really going to affect them," said CHARNEL ZETSCH, the winning pitcher in the opener. "Those girls are not used to losing like that – they're just not."

"We got 14 hits in that last game. Hands down, if we brought our bats the last time we played them, I think we would've beat them."

Three weeks ago, Grossmont downed Cerritos, then the top-rated team in the state, only to fall to Cypress on the back-end of a 3-way doubleheader. Now, after avenging that setback with the Griffins' school-record 29th victory of the season, the door is open for either Cerritos or Mt. San Antonio to reclaim the top spot while the No. 19 G-House (29-9) hopes to climb into the top 10.

"The losses to Palomar and San Diego City humbled us," Zetsch noted. "We thought we were okay, but wait, we were not okay. We really needed to step back and realize what we were doing wrong – it shook us up – and we realized we were not bigger than the game."

"Since then, we've focused a whole lot more – right now, there's a lot of energy in this dugout."

In the opener, Cypress pitching clearly seemed in spring break mode after Grossmont scored four times in the 1st and 2nd innings for a fast 8-0 lead.

Following a hit batsman and a pair of walks, first baseman KELLEY SEITZ belted a 2-run double to open the scoring, following by a sharp 2-run single by third baseman KATIE THOMAS.

An inning later, centerfielder KYLEE WILSON smacked the ball over the head of her defensive counterpart for a 3-run homer and a 7-0 cushion. Thomas followed with her third RBI of the contest with a line single to chase Cypress ' starting pitcher.

Meanwhile, Zetsch finished with a 2-hitter to gain the victory, propelling her record to 13-6. Seitz and Thomas both batted 2-for-3.

"Their pitcher was hitting her spots, but we used the entire field today – from the 200 to the 200," added Zetsch.

In game two, Zetsch's bat backed the pitching of JANELLE HAVENS. Zetsch went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Wilson added three more hits to go 4-for-6 in the twinbill, while ASHLEY LOVELADY added two additional basehits.

"We had really good offense – we were hitting all day long – and great defense behind both Charnel and myself," said Havens. "And Kylee Wilson hit a homer to get us going in the first game – that was excellent. I was really impressed with everybody."

" Cypress is proven to be a tough team, so I'm happy to beat them twice."

Cypress started to dig out of its first-game hole with two quick runs in the second ballgame, only to watch Grossmont counter with a 3-spot in the 1st to re-claim the lead for keeps.

After an error on a sharp grounder by Lovelady brought home the first run, Seitz, the clean-up hitter, surprised the Chargers with a squeeze bunt to score Wilson to tie the game. Wilson then doubled home Lovelady for a 3-2 advantage.

In the 4th, a series of four consecutive two-out hits would plate a pair.

Wilson doubled to left-center, followed by back-to-back basehits to right by Lovelady and Seitz. Zetsch followed with her first RBI double for a 5-3 lead. The sophomore repeated the feat with a bomb in the 6th which smacked the bottom of the fence in centerfield.

Havens, who was anywhere but on the softball map during a difficult career at El Cajon Valley High – she never rated in any pitching category in her prep career – now has several smaller NAIA colleges looking at her.

"I came back to play because of ANA (LANDEROS, Grossmont's assistant coach), and I'm so glad I did," Havens noted on her post-high school development. "So many things are now changing in my life because of her – she's made a big difference."

Grossmont hopes to keep the momentum going when the ballclub returns to action for its biggest game of the season in a re-match with Palomar in a battle which should decide the Pacific Coast Conference championship.

The game is slated for 3 p.m. Wednesday (Apr. 15) – a day when no local high school teams are scheduled to play, so the Griffins are asking for all local high school players to attend (admission is free).

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-9-09) — For the second time this season, Grossmont College took out San Diego Mesa College by run rule, whipping the Olympians, 11-2, in Wednesday's (Apr. 8) Pacific Coast Conference game at The G-House. The contest was called after 6 innings.

CHARNEL ZETSCH struck out 10 batters and allowed just a single earned run to complete the season-series sweep of Mesa, while boosting her record to 12-6 this season.

Grossmont (27-9, 10-2 PCC) has now defeated Mesa (16-11, 7-5) in seven straight contests over the past three seasons; the Griffins have captured 19-of-22 since 2003 (11-1 at home) in the one-sided series.

KYLEE WILSON propelled the Griffins early, belting a solo homer in the 1st inning. Wilson finished with a 3-for-4 outing, including an RBI double and scoring twice.

However, the biggest bat of the contest belonged to KATIE THOMAS. The Santana High product knocked home four runs, including a 2-run double in the 4th for a 7-2 lead.

Thomas batted 3-for-4, while Zetsch went 2-for-4 with a double and scoring twice.

Mesa took a 2-0 lead in the 1st, aided by an error, but Grossmont bounced back with 11 unanswered runs to remain one full game behind Palomar in the PCC standings. The Griffins and Comets meet for the final time next Wednesday.

Grossmont hosts Cypress in a noon doubleheader today (Apr. 9).

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-2-09) — Grossmont College snapped its longest Pacific Coast Conference losing streak in two years – albeit, it was only two games – by switching its offensive philosophy to down visiting Imperial Valley College, 6-2.

The Griffins (24-7, 9-2 PCC) opened the season with 7 straight victories by utilizing "small ball," before the power hitters carried the ballclub over the past month. However, following losses to Palomar and San Diego City to drop out of first place, the team returned to basics.

"We were waiting too much for a big hit, figuring something good would always happen," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But after the City game, we're not doing that anymore."

A series of bunts and stolen bases later, Grossmont mounted a 6-0 advantage to coast to a 9th consecutive victory over the Arabs.

ALYC KALAMAHA began the sequence from the team's very first at-bat. Following her lead single, the sophomore stole a pair of bases to put pressure on the IVC battery, then came home on a wild pitch.

An inning later, CHARNEL ZETSCH doubled to left, then displayed surprising speed with a theft of third base. KATIE THOMAS then managed her bat well by lifting a sacrifice fly to left and a 2-0 advantage.

In the 5th, Grossmont loaded the bases as ASHLEY MARX singled to left, ANDI ALFANO dropped a basehit ro right, then AMBER BEEBE put down a drag bunt. Kalamaha followed with a squeeze bunt to score Marx.

The Griffins added three more runs in the 6th, the first two scoring when a grounder by Zetsch was thrown down the right-field line, allowing ASHLEY LOVELADY (single) and KELLEY SEITZ (hit by pitch) to circle the bases.

Zetsch would later score, moving to third on a Thomas double, then another sacrifice fly, this time by Marx.

"The girls showed real good bat control and executed as well as we have all season," added Landeros.

Imperial Valley (1-18, 0-9) got on the scoreboard late when pitcher Marissa Paulsen homered to right-center. It was the lone blemish on the ledger for Grossmont winning pitcher JANELLE HAVENS, who struck out four Arabs.

Grossmont will participate in the San Diego City Tournament this weekend, to be held at Hourglass Park in Mira Mesa (south side of Miramar College). The G-House will meet Victor Valley in Friday's (Apr. 3) contest at 9 a.m., then gain a 1 p.m. rematch with Fullerton, the team which handed the first loss of the season to the Griffins.

Kellie Watson (left) and Charnel Zetsch both tossed no-hitters during Sunday's Soboba Classic.

© East County Sports.com
WINCHESTER (3-30-09) — Grossmont College partially rebounded from Friday's disappointment by establishing a school first at Sunday's (Mar. 29) Soboba Classic, hosted by Mt. San Jacinto College at historic Winchester Park.

Galvanized by pitchers KELLIE WATSON and CHARNEL ZETSCH, the Griffins received a pair of no-hitters in whipping a pair of opponents by run rule. It is believed to be the first time Grossmont won consecutive ballgames by no-hitter, never mind occurring on the same day.

In the opening 10-0 verdict over San Bernardino Valley, Watson needed just five innings to capture her second win in as many starts this season. Watson struck out a pair of Wolverines, facing just three batters above the minimum.

Watson was backed by home runs from KELLEY SEITZ and Zetsch.

Seitz smacked a 3-0 shot in the 1st inning to jump-start the offense following the team's shutout loss at San Diego City on Friday. Seitz followed with a 2-run blast in the 3rd, then added an RBI triple in the 5th.

KYLEE WILSON also went 3-for-3 for the Griffins.

In game two, Zetsch so overwhelmed Los Angeles Harbor, 11-0, the Seahawks asked for the contest to be halted after just four innings.

Zetsch struck out 2, facing just 14 Harbor batters, then aided her own cause by batting 2-for-2 with an RBI and scoring twice.

Shortstop ALYC KALAMAHA went 2-for-4, while second baseman ASHLEY MARX opened the 2nd inning with a lead homer to right field. Marx finished with four RBI, including a rare 3-run single in the 4th when a Griffins baserunner caught the Seahawks napping and took an extra base after reaching third base.

Grossmont (23-7 overall), which just completed a 7-game road swing, returns to Pacific Coast Conference action by hosting Imperial Valley on Wednesday (Apr. 1) at a special 1 p.m. start. Then it's back to the scene of last Friday's debacle to participate in the San Diego City Tournament over the weekend, to be held at Hourglass Field (next door to San Diego Miramar College in Mira Mesa).

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-28-09) — In an obvious oops, Grossmont College gave away its share of the Pacific Coast Conference lead after falling to host San Diego City College, 2-0, Friday (Mar. 27) at Betty Hock Field.

Former Steele Canyon High pitcher ERIKA BEASLEY, who elected to pitch for the Knights, blanked the Griffins with a 3-hit shutout. Beasley (9-11 record) struck out 4 without issuing a walk.

The ballgame's only runs were scored in the 4th inning, when City (12-12-1, 4-6 PCC) took advantage of a pair of Grossmont errors to post a pair of unearned runs. The boots placed two runners in scoring position, followed by a squeeze bunt by Jen Kirksey, then Vynessa DiBlasio lifted a sacrifice fly to center.

Grossmont (21-7, 8-2 PCC) received a ground-rule double from HEATHER BREWER, plus basehits by ASHLEY LOVELADY and KATIE THOMAS, but the Knights played error-less defense, then turned a double play to cap the upset victory. It's the first set of consecutive losses by Grossmont all season.

The Griffins also placed the lead batter on base four times, including the first three innings, yet never managed a key hit to get on the scoreboard.

Despite the setback, the Griffins still control their own destiny in the race for the PCC pennant. Although they now trail Palomar by a half-game in the standings, the season series is even with one head-to-head contest remaining, slated for Grossmont on Apr. 15.

The Griffins play Sunday (Mar. 29) in the re-scheduled Mt. San Jacinto Tournament.

© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (3-26-09) — It's the pennant race most observers expected prior to the season – and it's living up to the expectations.

In a battle between the two Pacific Coast Conference supreme teams, Palomar College received a walk-off homer by Andy Anti in the bottom of the 7th inning, giving the Comets a dramatic 2-1 victory over 13th-ranked Grossmont College in Wednesday's (Mar. 25) showdown at Eldridge Field.

The blast to left-field evened the season series at 1-1, forging a first place deadlock between the county's top two fastpitch programs.

"Andi's a legit player and she hit it," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "We got behind in the count, then she hit a cookie."

Anti swatted a 2-0 down-the-middle fastball for her 5th homer of the season. The sophomore entered the contest as the PCC's second-leading hitter at .507.

"But she was 0-for-5 against us this season, although she hit the ball hard several times," added Landeros. "This time, she really got a hold of one."

The decision sets-up a potential winner-take-all showdown for the PCC championship on Wed., Apr. 15, when Palomar (16-12, 8-1 PCC) visits the G-House (21-6, 8-1 PCC) for all the marbles.

Comets pitcher Alex Hutchinson (8-2) out-dueled the Griffins' CHARNEL ZETSCH (9-5), tossing a 2-hitter. Both pitchers struck out five and both were backed by one double play by the defense.

After Palomar opened the scoring in the 5th, Grossmont immediately answered when KATIE THOMAS beat out a hard-hit ground ball to third base to tie the game.

ALYC KALAMAHA opened the inning with a walk, then stole second base. Hutchinson recorded a fly out and a ground out, then pitched around KELLEY SEITZ, walking her to face Thomas. However, the Griffins' third baseman registered the RBI on her scratch single.

Thomas also started Grossmont's double play, catching a pop-up, then firing to Seitz at first base to catch the Palomar runner who failed to return to the bag in time.

Zetsch, who yielded just three hits, registered the only other Grossmont hit with a 2nd-inning basehit to right field.

© East County Sports.com
CYPRESS (3-22-09) — In a battle among three of Southern California's six conference leaders Saturday (Mar. 21), Pacific Coast Conference leading Grossmont College earned a quality split, including a victory over the top-ranked team in California.

The 20th-ranked Griffins (21-5) were nipped by Orange Empire Conference front-runner Cypress, 3-2, but bounced back to take out No. 1 Cerritos, the top ballclub in the South Coast Conference, 4-1.

"JANELLE HAVENS was so happy when we won that one," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "She took a lot of grief from the other team's fans all game, so after she got that last out, she spiked the ball in celebration."

It's been a major turnaround in Havens' career. Saddled with numerous losing seasons pitching for El Cajon Valley High, the sophomore has developed into being a reliable starter. In fact, she matched teammate and No. 1 starter CHARNEL ZETSCH for the team lead in victories with 10 each.

The Falcons (22-5-1) registered nine hits off Havens, yet never delivered any big hits.

"They were all bloopers, Texas Leaguers or grounders through a hole – nothing was over-powering," added Landeros. "Janelle might have pitched the best game of her life."

The triumph also partially avenged a 2-game playoff sweep to Cerritos in Norwalk two seasons ago.

Backing Havens was the hitting of ASHLEY LOVELADY, who went 6-for-8 over the two contests. Included was a triple, a double and a pair of RBI.

"Every time we need a hit, Ashley's been there," Landeros noted. "And a couple of times, she smoked the ball."

Lovelady helped Grossmont get on the scoreboard in the 1st with a 2-out basehit to center, scoring when KELLEY SEITZ followed with a double to left-center. An inning later, Zetsch was nearly stranded at second base following her leadoff double, but HEATHER BREWER delivered a clutch 2-out basehit to right to make it 2-0.

Cerritos pieced together three singles for a run in the 3rd, but Grossmont bounced back with a pair of runs in the 5th to cement the triumph.

ALYC KALAMAHA started the rally with a walk and a stolen base. Lovelady followed with an RBI double to right-center, scoring on a long Seitz single to left-center.

Against 6th-ranked Cypress, Grossmont carried a 2-1 lead late into the ballgame, but the Chargers tallied twice in the 6th to escape with the victory on their home diamond.

A pair of 2-out hits gave the Griffins the early lead in the 2nd, as ANDI ALFANO singled, then came home on a ASHLEY MARX double to left.

Cypress (21-4) answered in the 3rd, but Grossmont re-took on another 2-out rally in the 5th when KYLEE WILSON doubled over the center fielder's head, coming home on a triple to right by Lovelady.

Grossmont continues one of the most difficult stretches in its schedule by meeting second-place Palomar in San Marcos at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The game will be the 4th in a 7-game road trip.

© East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (3-21-09) — Grossmont College pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH came within one strike of a perfect game, but instead settled for her first no-hitter of the season after silencing the bats of San Diego Mesa College, 14-0, in Friday's (Mar. 20) Pacific Coast Conference ballgame.

The contest was called after 5 innings by run rule, as the Griffins (20-4) reached 20 victories before the end of March for the first time ever.

Zetsch, who previously tossed three consecutive 1-hitters to open the season, retired the first 12 Olympians she faced. But when Grossmont scored five times in the 5th inning to invoke the "mercy" rule, suddenly the sophomore only needed three additional outs to place her stamp in the G-House record book.

The Granite Hills High product registered the first two outs to make it 14 straight batters retired, but on a 3-2 delivery to Lincoln High product Bianca Gonzalez, the pitch was ruled outside for a walk to end her bid for perfection.

Zetsch then registered the final out by retiring Alexis Franco (Mira Mesa) to complete her no-hitter. Zetsch finished with 9 strikeouts in the first outing of a 7-game road swing.

"Charnel was simply light's out," noted assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "And it helped when we jumped on them for four runs in the second inning."

While the Olympians (13-10, 4-4 PCC) went hitless, Grossmont registered 17 hits – the team's second-highest total of the season – chasing Mesa's top pitcher by the 2nd inning when the Griffins mounted a 5-0 advantage.

For Grossmont, KYLEE WILSON batted 3-for-3 and scored twice, driving home a pair with a basehit in the 2nd.

In the 4th, ASHLEY LOVELADY belted a 3-run homer to left field. She finished 2-for-4 with 4 RBI, including a run-scoring triple in the 5th.

"Mesa pushed the fences way back to something like 250 feet – it was even deeper than at (San Diego) City," added Landeros. "And Ashley still got it over."

Zetsch hit a similar shot to Mesa 's movable centerfield fence, but it short-hopped the barrier – she settled with a double. In addition, ALYC KALAMAHA went 3-for-4, with 3 runs and 2 RBI.

Up next, Grossmont is scheduled to appear on Orange County cable television when they play in Saturday's (Mar. 21) 3-way doubleheader at Cypress. The Griffins will first meet Cerritos at 1 p.m., followed by a contest with the host Chargers.

Grossmont College's Kylee Wilson with a steal of second base vs. SDCC. (Photo by Brian Barr)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-19-09) — Grossmont College held its annual Carne Asada Tailgate Day prior to Wednesday's (Mar. 18) Pacific Coast Conference ballgame with visiting San Diego City College, with members of the Griffins softball family enjoying lunch at the campus' north parking lot.

"We cooked up about three pounds of beef and all the girls brought something for everyone to eat," explained assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "We do this every year."

The palate pleasing party proliferated into an unproductive procession of pomp and circumstance; the Griffins committed an uncharacteristic six errors, yet still breezed to a 9-4 triumph.

Sophomore pitcher JANELLE HAVENS overcame adversity from her fielders, limiting SDCC to just 5 hits to still secure the verdict. Only one of the four runs was earned.

"Despite the errors, it was still a good bounceback after Long Beach stopped our winning streak," noted Landeros of an 8-game streak which ended over the weekend. "Just knock on wood that we keep on winning."

Grossmont College is now 19-4 this season - the best start in school history. However, they still lead second-place Palomar by just one full game in the PCC standings with two head-to-head match-ups with the Comets remaining.

The Griffins registered 14 hits – the third-highest total of the season – behind 3-for-4 outings by shortstop ALYC KALAMAHA and catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY. Among Lovelady's totals were 3 RBI, including a run-scoring single in the 1st, then a 2-run double in the 4th for a 6-0 cushion.

Lovelady also scored three times, while Kalamaha reached home twice.

In addition, center fielder KYLEE WILSON went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while KATIE THOMAS followed Lovelady's initial hit by bombing a 2-run double for a quick 3-0 lead out of the gate.

Grossmont starts a 7-game road swing on Friday (Mar. 20) with a PCC ballgame at San Diego Mesa, starting at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
LONG BEACH (3-15-09) — The dreaded International Tie-Breaker rule again took a bite out of the Grossmont Griffins.

After the Griffins scored single runs over a pair of ITB innings, Long Beach City College answered with its own run in the 8th, then two more in the 9th to claim a 3-2 victory and a sweep of a 3-way doubleheader. Earlier, both Grossmont and Long Beach easily disposed of Santa Ana in the first two ballgames, with the G-House blanking the Dons, 8-0.

Grossmont pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH and the Vikings' Christine Garcia dueled over seven scoreless innings of regulation, forcing the need for the tiebreaker.

Grossmont began the top of the 8th with a runner on second base. After a sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner AMBER BEEBE to third, Beebe was able to score on a fielding error by LBCC shortstop Rose Vargas on HEATHER BREWER’s grounder.

Long Beach came back to even the score with a run in the bottom of the 8th. Freshman Jean Gallegos was placed on second base to start the inning. She was moved to third base on a one-out single by designated player Alyssa Aguirre. Ogata’s groundout to second base brought home Gallegos to send the game to the ninth.

Grossmont took the lead once again. ALYC KALAHAMA started the top of the 9th on second. She moved to third on a groundout and then came in to score on a sacrifice fly by KATIE THOMAS to give Grossmont the 2-1 advantage.

But the Vikings would finally end the game in the bottom of the 9th. Pinch runner Renae Ramirez began at second and promptly came in to score on a double by Samudio. With one out and the score tied 2-2, catcher Alyssa Belmontes’ bunt single moved Samudio and the go-ahead run to third. Vargas made up for her error by lining a 3-2 pitch down the right-field line to bring in Samudio for the game winner.

Zetsch took the hard-luck loss (only one earned run) for Grossmont (18-4 overall). She gave up only seven hits over 8 1/3 innings, as Long Beach (15-7) snapped the Griffins' 8-game winning streak.

Grossmont returns to Pacific Coast Conference action Wednesday (Mar. 18), hosting third-place San Diego City College at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-14-09) — The Grossmont Griffins were scoring runs, but the offense never registered that one key hit to put away host Southwestern College. Well, not until the third inning.

The Griffins finally exploded for 7 runs (6 earned) to mount a 9-0 3rd-inning lead, going on to stone the Jaguars, 10-4, in Friday's (Mar. 13) Pacific Coast Conference ballgame. The triumph was Grossmont's 10th straight over SWC, a streak dating to the end of the 2005 season.

KELLEY SEITZ powered the G-House offense, driving in three runs by batting 3-for-3, plus a sacrifice fly which was dropped by the porous Southwestern defense.

"Kelley's been on fire ever since we moved her to the clean-up spot," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "It seems like everyone's been so worried about ASHLEY (LOVELADY) that they forget about Kelley sometimes."

In the 1st, a Seitz basehit to left field opened the scoring by bringing home ALYC KALAMAHA, but it was a ball the Valhalla High product hit in the decisive 3rd that opened the floodgates.

Kalamaha opened the frame with a walk, scoring when KYLEE WILSON doubled over the head of the centerfielder. KATIE THOMAS singled to center, setting the stage for Seitz with runners on the corners.

Seitz hit the team's third straight ball to center, which was good enough for a sacrifice fly, but when the defender dropped the ball, the entire Griffins line-up instantly sprang to life.

The rattled Southwestern pitcher (current rosters were not supplied by the Jaguars on the official college website) walked Lovelady, then was late to get to a squeeze bunt by ANDI ALFANO, which scored Thomas.

ASHLEY MARX followed with a 2-run double to left, then HEATHER BREWER's scratch single between the pitcher and the shortstop allowed Alfano to come home.

The final run came on a double steal, as Brewer took second, with Marx smartly waiting on the throw before easily racing in from third base.

The Griffins' other run came in the 6th when Seitz, once again, doubled to center, plating Thomas, who had singled and stolen second base.

Grossmont returns to action on Saturday (Mar. 14), playing a "three-way" doubleheader at Long Beach. The Griffins will meet Santa Ana (6-11-1) at 1 p.m., then the host Vikings (13-7) at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-12-09) — The first of three heavyweight encounters for the Pacific Coast Conference women's fastpitch championship went the way of Grossmont College.

Buoyed by a tape-measure home run by CHARNEL ZETSCH, the Griffins scored three times in the 2nd inning to grab the lead for keeps, downing visiting Palomar, 5-3, in Wednesday’s (Mar. 11) showdown of unbeaten conference foes.

The triumph gives Grossmont (16-3, 5-0 PCC) undisputed possession of first place, one full game ahead of the Comets (11-9, 4-1 PCC). The Griffins have also won 5-of-7 in the series with Palomar since 2007.

Trailing 3-2, Zetsch opened the 2nd with a blast over the fence in left-centerfield.

"Charnel finally got over her hitting slump," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "It seemed like she went 0-for-40 – it was bad. But the moment she hit the ball, everyone in the dugout jumped – we all knew it was gone."

The ball carried into an equipment storage area – an estimated shot between 240-to-250 feet.

Rejuvenated, Grossmont later loaded the bases in the inning, with KELLEY SEITZ delivering a 2-out single through the left side of the infield, scoring HEATHER BREWER and ALYC KALAMAHA to take the lead for keeps.

Palomar took one run back in the 6th when ANDREA NEDDEN, a Grossmont High product, doubled and came home on a basehit by Donna Blackwood. The right-fielder earlier stroked a 2-run double giving her 3 RBI for the contest.

"We just kept plugging away and do what we do best," added Landeros. "And we didn't make any errors."

Meanwhile, a pair of errors by Palomar third baseman Alex Hutchison led to four unearned runs. Hutchison moved to pitcher in the 3rd and shutout the Griffins in her four innings of work, but Zetsch also quieted the Comets to collect the victory.

"This was easily the most intense game we've played all season – even more than the Mt. SAC game," Landeros added.

Grossmont jumped to a 2-0 advantage in the 1st.

Kalamaha opened with a walk, then a KYLEE WILSON grounder to third was thrown into the right-field corner, allowing Kalamaha to score.

KATIE THOMAS and Zetsch followed with walks to load the bases, then ASHLEY LOVELADY, a first-team All-Pacific Coast Conference catcher when playing for Palomar in 2004, pushed Wilson home despite grounding into a double play.

Griffin Graffiti – The rained-out Soboba Tournament, hosted by Mt. San Jacinto, has been rescheduled for Sun., Mar. 29, with Grossmont playing San Bernardino Valley and Rio Hondo at historic Winchester Park in Winchester.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-10-09) — Santiago Canyon College of Orange County knew they needed to stop Grossmont College's hot-hitting ASHLEY LOVELADY, so the Hawks pitched around her by issuing a pair of walks.

The strategy back-fired.

On both occasions when Lovelady walked, the batters behind her in the Griffins line-up came up with big hits, allowing Grossmont to take a 3-2 triumph in Monday's (Mar. 9) non-conference contest.

The Griffins (15-3) now own a 5-game winning streak heading into Wednesday's (Mar. 11) showdown for the Pacific Coast Conference lead with Palomar. Both ballclubs are 4-0 in conference entering the 3 p.m. start at Grossmont in the first of three scheduled match-ups with the Comets this season.

Down 1-0, Lovelady walked to open the home half of the 2nd inning. Although she was erased on a fielder's choice, the rally continued on a basehit by ANDI ALFANO, with a wild pitch moving both runners into scoring position.

HEATHER BREWER, who delivered a key 2-run single in her last outing, then delivered again. Her basehit to centerfield brought home both ASHLEY MAX and Alfano for a 2-1 lead.

In the 4th, another Lovelady base on balls set-up another run.

KELLEY SEITZ opened with a single to right field, then a Lovelady walk moved Seitz into scoring position. Santiago Canyon nearly escaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts, but CHARNEL ZETSCH delivered an RBI single to left to score Seitz.

The Hawks got one run back in the 5th, but JANELLE HAVENS then tossed two shutout innings to finish her complete-game victory. Havens struck out two without – unlike Santiago Canyon (7-7) – issuing a walk.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-5-09) — The Grossmont Griffins again found power hitting from reliable connections, but it was a big hit from an unexpected source which finally delivered Wednesday's (Mar. 4) victory over San Diego City College, 7-3, in Pacific Coast Conference action at Betty Hock Field.

Moments after the host Knights scored three times in the 6th inning to close to within 5-3, Griffins flex player HEATHER BREWER delivered in a rare at-bat. The freshman from El Capitan capped a 3-for-4 outing with a sharp, 2-run single in the 7th to help Grossmont (14-3 overall) run its PCC mark to 4-0.

"Coach (RICK TRESTRAIL) thought Heather showed progress hitting the ball during practice recently," noted assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "So he gave her a chance."

The situation became even more precarious after Brewer came up following a failed squeeze play. Nevertheless, the right-fielder came through with the key, 2-out knock.

The basehit gave the victory to Griffins pitcher JANELLE HAVENS, who tossed a 4-hitter with 5 strikeouts. Except for City's rally in the 6th, she allowed just one other basehit all contest.

Grossmont raced to a 5-0 advantage, scoring three times in the 3rd, then two more an inning later.

ASHLEY LOVELADY, who stroked a pair of homers in her previous start, kept her power streak alive. The sophomore blasted a double to the gap in left-centerfield, bringing home KYLEE WILSON (double) and KELLEY SEITZ (walk). Lovelady took third base on the throw home, then scored on a squeeze bunt by ASHLEY MARX.

In the 4th, ANDI ALFANO opened with a walk, then following a fielder's choice, ALYC KALAMAHA went deep with her second homer of the season. The 2-run shot cleared the 240-foot marker in left on a diamond which is the largest of any PCC ballpark.

Griffin Graffiti — A national story was posted on Rivals.com on Grossmont freshman pitcher KELLIE WATSON, recalling her debut victory over El Camino last month. The link is HERE.... KYLEE WILSON, a freshman outfielder from Granite Hills High School who is hitting .467 on the season, was among the honorable mention for the PCC athlete of the week award. Wilson led the Griffins to a near-upset of traditional power Mt. SAC, batting a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in an 8-7 loss.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-3-09) — Grossmont College catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY posted a career day, while pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH registered another strong effort, leading the Griffins to a 4-0 pasting of visiting San Diego Mesa in a Monday (Mar. 2) special edition of Pacific Coast Conference women's fastpitch.

Lovelady blasted a pair of home runs, good for Grossmont's first three runs, while Zetsch tossed a 3-hit shutout.

Lovelady opener her assault of Mesa pitching with a one-out, solo homer in the 2nd inning. Then in the 4th, following a one-out basehit by KELLEY SEITZ, Lovelady again landed a shot to almost an identical spot beyond the left-field fence for a 3-0 advantage.

The Griffins' other run came in the 5th.

ANDI ALFANO opened the inning with a double to left, then LILY ISAACSON walked to set the stage. ALYC KALAMAHA was robbed on a line shot to the shortstop, but KYLEE WILSON was able to hit the ball past the same Olympians defender for a run-scoring basehit.

Meanwhile, Zetsch never allowed a Mesa baserunner to reach third base, although two of the hits allowed were doubles. It was her fifth shutout of the season.

The triumph moves Grossmont (13-3, 3-0 PCC) a half-game in front of idle Palomar (9-6, 2-0 PCC) to temporarily assume undisputed possession of first place. The Griffins play at San Diego City on Wednesday (Mar. 4) at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-28-09) — It was an entertaining and satisfying victory by the Grossmont College women's fastpitch team. The Griffins rallied back from a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the 5th inning Friday (Feb. 27) to secure 4-2 victory over Southwestern to remain tied for the Pacific Coast Conference lead.

KATIE THOMAS continued her clutch hitting for the G-House.

Officially, Thomas was just 1-for-2 at the plate, yet she collected a pair of RBI thanks to a sacrifice fly to score ALYC KALAMAHA (single and two stolen bases) to give Grossmont a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning.

Thomas later delivered the game-winning blow with a booming, run-scoring double in the decisive 5th inning.

"Katie has been coming through in the clutch all season," noted Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "She hit that double on the button."

"And when Alyc gets on base, she always seems to score for us. They've both been playing great all season."

Trailing 2-1 after Southwestern scored twice in the 3rd, including a go-ahead basehit by San Pasqual High alum Lindsay Wilson, the Griffins answered with six consecutive positive at-bats.

ANDI ALFANO opened with a basehit through the left side, moving to second base on a sacrifice bunt by designated player LILY ISAACSON. Kalamaha followed with a basehit, then KYLEE WILSON kept her hitting streak alive with an RBI single to score Alfano to tie the contest.

Thomas followed by ripping the ball down the left-field line for the lead, then KELLEY SEITZ's grounder to third left Southwestern without a play at the plate, with the groundout producing the insurance run.

Grossmont pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH then closed out the Jaguars (4-7, 0-2 PCC) by retiring six of their final seven batters, gaining the victory to run her record to 6-2,

The Griffins (12-3 overall), tied for first place with Palomar at 2-0, return to action in a special Monday (Mar. 2) afternoon contest. They will host San Diego Mesa at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL (2-26-09) — Grossmont College catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY, who entered the week with a .412 batting average, added to her totals after going 3-for-4 with three runs and a pair of RBI, pacing the Griffins to a 14-1 pasting of Imperial Valley College in the teams' Pacific Coast Conference opener Wednesday (Feb. 25).

After Grossmont, the two-time defending PCC champions, scored five times in the 1st inning, Lovelady opened an 8-run explosion in the 3rd with her first home run of the year.

The outburst also included a pair of 2-run doubles from shortstop ALYC KALAMAHA and first baseman KELLEY SEITZ.

Kalamaha, who started the week batting .415, went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles against the Arabs (1-10, PCC 0-1). In addition, Seitz' double gave her 14 RBI this season, snapping her deadlock for the PCC lead with teammate KATIE THOMAS.

Meanwhile, Grossmont pitcher JANELLE HAVENS tossed a complete-game 4-hitter, raising her record to 5-1. She struck out four.

The Griffins (11-3, 1-0 PCC) return to action Friday (Feb. 27) at 3 p.m. with their PCC home opener against Southwestern. The Jaguars (4-6, 0-1) scored five times in the 7th inning to tie, but Palomar answered with a run in the home-half of the inning for a 9-8 victory. In other action, San Diego Mesa downed San Diego City, 5-2.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-25-09) — There was a time when the Grossmont College women's fastpitch team couldn't touch a team such as Mt. San Antonio College of Walnut, a 3-time state champion this decade.

Yet here were the Griffins, just one big hit away from pulling off a dramatic come-from-behind victory in Tuesday's (Feb. 24) non-conference game. But the Mounties took it away.

With the potential game-tying runner on second base, and Grossmont's quickest runner on first base representing the winning run, KATIE THOMAS smacked a sinking liner to left field. If the ball skips past the defender, KYLEE WILSON would've circled the bases to rally Grossmont back from deficits of 4-0 and 7-4.

However, Mt. SAC outfielder Stephanie Tingle registered the diving catch, as the 4th-ranked Mounties clung to an 8-7 decision over the No. 10 Griffins.

"I knew I had to keep the ball in front of me, but I needed to make the catch, too," said Tingle. "We knew Grossmont was a good team – we never take any team lightly – so we put all of our efforts to win games like this one."

Grossmont (10-3) rallied twice earlier to move even with Mt. SAC (6-2)

A 2-run homer by Mounties catcher Ashley Larios gave the visitors a 4-0 lead in the 3rd, but Grossmont caught Mt. SAC with four runs in their next at-bat, two coming on a KELLEY SEITZ basehit.

Mt. SAC reclaimed the lead with three runs in the 5th, keyed by a mammoth 2-run homer by Ashlynn Booker. Several longtime observers of Griffins softball thought it might have been the longest homer at the Grossmont diamond, carrying to the trees behind the second fence out towards the parking lot beyond left field.

However, the Griffins immediately answered thanks to a series of quality plate appearances.

Following walks to ASHLEY LOVELADY and CHARNEL ZETSCH, ANDI ALFANO reached on an infield single to load the bases. KELLIE WATSON followed with an RBI single to left, then ALYC KALAMAHA pushed home a run on a fielder's choice. Wilson followed with a basehit to right-centerfield, then KATIE THOMAS lifted a sacrifice fly.

Wilson, a freshman centerfield from defending CIFSDS Division I champion Granite Hills High, finished batting 4-for-4 with 2 RBI.

The Mounties scored the decisive run in the top of thr 7th, as a bloop single to right by Larios brought home Alycia Romero. Lisa Hernandez, the final of three Mt. SAC pitchers, tossed 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball to gain her first victory of the season.

Booker finished with 4 RBI after going 2-for-4, while third baseman Liz Javier went 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.

Grossmont opens defense of its Pacific Coast Conference titles from 2007 and 2008 with a Wednesday (Feb. 25) road game at Imperial Valley College , starting at 1 p.m.

Griffins freshman Kellie Watson (left) gained the victory in her starting debut Saturday, aided by this block of home plate for the out by the reserve catcher (right). Grossmont sailed past El Camino, 21-2. (Photos by Brian Barr)

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-22-09) — KELLIE WATSON, perhaps the youngest student-athlete in Grossmont College history, made her starting pitching debut Saturday (Feb. 21). And, perhaps, it might be best not to tell anyone from El Camino College that they, for all intents and purposes, lost to a high school junior.

Watson, 16, struck out three Warriors, yielding just four base hits and no earned runs, pacing the Griffins to a 21-2 demolition at the San Diego City College Mini-tournament held at Betty Hock Field.

The victory was a nice rebound for Grossmont (10-2 overall) following an upset loss to Mt. San Jacinto earlier in the week. It was also the Griffins' biggest triumph since a 25-0 pasting of Barstow last season.

According to Grossmont officials, Watson was tired of the provincial, sectarian nonsense in her hometown. So she decided to take control of her life and take the state GED exam to earn the equivalence for a high school diploma.

There was only one problem.

"The next set of exams in California are in May, but she needed to be enrolled in January in order to play," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "So Kellie needed to petition the Grossmont College board in order to be allowed to enroll."

However, by documenting her previous studies which demonstrated accountability to successfully pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), Watson was approved.

"I really like the Grossmont campus," noted Watson, an English major. "The sports teams are really good. The academics are really good. It's a really nice school."

The fast start has Grossmont on track to challenge for a third consecutive Pacific Coast Conference title. And Watson has been learning from a pair of sophomore pitchers – CHARNEL ZETSCH (5-1 record) and JANELLE HAVENS (4-1) – who start in front of her.

"They're both very good and they've taught me to pitch with a good attitude, even on a 3-0 count," added Watson. "We have a really good team – an all-around team, with hitting, defense and pitching."

Watson also produced at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a double, good for three RBI.

First baseman KELLEY SEITZ posted her best outing of the season with a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. In addition, Zetsch, the designated player against El Camino, and third baseman ANDREA ALFANO each batted 3-for-4. Alfano's performance included a triple and three RBI.

Grossmont opens defense of its 2007 and 2008 Pacific Coast Conference titles on Wednesday (Feb. 25) with a 1 p.m. road game at Imperial Valley (1-7).

© East County Sports.com
MENIFEE (2-20-09) — Grossmont College, owners of the best record among Pacific Coast Conference teams, fell asleep at the wheel following a big victory.

After the Griffins pounded host Mt. San Jacinto College, 8-0, in a game called after 5 innings, the Eagles avoided the anticipated doubleheader sweep by scoring a pair of unearned runs in a 2-1 decision in the nightcap.

Grossmont registered multiple-run innings in its first three trips to the plate, taking a quick 7-0 lead. Third baseman KATIE THOMAS started the onslaught with an RBI triple, scoring ALYC KALAMAHA.

Meanwhile, pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH tossed her fourth 1-hitter of the season to gain the shutout. She struck out seven Eagles, coming within two outs of a no-hitter before yielding a lone basehit in the bottom of the 5th.

In game two, Kalamaha again opened the scoring by racing home on a sacrifice fly by KYLEE WILSON in the 1st. However, starting pitcher JANELLE HAVENS was victimized by a pair of errors which led to unearned runs in the 2nd and 6th innings. She allowed just five basehits.

Grossmont (9-2) will host El Camino on Saturday (Feb. 21), with the 3 p.m. contest to be played at San Diego City College.

Kylee Wilson (top, white helmet) is greeted following her mammoth home run in the first game against Chaffey. Ashley Marx (left) batted 4-for-6 in the twinbill, while Charnel Zetsch (right) tossed a 2-hit shtuout in Game 2, helping the Griffins sweep the Panthers, 3-1 and 6-0. (Photos by Mike Jones)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-14-09) — ASHLEY MARX continued her torrid hitting by batting 2-for-3 and driving home a run in both ends of a Friday (Feb. 13) doubleheader, while Grossmont College pitchers did not allow an earned run all afternoon, powering the Griffins to a sweep of visiting Chaffey, 3-1 and 6-0.

Marx raised her season batting average to .526.

"Ashley's simply on fire," noted Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "She's hitting the ball to all parts of the field – nothing seems to get past her."

The El Capitan alum started quickly. After Grossmont scored an unearned run in the 1st, Marx continued the rally with an RBI double to right-center, scoring ASHLEY LOVELADY.

Lovelady later scored an insurance run in the 6th, moving to third on a Marx basehit, then coming home on a double to left-center by CHARNEL ZETSCH.

Meanwhile, pitcher JANELLE HAVENS tossed a 2-hitter to gain the victory, striking out three Chaffey batters.

In game two, Grossmont (8-1) got off to a flying start when diminutive freshman KYLEE WILSON hit one of the team's longest home runs in several seasons, taking a quick 1-0 lead. The freshman's whopper went over the fence in left-center field, just short-hopping the fence which surrounds the ballpark's property line.

"I don't know how, but Kylee just nailed it," added Landeros. "The team has been hitting plenty of doubles, but we also need some of power-hitters to go deep, too. But to see Kylee hit one was really something."

Meanwhile, Zetsch tossed a shutout in one of her "poorest" outings of the season. Following a string of three consecutive 1-hitters to open the season, the Panthers "jumped" on the sophomore for two basehits. Zetsch struck out eight to collect the easy victory.

Marx and KATIE THOMAS also collected RBI basehits for the Griffins.

The revamped doubleheader occurred after a 3-way twinbill with Cerritos was eliminated when the Falcons – seemingly unaware that weather in San Diego County might be different than their own in the bedroom community of south Los Angeles County – canceled, believing it was also raining here.

© East County Sports.com
WALNUT (2-11-09) — The Grossmont College women's softball team, ranked third in Southern California this week after posting a 6-1 mark to open the season, missed a chance to gain the top spot as Tuesday's (Feb. 10) contest against top-ranked Mt. San Antonio was rained out. No make-up date has yet to be announced.

The Griffins are also ranked in a tie for 7th in California, while the Mounties (4-0) are second in the state behind College of the Siskiyous.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-5-09) — Grossmont College was two seconds away from sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Fullerton College. But one of those dreaded "mystery calls" by the home plate umpire allowed the Hornets to end the Griffins' season-long unbeaten streak in extra innings, as the teams split a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday (Jan. 4).

With two strikes on a Fullerton batter, a surprising squeeze play failed as Griffins catcher ASHLEY LOVELADY caught the ball for strike three, then made a diving stab on the runner breaking for home for a game-ending double play.

However, the umpire claimed he ruled batter interference. The dead ball sent the runner back to third base giving Fullerton a second life as the Hornets eventually came back for a 3-2 victory in 9 innings.

In the first game, Grossmont rallied back for a 10-8 victory after allowing 7 runs in the first two innings.

The Griffins were forced back onto the field following the interference call – a ruling that was not protested by Grossmont head coach RICK TRESTRAIL – but they weren't out there long. The runner at third eventually came home to score on a wild pitch, then an RBI single gave Fullerton the victory, snapping Grossmont's 6-game winning streak to open the season.

Grossmont, the visiting team for Game 2, thought it would sweep entering the 7th inning, leading 1-0 on an RBI double by KELLEY SEITZ to bring home ASHLEY MARX. But Fullerton answered with a run, also on a wild pitch, with two outs.

In the opener, the Hornets didn't need such assistance, teeing off for 7 runs in the first two innings, only to see the Griffins rally to tie it at 7-7 with 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd.

Consecutive basehits by ALYC KALAMAHA, CHARNEL ZETSCH and Lovelady produced one run, then KATIE THOMAS slugged a 2-run double to right field. Marx followed with a single to right, then the Griffins got even on a 2-run double by Seitz, smacking the base of the left-field fence.

Fullerton answered with a run in the 3rd for an 8-7 lead. Suddenly, however, Griffins pitcher JANELLE HAVENS re-discovered her control, allowing just two additional singles the rest of the way.

"Maybe Janelle started picking up on what their batters were trying to do – Ashley (the catcher), too," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS about Havens, who ran her record to -3-0. "I don't know how she did it."

Lovelady tied the game in the 4th by walking, then circling the bases on a Thomas basehit and a pair of wild pitches.

Thomas later scored on an error. She finished batting 3-for-3, with a pair of doubles, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. KYLEE WILSON batted 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Lovelady went 2-for-3 and scored three times.

© East County Sports.com
MISSION VIEJO (2-3-09) — It's one thing to defeat a pair of second-tier programs, so Grossmont College pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH raised her standard another level. The sophomore transfer tossed her third consecutive 1-hitter, this time stopping powerful Saddleback, 4-2, in Monday's (Feb. 2) non-conference contest.

The triumph increased the Griffins' season-opening winning streak to 5 straight games. In addition, the victory drew a nice comparison to Pacific Coast Conference rival San Diego Mesa, which lost to the Gauchos last week. Like Grossmont, Mesa had gone 3-0 on the opening day of the Glendale Tournament over the weekend.

Zetsch struck out 9 batters, with the one hit allowed coming in the 3rd inning for both Saddleback runs. An RBI double to centerfield turned into a 4-base play when a throwing error to the plate allowed the lead runner, who walked, to score. And when the relay to get the batter at third base sailed down the line, both Gauchos runs scored.

However, Grossmont already held a 4-0 lead at the time. Zetsch then finished her complete game with 4 1/3 innings of no-hit ball.

The early lead came compliments of four Grossmont doubles, as the top of the line-up continues to smack the ball into the power alleys.

"We're swinging hard and the hits have been timely, too," noted Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "The team is playing with a lot of confidence right now."

In the 1st, shortstop ALYC KALAHAMA drilled a double to center, followed by a KYLEE WILSON single past the diving Saddleback shortstop. Zetsch then followed with a blooper over the glove of the Gauchos' second baseman. Although the defender recovered to gain a fielder's choice at second, Kalahama scored.

In the 2nd, ANDREA ALFANO also smacked a lead double, this one to right-center. Following a fielder's choice, LILLIAN ISAACSON doubled to the identical spot for a 2-0 lead for the Griffins.

Grossmont doubled its advantage in the 3rd.

For the third straight inning, the leadoff batter reached base as Wilson walked, moving to third on a double to left-center by ASHLEY LOVELADY. Third baseman KATIE THOMAS, who batted 2-for-3 on the afternoon, followed with a 2-run double to the same spot as Lovelady's 2-base hit to spot Zetsch her 4-0 lead.

Wilson finished with a 2-for-3 outing, while Kalamaha and Thomas each went 2-for-4.

Grossmont (5-0) returns to action Wednesday, hosting a doubleheader against powerful Fullerton, starting at noon.

© East County Sports.com
GLENDALE (2-1-09) — Grossmont College ran away from the field to finish with a 4-0 record at the Glendale College Tournament, capped by Saturday's (Jan. 31) 8-0 romp over Oxnard in a contest called after 5 innings.

CHARNEL ZETSCH impressed the scouts with her second 1-hit shutout in less than 20 hours, registering 7 strikeouts on the Condors.

KELLEY SEITZ invoked the run rule by clearing the bases with a 3-run triple in the 5th, as the Griffins scored four times to double their advantage.

"It was a good tournament to see where we're at," noted assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. " Mesa, (San Diego) City and Imperial Valley were also here, so we all got to see each other."

And the comparisons will continue. San Diego Mesa entered the tournament following a 7-1 blowout loss to Saddleback, a team which will host Grossmont on Monday (Feb. 2) in Mission Viejo.

© East County Sports.com
GLENDALE (1-31-09) — Grossmont College opened its women's fastpitch season by sweeping three games on the first day of the Glendale College Tournament. And, already, there is controversy within the ranks of the Griffins.

Fortunately, it's a good type of situation to deal with.

Grossmont allowed two of its three pitchers to start Friday's (Jan. 30), and both came away with impressive performances to advance the G-House into Saturday morning's semifinals.

In the opener, former El Cajon Valley HS pitcher JANELLE HAVENS tossed a shutout in blanking Allan Hancock, 8-0. Havens carried a no-hitter into the 4th inning, settling with a 1-hitter on 5 strikeouts.

ANDREA ALFANO (Valhalla) batted 3-for-4, with each hit going for extra bases. The sophomore slugged a pair of doubles, then added a home run in the 7th, driving home a pair in the romp.

Meanwhile, Grossmont's defense turned 3 double plays.

Game two saw Havens gain her second consecutive victory on a 3-hitter, as the Griffins pasted Victor Valley, 9-1. ASHLEY MARX (El Capitan) batted a perfect 3-for-3, including an RBI triple in a one-sided contest that was called after 4 innings.

The nightcap saw Grossmont (3-0) three "bounce back" athletes put on a display.

First was the return of pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH to Southern California following a year at Howard College in Texas, as the Granite Hills product tossed a 1-hit shutout to whip the tournament host Vaqueros, 4-0. Zetsch struck out 8 batters.

ALYC KALAMAHA (Cathedral Catholic), a transfer from Santa Clara, belted a pair of doubles. Meanwhile, Grossmont High product ASHLEY LOVELADY, who last played at Palomar four seasons ago, went 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Grossmont jumped out quickly with a pair of runs in the 1st.

Following Kalamaha's first double, Zetsch sacrificed, then Lovelady registered an RBI basehit to right field. KATIE THOMAS walked to move Lovelady into scoring position, then came home on a basehit over the first baseman's head by Marx.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (1-30-09) — After capturing Pacific Coast Conference softball championships during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, the Grossmont College women’s softball season is fast approaching its launching point.

A season of anticipation will commence on Friday afternoon (Jan. 30) when the Griffins take the field in a two-day, four-game tournament in Glendale College.

Coming off a 2008 season where the Griffins posted a record of 29-10 (13-2 in winning its second consecutive PCC crown), the Griffins on Friday oppose Allan Hancock College, Victor Valley College and the tournament host Vaqueros, as well as an opponent yet to be determined on Saturday afternoon.

Veteran Grossmont head coach RICK TRESTRAIL, entering his 12th season at the helm of the Griffins, strongly believes, like most softball coaches, that pitching will be the key to his ballclub’s success.

“This year we feel kind of fortunate,” Trestrail commented in a recent interview. “We have three pitchers that I have a lot of faith in. JANELLE HAVENS (sophomore, El Cajon Valley) returns from last year’s squad to headline the pitching staff. She is joined by two newcomers – CHARNEL ZETSCH (sophomore, Granite Hills, a transfer from Howard College in Texas) and KELLIE WATSON (freshman, Ramona) who will combine with Janelle to make us stronger pitching-wise than at any time since I’ve been here at Grossmont.”

“Each pitcher will get to start one of the Friday games in Glendale.”

Handling the pitchers will be sophomore ASHLEY LOVELADY (Grossmont HS), who will share backstopping duties with freshman KELLEY SEITZ (Valhalla). Lovelady, who began her collegiate career at PCC rival Palomar College, returns to action following a four-year hiatus. Seitz was an All-East County and All-CIF Division II honoree, batting .356 in '08.

The Griffins return two starters to infield duties. Sophomore KATIE THOMAS (Santana), a 2008 All-PCC second-team honoree, will handle the “hot corner” at third base, while fellow sophomore ASHLEY MARX, an honorable mention All-PCC selection, makes the move from shortstop to second base.

Joining the two veterans on the inner defense will be sophomore ALYC KALAMAHA (Cathedral Catholic) – a bounce back from Santa Clara at shortstop, and the first base combo of Zetsch and sophomore LILLIAN ISAACSON (Hilltop).

Headlining the outfield defense is returning sophomore ANDREA ALFANO (Valhalla). She will patrol the pastures along with the freshmen quartet of KYLEE WILSON (Granite Hills), LINDSEY MULLINS (Mira Mesa), AMBER BEEBE (Santana) and BRIANNE MONTOYA (South HS, Denver).

“We won’t be a power-hitting team, as we have been in the past,” Trestrail believes. “I expect us to play a lot of 'small ball' to manufacture runs. We have three or four players with good speed, so I feel we will be active on the bases. In the long run though, we will go as far as our pitching will take us.”

The 16 members of the 2009 Griffins will face a challenging non-conference schedule.

“We have a difficult non-conference schedule,” the veteran pilot noted. “Our goal is to win the PCC crown once again and advance to the state playoffs. To accomplish that, we will face some tough opponents. We play Cypress twice, perennial state powers Mt. SAC, Fullerton and El Camino, as well as tournaments in Glendale, Mt. San Jacinto and the City College tournament in Mira Mesa.”

After the season-opening weekend in Glendale, the Griffins will travel to Mission Viejo on Monday (Feb. 2). They will lift the lid off the home schedule on Tuesday (Feb. 3) with a noon doubleheader against Fullerton College.

The Usual Suspects... 2007 PCC Fastpitch Champions

Grossmont College – 2007 Pacific Coast Conference women's fastpitch champions. (Photo by Lenny Gemar)