Britt Wright, the PCAC Woman Athlete of the Week. The Griffins' previous winners shown below.
Melanie Goff (Feb. 14)	Angela Lovelady (Mar. 14)
Caitlin Aimalefoa (Apr. 11)	Kylee Wilson (May 2)

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SAN MARCOS (5-10-10) — Grossmont College outfielder BRITT WRIGHT, a sophomore from Castro Valley High in Northern California, has been named among the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference's Women Athletes of the Week.

Wright posted a pair of strong outings at the plate, although the Griffins were eliminated during the Super Regionals of the CCCAA Women's Fastpitch State Championships in Norwalk.

Against host Cerritos College, Wright went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate against the top-ranked team in California. In Game Two, the transfer from Chabot College slugged a home run against defending state champion Mt. San Antonio, the team which eventually captured the double-elimination event to qualify for the State Final Four in Bakersfield.

"Britt sat on that first pitch and drove it for the home run," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "She's the one who hit consistently for us all tournament, whether it was putting down the bunt against Cerritos, or hitting it out against Mt. SAC."

"Plus, she did it in front of her parents, who drove all the way down from the East Bay (Castro Valley is located between Oakland and Hayward) to see her play."

Wright finished in a tie with Grffins teammate MELANIE GOFF as the third-leading hitter in the PCAC this season with a .424 batting average.

Wright became the fifth Griffins ballplayer to earn the weekly PCAC award -- the most of any school. The others were Goff (Feb. 14), ANGELA LOVELADY (Mar. 14), CAITLIN AIMALEFOA (Apr. 11) and KYLEE WILSON (May 2).

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NORWALK (5-9-10) — The best season in Grossmont College women's fastpitch season still matched a similar ending to other seasons, elimination from the state championship at the Super Regionals.

The Griffins finished with an overall 29-9 record after falling to defending state champion Mt. San Antonio, 5-2, in Saturday's (May 8) challenger bracket semifinal at Cerritos College's Nancy Kelly Field.

Grossmont mustered just three hits off Mounties pitcher Carissa Bronson, but made them count.

Trailing 2-0 in the 4th inning, ANGELA LOVELADY singled, scoring on a double to the left-field wall by CAITLIN AIMALEFOA.

Later on in the afternoon, Mt. San Antonio advanced to the Super Regional's final round after upending host Cerritos, 6-5, as the Falcons lost two home games on Saturday after going 21-0 on their turf during the season.

Mt. SAC will need to defeat undefeated Fullerton twice to advance to the state finals in Bakersfield. The other south bracket finds undefeated Cypress needing to win one of two games against visiting Saddleback.

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NORWALK (5-8-10) — Grossmont College needed just two batters to let top-ranked Cerritos College know there would be no repeat of the 2007 playoff sweep by the Falcons.

After BRITT WRIGHT bunt singled to open Friday's (May 7) Super Regional opener, KYLEE WILSON drove a deep fly to left field for a 2-run homer and the quick lead, hoping to trigger an upset similar to the 2004 opener which induced a change to the state's entire postseason format.

However, in a back-and-forth affair, the host Falcons finally survived to nip Grossmont, 5-3, sending the G-House into Saturday's consolation bracket at noon. They will meet defending state titlist Mt. San Antonio, which got run-ruled by Fullerton, 12-4 in 6 innings, in the other opening-round ballgame.

"A lot of people dismissed us because we are ranked 11th," said Grossmont All-America shortstop ANGELA LOVELADY, who also homered in the ballgame. "But we showed our caliber isn't that low and we played right with Cerritos."

The same thing occurred six years ago when Grossmont stunned then second-rated Cerritos, 7-5, to eliminate the Falcons when the tournament was a single-elimination affair -- a formula which was quickly dumped, perhaps because the Greater Los Angeles schools couldn't handle losing to a San Diego community college.

A few years later in the San Diego high school ranks, North County schools suddenly demanded a similar conversion to double-elimination after Helix shocked top-rated and undefeated Escondido, 1-0, on just one hit: a solo homer by current Cal State San Marcos slugger ALYSSA DRONENBERG (the so-called "Dronenberg" rule).

So the Griffins posted their upset, Cerritos gained its revenge, and now both ballclubs went at it in a long-awaited battle after the teams' season-opening rainout from Jan. 27, but due to tournaments and poor weather all season, a date was never available to re-schedule.

"We wanted to play them all season," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But we never could find common open dates because we always seemed to be in different tournaments."

It was also a dream pairing between two of the most successful pitchers in Southern California (not necessarily statistically, but by power rankings from at least two scouting services).

"And MELANIE (GOFF) dominated Cerritos ' No. 3 and 4 hitters," added Landeros. "She looked just as good as the Cerritos pitcher."

Meanwhile, Goff allowed just three earned runs, as a pair of Grossmont throwing mistakes proved to be the difference when the ball was directed to the wrong base.

After Cerritos (39-4) moved even on a 2nd-inning, 2-run homer by left fielder Devin Salmones, the Falcons took advantage of an error to post three runs (two unearned) in the 3rd. Goff then finished her outing with 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just three singles the rest of the way.

Lovelady capped a 2-for-4 outing with a solo homer in the 6th. She also collected a double.

"The Cerritos pitcher always tried to throw the first pitch for a strike, then tried to make us chase," noted Lovelady. "So I was looking to turn on the first or second pitch. Kylee did the same thing on her home run."

The Griffins (29-8) had an opportunity to tie the game in the 7th after AMBER BEEBE reached base on a Falcons error with two outs. However, Perez-Ashley escaped when HEATHER BREWER lined out on a ball which almost carried over the head of the center fielder.

For Grossmont, Wright equalled a school postseason mark by batting 4-for-4.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (5-5-10) — Grossmont College shortstop ANGELA LOVELADY, a product of Granite Hills High, has been named to the 2010 All-America community college team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Lovelady, a freshman shortstop, paced the Griffins with a .454 batting average during the regular season. She ranked 11th among all Southern California community college batters – second among all shortstops – and was runner-up to fellow All-America selection Danielle LeBeau of Palomar for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference batting title.

Lovelady also ranked among the state leaders in doubles, helping lead Grossmont (now 29-7) to its third PCAC title in four seasons.

Earlier, Lovelady was named to the All-Southland team, but failed to make the all-state team, which saw a different panel of coaches instead tab Griffins pitcher MELANIE GOFF for honors.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-3-10) — Another playoff game. And another walk-off victory.

The Grossmont Griffins women's fastpitch team continues to demonstrate a flare for the dramatic, this time courtesy of pitcher MELANIE GOFF, who rolled a ball through the hole on the right-side of the infield for a run-scoring basehit in the 8th inning, the difference in Grossmont's 9-8 triumph over visiting College of the Canyons in the Southland Regional playoffs.

Sunday's (May 2) decision between the 8th and 9th playoff seeds gives the Griffins (29-7) a two-game series sweep, advancing to next weekend's Super Regional. They will battle top-rated Cerritos (38-4) in the opening game of the 4-team, double-elimination event. Canyons finishes the season at 28-13.

Goff battled back from a 5th-inning blow-up in the pitching circle, when she yielded six runs and allowed Canyons to transform a 7-2 deficit into an 8-7 advantage. However, Goff closed the contest with 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball, then knocked in the winning run.

Fueling Goff's rebound was Grossmont third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR, who blasted a game-tying home run in the 6th to get the teams even and force extra innings.

In the decisive 8th, catcher KYLEE WILSON opened with her third hit of the contest – a single to left – raising her postseason batting average to a stellar .444 mark. One out later, Taylor hit a ball to an identical spot in left for another basehit.

"I was sitting on her change – I had it timed," said Goff on her hit, capping a 3-for-5, three RBI performance. The red-shirt transfer also boosted her pitching record to 25-7.

"I was frustrated when Canyons battled back to take the lead – six runs was too much," she added. "But I knew we would come back because we have so much hitting power."

Many thought CAITLIN AIMALEFOA would supply the necessary power after earlier pumping two deep drives to left field – both foul, including one mammoth shot to the street level onto Grossmont College Circle, the perimeter road circling the Fletcher Hills campus.

Instead, it was Taylor who bombed her 7th homer of the season. The 1-out, solo shot on a 1-2 pitch cleared the fence in right-center field for her first postseason hit. It also broke a deadlock with ANGELA LOVELADY and KELLEY SEITZ for the team lead.

"Those are the types of balls we've been hitting all season," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "We always know we're in every game, so we never need to panic."

"Plus, it was a real advantage when Canyons used both of their pitchers in (Saturday's) first game. It was a real confidence edge knowing what they throw and that we could hit either of them."

And when Grossmont saw its leadoff batter reach base five times against both Cougars pitchers, all five would eventually score. Included was Wilson 's key at-bat to start the 8th.

"I was just trying to get on base, but I was seeing the ball well all day, so I had some good swings," said Wilson, an Alpine resident, who singled and scored three times, including crossing the plate with the game-winning run.

Grossmont jumped to quick leads of 4-0 and 5-2, maxing out to 7-2 by the 4th.

The 4-run start saw the first three batters reach – BRITT WRIGHT (hit by pitch), Wilson (single to left), and Lovelady (bunt single) – to load the bases. Lovelady's hit was her 51st of the season, taking over the team lead from Wright (50).

Taylor walked to force in a run, then Goff singled to center for a 2-0 lead. The Cougars finally registered a pair of outs, but AMBER BEEBE, who registered the game-winning RBI in Game One of the best-of-3 series, continued with her hot hitting with yet another basehit to right-center, doubling the advantage to 4-0.

In the 2nd, Lovelady's bat-control ability led to another run.

With Wright on third following a lead walk, a stolen base, and a Wilson ground ball to advance her, Lovelady fouled off two pitches before shocking the Cougars with a bunt to the left side. The unusual 2-strike strategy caught the Cougars' defense flat-footed for an RBI single and a 5-2 lead.

The 4th inning saw Goff battle off five 2-strike pitches before singling down the left-field line to bring home Wilson (lead single). Seitz drilled the fence in left for a run-scoring double to plate Lovelady (walk), although Goff was easily out at the plate without a slide attempting to take an extra base.

Canyons' 6-run outburst in the 5th featured doubles by Jessica Fridwell, a sophomore who once red-shirted at Baylor University, and shortstop Ruby Herrera. The rally was capped on a 3-run homer by Quartz Hill freshman Karissa Hartwig for an 8-7 lead.

"Melanie and Kylee had some disagreements on pitch selection, which might have affected her concentration," noted Landeros. "But after that, they were on the same page, then the team came back strong."

The lead change also initiated a pitching change by the Cougars, as COC head coach John Wissmath pulled all-state selection Ashley Imperial for reliever Sarah Biggs.

However, Grossmont believed Biggs might be the better pitcher because she faced ranked opponents all season, while Imperial's numbers might be inflated by facing lower-echelon ballclubs from the Western State Conference.

Still, the Griffins didn't mind facing a pitcher they previously battered for all six runs in the series opener.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-2-10) — Possessing a tangent for the dramatic, it was yet another late-inning hit by left fielder AMBER BEEBE which launched Grossmont College to another electrifying victory.

Beebe, a Santana High product, floated a basehit over a drawn-in College of the Canyons infield in the bottom of the 7th inning, giving the Griffins a walkoff 6-5 triumph in Saturday's (May 1) first game of a best-of-3 Southland Regional series for the CCCAA women's softball championship.

Grossmont (28-7) can clinch a berth to next weekend's Super Regional with a victory in either of up to two games Sunday (May 2) against the Cougars (28-12), starting at noon.

Beebe's list of recent exhilarating hits – many of the walkoff variety – from the No. 8 spot in the Grossmont line-up has been extensive, especially during March (See box).

Late-Inning Heroics by Grossmont College sophomore left fielder Amber Beebe

Date Event Mar. 10   • walkoff grand slam to finish off a run-rule victory over San Diego City Mar. 13 • home run when Grossmont set a school-record with its 12th consecutive victory in a victory over Santa Ana Mar. 24 • walkoff triple to down Southwestern Mar. 27 • 2-run, go-ahead single in the 7th to defeat L.A. Harbor in the championship game of the SDCC Tournament Mar. 30 • tape-measure homer to extend the Griffins' record winning streak to 20 games May 1 • walkoff single in playoff opening win against Canyons

Beebe may not rank among the ballclub's leading hitters, but her results in late-inning situations is as good as anyone's.

"Amber just went with the pitch and dinked it over the second baseman," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But since Canyons' outfield was playing in, too, I thought the centerfielder might get to the ball, but it fell in."

Waltzing home from third base was pitcher MELANIE GOFF, who tossed a complete game to raise her record to 24-7 for the season. She struck out three.

Goff started the rally by singling to right field on the very first pitch of the 7th. The basehit was unfortunate for Canyons, which wanted to lift starting pitcher Sarah Biggs, but reliever Ashley Imperial – like Goff, an all-state pick, yet was not given the starting assignment by Cougars coaches – wasn't ready.

KELLEY SEITZ followed with a grounder to the hole on the left side. Cougars shortstop Ruby Herrera collected the ball and fired toward second base, but the ball sailed into right field for her third error of the contest as Goff raced to third.

The see-saw affair saw Canyons finally get even in the top of the 7th. With one out, Melissa Herndon, the 10th-leading hitter in Southern California, belted a solo homer to left to make it 5-5.

Canyons got on the board first with three runs in the 2nd, ignited by a fine defensive play by centerfielder Whitney Bruce. The sophomore went back to the barrier to rob Grossmont third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR of a home run in the 1st. Bruce also grabbed another Taylor shot on the warning track in the 4th.

However, Grossmont answered with a 5-spot in the 3rd. Included were three consecutive RBI singles by Goff, Seitz and Aimalefoa to tie the game, then HEATHER BREWER blasted a 2-run double to right-center field for a 5-3 advantage.

Goff and Aimalefoa each collected two hits, including Aimalefoa's line double which hit the fence.

Grossmont's defense also aided Goff by turning a pair of double plays.

Melanie Goff

Angela Lovelady

© East County Sports.com
MENEFEE (4-26-10) — Grossmont College workhorse MELANIE GOFF, who ranked among the state leaders in complete games and innings pitched all season, was named to the All-California state community college women's fastpitch team, the coaches association announced.

Goff, a Mira Mesa High product, posted a 23-7 overall record, finishing second in Southern California in total victories behind only Hillary Perez-Ashley of Cerritos, the state's co-pitcher of the year with Sierra's Samantha Baker.

Perez-Ashley, who posted a 30-1 record for the top-ranked Falcons, also edged Goff as the Southland leader in shutouts, 9-to-8.

Goff tossed 24 complete games over more than 175 innings during the regular season.

Meanwhile, Griffins shortstop ANGELA LOVELADY was named to the all-Southern California team by the same 3CWFCA panel.

Lovelady ranked second in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference with a .454 batting average, leading the circuit in doubles while tying with teammate BRITT WRIGHT for the conference lead in runs scored. Lovelady also ranked first in doubles, and second in total basehits, home runs and RBI.

She follows the footsteps of older sister ASHLEY LOVELADY, who was an all-state selection as a Grossmont catcher in 2009.

The Griffins (27-7) will host College of the Canyons (28-11) in the first round of the state playoffs, beginning with Game One of a best-of-3 set on Saturday (May 1) at 2 p.m.

Grossmont (27-7) will entertain No. 9 College of the Canyons beginning with Game 1 on Sat., May 1, starting at 2 p.m. The best-of-3 series continues with Games 2 and (if necessary) 3 on Sunday, May 2, starting at noon.

Canyons' Cougars (28-11) split a twinbill with Bakersfield on the final day of the regular season to clinch their second straight Western State Conference crown.

The series winner will probably meet No. 1 seed Cerritos in the Super Regional, May 8-9.

Melanie Goff	Angela Lovelady
Alyssa Taylor	Kylee Wilson
Britt Wright	Kelley Seitz

© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (4-23-10) — Grossmont College pitcher MELANIE GOFF, an unexpected addition to the Griffins prior to the season, has been named the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference's Pitcher of the Year. The voting was conducted by conference coaches at Thursday's (Apr. 22) postseason meeting.

Goff, a product of Mira Mesa High, ranked among the Southern California leaders in both record and ERA all season. Goff was joined on the honor roll of first-team selections by four of her teammates. The list includes catcher KYLEE WILSON (Granite Hills), centerfielder BRITT WRIGHT (transfer from Chabot College), third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR (La Jolla) and shortstop ANGELA LOVELADY (Granite Hills).

However, conference coaches refused to acknowledge a changing of the guard at the top of the PCAC, which Grossmont has claimed in three of the past four seasons. Palomar, which captured an amazing 22 straight PCAC crowns prior to the Griffins' current streak, received six first-team berths as opposed to five for Grossmont, plus nine overall picks to just six for the Griffins.

Leading the Comets was pitcher Danielle LeBeau, who also played other positions this season unlike Goff, thus was given the Player of the Year award.

On the second team was Grossmont's Kelley Seitz (Valhalla), who was named as a utility player; she is both a first baseman and designated player.

Kylee Wilson

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-21-10) — It was only appropriate that KYLEE WILSON took the final swing of the bat to cap the greatest regular season in Grossmont College women's fastpitch history.

Batting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th inning, Wilson clouted a resounding triple to right-center field, giving the Griffins their third run-rule triumph over San Diego City College this season, placing the finishing touches on an outright Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship – the college's third title in four seasons.

Grossmont, which captured 20 straight ballgames during one stretch, will enter the CCCAA playoffs with a 27-7 overall record and ranked sixth in the Southland coaches poll.

"We didn't have anyone to be our catcher," Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS recalled. "We could've been in big trouble."

Up stepped Wilson, who possessed a softball resume void of any experience behind the plate.

"I never played catcher before coming here," said Wilson, one of eight players honored on Sophomore Day on the Grossmont diamond. "But someone had to do it, so I said I'd do it."

In three seasons on the Granite Hills High varsity, Wilson became known as one of the Grossmont Conference's better defensive left fielders, gaining an All-East County berth as a senior in 2008.

Moving to centerfield when she joined the Griffins, her arm was so respected that eventual state champion Mt. San Antonio twice elected not to challenge the All-Pacific Coast Conference selection and try to take an extra base during the super regionals.

"Kylee definitely has the arm, but there is so much more you have to know to catch at this level," noted Landeros. "But we didn't have many options available to us, so it was like, 'okay, Kylee, you're catching.'"

Fortunately, Wilson had a mentor when pitcher MELANIE GOFF, an NCAA Division I transfer, arrived on the Fletcher Hills campus.

"Melanie made it so easy for me," said Wilson. "I just put down some fingers and she always hit the spot."

Goff, an obvious finalist for PCAC Player of the Year honors when conference coaches hold their postseason meeting this Thursday (Apr. 22), was pleased to break-in her new personal catcher, who came with no bad habits to break or alter.

"Kylee was the right person – it turned out to be the best thing that could've happened," said Goff, who said she plans to return for the 2011 campaign. "And Kylee and I talk all the time. We go over scouting reports and game plans, then go after batters."

The combination again demonstrated their effectiveness against San Diego City, shutting out the Knights for the third time in as many outings this season. It was Grossmont's 10th shutout in '10.

Meanwhile, Wilson 's batting continues to improve, completing the season with a 3-for-4 outing while Goff went 3-for-3 to fuel a 10-hit attack.

The Griffins scored six times in the 3rd inning, capped by a 3-run double to center by first baseman CAITLIN AIMALEFOA.

ANGELA LOVELADY, who replaced Wilson in center, added a run-scoring double in the big inning. Third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR, designated player KELLEY SEITZ and Goff also drove in runs.

"I love all these girls," added Wilson. "Playing softball here has been one of the best experiences of my life."

Grossmont will learn its postseason future when the seeding committee meets Friday (Apr. 23).

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CHULA VISTA (4-20-10) — Grossmont College will officially say good-bye to its current crop of sophomore ballplayers when the Griffins entertain San Diego City College in Tuesday's (Apr. 20) regular-season final on the Fletcher Hills campus.

It should be a double party, as Grossmont needs a victory over the Knights to officially wrap-up the school's third Pacific Coast Athletic Conference crown in four seasons. And with a 10-game home winning streak against the Knights – a stretch dating back to at least the 2003 campaign – the odds definitely tilt towards the G-House, which has twice run-ruled SDCC this season.

"It should be – knock on wood – a special day," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "The girls worked hard for this and they deserve it."

Grossmont (26-7 overall, 12-2 PCAC) gained at least a guaranteed share of the title after run-ruling Southwestern, 10-2, Monday (Apr. 19).

ANGELA LOVELADY, the conference's second-leading hitter, remains in contention to battle for the batting crown following a 4-for-4 outing against the Jaguars. Included was a pair of doubles to knock in a pair of runs.

Meanwhile, BRITT WRIGHT also was perfect in four plate appearances, including a triple.

Among Wright's four hits was a 2-run single to score ALYSSA TAYLOR and AMBER BEEBE. The hit came in her second at-bat of the 1st inning, when the Griffins raced to a 6-0 lead before Southwestern received its first opportunity to bat.

In addition, catcher KYLEE WILSON registered a pair of RBI in support of winning pitcher MELANIE GOFF. Reliever STEPHANIE BOURLET, who lives nearby in Chula Vista, earned the save.

For Southwestern, freshman Nicole Fonteneaux belted a solo homer in the 3rd.

The Jaguars, which showed early promise following a 6-5 start under a new coaching staff, finish the season at 10-26, winning just four of their final 25 ballgames.

Playoff Outlook — Grossmont's poor weekend against three playoff opponents proved moot when College of the Canyons outlasted Fullerton, 3-2 in 8 innings... The Canyons victory moved the Cougars (ranked 8th in the computer rankings) closer to the No. 7 Hornets. Thus, the Griffins would've remained in the No. 9 slot no matter their results over the weekend... Unless something changes over the final two days of the regular season, Grossmont expects to travel to Santa Clarita (across the freeway from Magic Mountain) to meet Canyons in a first-round postseason series.

© East County Sports.com
WALNUT (4-19-10) — A month ago, Grossmont College would shrug off an early deficit and come back to win. The Griffins are continuing to rally, but now with different results.

Despite scoring late in both contests of Sunday's (Apr. 18) 3-way doubleheader, Grossmont failed to complete the climb up the mountain in falling to defending state champion Mt. San Antonio, 3-1, then lost to Riverside, 8-6.

Mt. SAC led 1-0 most of the way until the Mounties' Korinne Randazzo drilled a 2-run homer in the 6th inning.

Grossmont answered with four basehits in the 7th, all singles by MELANIE GOFF, CAITLIN AIMALEFOA, HEATHER BREWER, then BRITT WRIGHT for the RBI. But the Griffins left the bases loaded as Mt. SAC escaped with a game-ending strikeout by NAME Fountain.

Game two saw Riverside built a 6-0 lead, so Grossmont lifted Goff from the circle to save her for more critical ballgames this week in order to finish off a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference pennant.

This comeback was ignited on a Brewer home run in the 5th, when Grossmont scored two times, then added four more in the 6th to trim the Tigers lead to 7-6.

"This game went just like the first game – we really battled back," said assistant coach Ana Landeros. "We had a bunch of runners on base, but just couldn't get them in."

Despite a 3-game losing streak against quality competition, Grossmont can clinch at least a share of their third PCAC crown in four seasons with a Monday (Apr. 19) victory at Southwestern. The Griffins then can claim the title outright in their regular-season finale at home against San Diego City on Tuesday (Apr. 20). Both games start at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-18-10) — Over six innings, Grossmont College stayed even with visiting Saddleback College. But a poor 1st-inning start doomed the Griffins.

The Gauchos immediately posted four runs in their first at-bats, going on to Saturday's (Apr. 17) 6-2 non-conference triumph.

A pair of errors allowed Saddleback to move on top, then three more Grossmont miscues allowed the visitors to stay in front all afternoon.

"If we make some plays, we're in the game," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "It fell apart rather quickly."

Meanwhile, the offense, which posted 29 runs a day earlier in a doubleheader sweep, was nowhere to be found until the 6th inning. Before that, Grossmont placed runners on third base on three different occasions, yet couldn't garner a key basehit.

"It was frustrating," added Landeros. "We were hitting Saddleback's pitcher, but not constantly enough."

Down 6-0, Grossmont avoided the shutout bid when MELANIE GOFF singled in ANGELA LOVELADY, who opened with a double. Later, KELLEY SEITZ lifted a sacrifice fly.

The Griffins, in the middle of a stretch of 7 games over 5 consecutive days, plays a 3-way doubleheader Sunday (Apr. 19) at Mt. San Antonio against the defending state champion Mounties and a game against Riverside.

Alyssa Taylor (left) homers against Imperial Valley, followed by a home run by Kelley Seitz (upper right), all to the delight of the Grossmont bench in Friday's Pacific Coast Conference doubleheader sweep, 20-1 and 9-0. (Photos by Lenny Gemar)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-17-10) — Grossmont College began the final stretch of the regular season in fine shape, waltzing past visiting Imperial Valley College in a doubleheader, 20-1 and 9-0, in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference action Friday (Apr. 16).

The sweep began a stretch of 7 games over 5 days – two twinbills and three single games – heading into the playoffs.

Of course, the Griffins would like to enter the postseason as conference champions for the third time in four seasons, as the team's magic number was reduced to two to earn the PCAC pennant. Grossmont's remaining conference games are with Southwestern and San Diego City.

Starting pitcher MELANIE GOFF collected a pair of victories over the Arabs, with STEPHANIE BOURLET mopping up in relief both times in a pair of combined 3-hitters.

Game one featured home runs by Grossmont's ALYSSA TAYLOR (solo shot in the 1st inning) and KELLEY SEITZ (2-run shot in the 3rd).

Taylor just missed hitting for the cycle in a 4-for-4 outing, also adding a pair of doubles. Her last hit went for two bases, but because of the lop-sided margin, she was held up when the Griffins started going station-to-station on the base paths early on.

In the second ballgame, Seitz knocked in four more runs, while CAITLIN AIMALEFOA and ANGELA LOVELADY added three RBI each.

Grossmont is again home Saturday (Apr. 17), entertaining Saddleback at 1 p.m.

Courtesy, Palomar College media relations
SAN MARCOS (4-14-10) – It is all but a given that Grossmont College will hang on to win the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference softball championship, but the team with all the momentum as post-season playoffs near is not the G-House.

The team with all the momentum is Palomar.

Bonnie Brazee's first home run and Theresa Houle's 11th homer set the tone on Wednesday (Apr. 14) as the second-place Comets run-ruled the first-place Griffins, 11-3.

While the Comets (17-10, 10-3 PCAC) have won 10 of their last 12 games, Grossmont has cooled off. The Griffins, who started the season 22-1, have dropped three of their last four contests, although the so-called "skid" does include a road split at 2nd-ranked Cypress.

Grossmont came into the game with a 23-3 record and a two-game lead in the conference race over Palomar in the loss column. But the Griffins, who have four PCAC games left, all against second-division teams in the mismatched conference, saw their lead over the Comets, who have two conference games remaining, also vs. second-division teams, shrink to one game..

Palomar pounded out 18 hits in support of pitcher Danielle LeBeau, this week's PCAC Co-Athlete of the Week with Grossmont's CAITLIN AIMALEFOA. LeBeau threw a three-hitter, striking out seven and walking one to record her eighth win.

Seven Comets had multiple-hit performances as they chased Grossmont pitcher MELANIE GOFF, who entered the game with a 19-3 record and a 1.08 earned run average, in the 6th inning. That was when Houle led off the inning by lining home run No. 11 over the left-field fence and, six hits and five runs later, Kelli Starr ended the game with a walkoff RBI single.

Brazee's two-run homer, also over the left-field fence, tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd after Grossmont had jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

The Griffins struck early on a 2-run double by catcher KYLEE WILSON, who marked her return after swelling up following an insect bite over the weekend. Wilson's two-out clout down the left-field line scored both BRITT WRIGHT (walk, stolen base) and ALYSSA TAYLOR (single) in the 1st.

Taylor would later add a home run to centerfield in the 6th to cap a 2-for-3 performance.

Palomar took a lead it never relinquished by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Associated head coach Lacey Craft coached the team in the absence of Mark Eldridge, who missed the game because it conflicted with his duties on a hiring committee to find his own replacement.

© East County Sports.com
WALNUT (4-13-10) — For the second time this season, Grossmont College's 3-way doubleheader with defending state champion Mt. San Antonio College was erased due to wet grounds.

The Griffins were slated to meet Riverside in a 3 p.m. contest, followed by a game with the Mounties, but the recently installed, multi-million dollar diamond at Mt. SAC has a key, missing element: a state-of-the-art drainage system.

The three colleges, first slated to meet in February before a rainstorm came in to force the initial postponement, is now slated for Sunday.

Griffins take crash course,
split with No. 1 Cypress

© East County Sports.com
CYPRESS (4-10-10) — Facing someone who could arguably be the top community college pitcher in California this season, Grossmont College chased Cypress College freshman Katrina Pinkowski in the first game of Friday's (Apr. 9) non-conference doubleheader, then beat her in the second contest, as the Griffins rebounded to gain a split with the top-ranked Chargers.

Both scores were 5-4, with Cypress rallying in the 7th to escape defeat in the opener, only to watch Grossmont do the same in the nightcap with single runs in both the 7th and 8th innings.

And that 8th-inning run was dramatic when a major collision at home plate nearly led to a brawl when Griffins pitcher MELANIE GOFF attempted to avoid the catcher, but instead landed in a heap.

"It was a pretty nasty hit – Mel went flying," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But she landed right on top of the plate."

Goff reached base on a 1-out single over the head of the third baseman (although the Cypress scorekeeper ruled it an error, even though the ball barely glanced off the defender's out-stretched glove). KAITLIN AIMALEFOA followed with a deep drive that hit just below pipe at the top of the left-field fence, one of the tallest in the Southland at 12-feet in height.

"Anywhere else that's a home run," added Landeros. "Kaitlin lost two homers today because the fence is so tall."

Instead of a waltz around the diamond, it became a mad scramble as Goff headed home on Aimalefoa's deep double. Approaching the plate, Goff took an inside line to the plate, but then so did the catcher even though the relay throw went to the outside.

Smash!

"It was really nasty," Landeros noted.

Both dugouts cleared with accusatory shouts and finger-pointing towards the other ballclub. The base umpire jumped forward to keep the teams apart, while the home plate umpire stopped the contest for a few moments to get school administrators to tone down the obscene shouts from the home crowd.

Unfortunately for Cypress, the coaches just subbed-in a new left fielder for extra innings, but the replacement player responded with the poor throw home.

According to Landeros, Goff recovered from the wrestling-like take-down and pitched the bottom of the 8th.

Although she allowed a lead basehit, Goff retired the next three Chargers to register the victory to run her record to 18-3. Pinkowski fell to 17-2.

After Cypress scored in the 7th to complete a rally from a 4-1 deficit in the first contest, Grossmont refused to be intimidated by posting two quick runs to open the second ballgame.

With two outs, ALYSSA TAYLOR walked, Goff singled, then both advanced on a passed ball. Aimalefoa followed with an RBI single up the middle, but when the relay was dropped by the first base, Goff also scored for a 2-0 lead.

The Chargers rallied twice, once to tie in the 2nd, then posted a pair of runs to take the lead in the 6th to overcome an ANGELA LOVELADY squeeze bunt in the 5th.

In fact, Cypress moved to within one out of a sweep before Grossmont got even.

In the 7th, AMBER BEEBE singled to right, moved to second on a Lovelady sacrifice bunt. A strikeout moved Cypress within a step of victory, but a comebacker to Pinkowski was misplayed for an error and Beebe scored to tie it.

In the opener, Grossmont trailed 1-0 before Taylor and KELLEY SEITZ each slugged 2-run homers in the 3rd.

© East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (4-8-10) — Some call it scheduling dynamics, other think it is a lack of focus, yet every time Grossmont College takes an extended break in its women's fastpitch schedule, it’s always a fight to survive in the team's next outing.

On Wednesday (Apr. 7), the odds finally caught up to the Griffins, which saw their school-record 20-game winning streak snapped when a physical error and a mental mistake allowed San Diego Mesa to slip past Grossmont, 3-2 in 8 innings at P.R. Mendoza Field.

Earlier in the season, following a 9-day layoff, the Griffins allowed their highest run total of the season, yet survived to sweep a doubleheader at Chaffey. Later, a 5-day reprise saw Southwestern take Grossmont into extra innings before falling.

This time, an 8-day stretch for spring break could not be overcome despite building a 2-run lead. And it was a former East County high school pitcher, Helix High alum NATALIE SMITH, who was able slow the Grossmont attack to give Mesa a chance to rally.

"The game can change on one play completely," said Smith, who posted a 7-17 record with the Highlanders as a senior last season. "But our team definitely plays with heart – more so than any other team in the league."

Grossmont reached Smith early when BRITT WRIGHT opened the contest with a triple, coming home two batters later on a basehit by Pacific Coast Athletic Conference batting leader ANGELA LOVELADY.

In the 5th, a bases-loaded walk to ALYSSA TAYLOR would double the advantage.

However, a pair of Grossmont miscues handed the decision to the Olympians.

With a pair of runners in scoring position in the 6th, Mesa second baseman Bianca Gonzalez topped a ball which rolled no more than a foot in front of home plate. But the throw to first base sailed down the line, allowed both runners to score.

Meanwhile, Smith retired the final 11 Grossmont batters she faced while waiting for the offense to finally break the tie.

Griffins pitcher MELANIE GOFF, who entered the ballgame with a personal 19-game winning streak, retired the first two batters in the 8th. However, a drive to the left-center field gap by Zarah Montes went for a double when a Grossmont defender attempted to make a diving catch instead of settling for a single.

With a runner in scoring position instead of first base, Bryana Garcia followed by lacing a double down the left-field line for the game-winner, handing the Griffins their first setback since January.

"We showed we have great team chemistry," added Smith, who struck out four. "We showed some fight and that we still want to make the playoffs."

Mesa snapped a 4-year losing streak to Grossmont, winning for the first time in 10 outings (and 4th win in 23 ballgames dating back to 2003).

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-31-10) — Well aware that the most difficult portion of its schedule awaits, the Grossmont College women's fastpitch team quietly celebrated its school-record 20th consecutive victory Tuesday (Mar. 30), downing host San Diego City College, 8-0, at Betty Hock Field.

The Griffins (22-1 overall, 9-0 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference) posted five runs in the 7th inning to pull away under the flight pattern of Lindbergh Field.

"It was actually a close game until the seventh," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But our girls know how to make things happen."

AMBER BEEBE capped the late rally, belting a tape-measure home run – a 3-run shot – to left field.

"City is already one of the biggest fields around – the fences are something like 240-to-250 to left," noted Landeros. "So Amber must've hit it almost 300 feet, because the ball landed in the ice plant along where the hill starts."

"She really nailed it."

Meanwhile, winning pitcher MELANIE GOFF tossed a 3-hit shutout at the Knights. She only struck out two, retiring most of the batters on infield pops or ground balls, but most impressive was City never advanced a runner to third base all contest.

"Except for one inning when she walked two batters, Melanie was spot on all game," added the coach.

Goff also batted 2-for-4 with a double, while KYLEE WILSON and HEATHER BREWER also registered a pair of basehits each.

Leading 3-0, the big 7th-inning saw Wilson and PCAC batting leader ANGELA LOVELADY open with consecutive singles.

A failed squeeze resulted in a double play, but like recent late-inning rallies, Grossmont continued on.

ALYSSA TAYLOR followed with an RBI double to left, Goff singled in a run, KELLEY SEITZ walked, then Beebe stroked her mammoth shot towards the U.S. Naval Hospital.

Grossmont takes more than a week off for spring break, then the final two weeks of the regular gets difficult with contests against Cypress, Saddleback, Mt. San Antonio, among others, plus a PCAC showdown with Palomar.

© East County Sports.com
MIRA MESA (3-28-10) — The most amazing season in Grossmont College women's fastpitch history reached a new pinnacle Saturday (Mar 27) when the Griffins rallied in their final at-bat to shock an opponent.

And they did it twice.

First, it was BRITT WRIGHT, who slammed a 2-run homer in the 7th to stun Victor Valley College, 4-3. Two hours later, AMBER BEEBE belted a 2-run, go-ahead single, also in the 7th, when the Griffs scored three times to upend L.A. Harbor College, 3-1, the victories giving Grossmont the championship of the San Diego City College Tournament at Hourglass Field.

"It's all about the team – winning the championship the way we did just shows how good this team is," said pitcher MELANIE GOFF, who won three tournament contests to be named MVP of the 9-team event. "It showed on how we came back in the first game, and how we came back in this game, too."

Grossmont's school-record winning streak was on the edge of collapse in the semifinals after Victor Valley scored three times in the 5th to grab a 3-2 lead. However, following a double by HEATHER BREWER, Wright came up and drilled a shot over the head of the Rams centerfielder.

Such a feat was unthinkable to Wright until recently.

"I didn't play softball in high school and was away from the game for five years until I tried out at Chabot College last season, then came to Grossmont this year," said Wright. "I missed the competition, and I was at a time in my life where if I didn't get back into the sport last year, I never would."

"Coming back was the best decision I ever made."

Wright went 2-for-4 in the semifinals, opening the scoring in the 3rd when she came home on the first of two RBI by catcher KYLEE WILSON, who also singled home Beebe in the 5th.

Surely, after pulling a Houdini act, the Griffins wouldn't repeat the feat. But after being blanked on two hits through six innings, they again found a way to keep winning.

"I knew I needed to hit it to the outfield – I just drove the ball," Beebe exclaimed. "We still had a run for the money."

On the verge of a 1-0 setback, ALYSSA TAYLOR opened the 7th with a sharp single to left. Goff faked a bunt and slapped the over the Seahawks third baseman, as the ball just tipped off and past the defender's glove.

Both runners advanced on a KELLEY SEITZ sacrifice bunt, then both came home when Beebe sent a drive to the opposite field in right.

"These were both hard games," added Beebe. "But Britt slammed one hard to win the first game, then everybody started hitting late in this game."

Beebe took second base when the throw home – in an attempt to prevent Goff from scoring the go-ahead run – bounded wide of the plate.

"For a moment, I thought it could've been a close play, but I saw the ball was going wide," noted Goff.

Two batters later, Beebe scored on a bunt single by Wright.

Goff then retired Harbor in order to gain her 18th consecutive victory of the season. The University of Arkansas transfer out of Mira Mesa High is now 19-1 overall.

"I owe all of our team's success to the coaching staff – this has been a real fun team to play for," added Goff, who offered special kudos to assistant coach ANA LANDEROS.

Grossmont (21-1) has now captured 19 straight ballgames heading into Tuesday's (Mar. 30) (rescheduled from Wednesday) PCAC contest at San Diego City, slated for the Knights' downtown home at Hock Field.

Against Mt. San Jacinto, freshman STEPHANIE BOURLET registered only two strikeouts, but coaxed a series of ground balls to easily handle the lowly Eagles (2-22). Bourlet had her victory in hand long before she entered the pitcher's circle after Grossmont opened the tournament by scoring nine times in their first at-bats.

KELLEY SEITZ and KYLEE WILSON each slugged 2-run homers to jump-start the offense in the 1st, then head coach RICK TRESTRAIL put the brakes on the offense by stopping Griffins baserunners to just one or two bases on deep drives on the fence-less outfield at Hourglass Field, located adjacent to Miramar College.

In the second game, MELANIE GOFF tossed a 1-hit shutout at L.A. Mission, extending her personal win streak to 15. Goff struck out five batters, as Grossmont hitters backed her by scoring in all five innings.

CAITLIN AIMALEFOA drove home three runs for the G-House, while Seitz added two more RBI.

Meanwhile, Pacific Coast Athletic Conference batting leader ANGELA LOVELADY added to her totals. She went 4-for-5 in game one, then went 2-for-3 with a triple in the nightcap to complete a 6-for-8 morning.

Notes — Grossmont's PCAC ball game at San Diego City next week has been switched to Tuesday, still starting at 3 p.m. from downtown's Hock Field.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-25-10) — Expectations were high for Southwestern College when they were able to take Pacific Coast Athletic Conference leading Grossmont College into extra innings in the ballclubs' first meeting.

In Wednesday's (Mar. 24) rematch, the Jaguars' enthusiasm was quickly squelched in about five minutes.

The Griffins burst to a quick 3-0 lead and never quit, capped by a walkoff triple by AMBER BEEBE in the 5th inning to slam the barbecue lid shut on an easy 9-0 drubbing of Southwestern.

"Everyone was hitting the ball all over the place – it was crazy," exclaimed Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "And MELANIE (GOFF) is in a groove right now."

Goff tossed a 3-hit shutout at Southwestern, winning her 14th consecutive game to extend Grossmont's record winning streak to 15. She struck out four and walked just one, facing just four batters above the minimum.

Goff also slugged an RBI double in the 1st to get the G-House started. She went 2-for-3 on the day, a total matched by centerfielder BRITT WRIGHT and designated player KELLEY SEITZ, who belted a 2-run homer in the 3rd to make it 7-0.

Two innings later, with Goff and Seitz on base, Beebe sent a blast to right-center field to invoke the run rule.

Meanwhile, PCAC batting leader ANGELA LOVELADY batted 1-for-2, yet her season average – she entered the day with a tidy .520 mark – actually dropped a percentage point.

Grossmont will participate in the San Diego City College Tournament at Mira Mesa's Hourglass Field. On Friday (Mar. 26), the Griffins will meet Mt. San Jacinto at 9 a.m., then L.A. Mission at 11 a.m.

© East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL (3-20-10) — In one of the biggest power display in school history, third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR smashed a pair of home runs, while designated player KELLEY SEITZ homered and drove in five runs Friday (Mar. 19), as Grossmont College finished with a school-record five homers in demolishing host Imperial Valley, 17-0 in five innings, in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference action.

For the Griffins (16-1), their record winning streak extended to 14 straight, while the team's 2.5-game lead in the PCAC standings is also their greatest margin ever.

Where do you start in what many in the industry call a "stat padder."

"Earlier in the week, we expected the temperatures to be over 100 degrees, but when we got there, it was really nice," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "It was like we were in Palm Springs for spring break – the whole team was so relaxed."

And the hitting became epidemic.

Taylor opened the 2nd inning with a shot to left field to get Grossmont on the scoreboard. MELANIE GOFF, the winning pitcher, was then hit by a pitch, followed by a 2-run shot by Seitz to begin her best outing as a collegian.

In the 3rd, catcher KYLEE WILSON led-off with a homer, as the Griffins would score five times in the frame for an 8-0 cushion.

Then in the 4th, a tsunami of nine more runs would cross the plate. Included were a 2-run homer by first baseman CAITLIN AIMALEFOA, then Taylor would make it back-to-back shots with a tape-measure bomb which rolled all the way to the parking lot next to the DePaoli Sports Complex, the building which hosts Arabs basketball and volleyball.

"It was crazy," said Landeros, again utilizing her pet line to describe anything that goes well for the ballclub. "Everyone was hitting and having a good time."

The 16-hit attack included three hits worth four RBI for Aimalefoa, three hits and three RBI for Taylor, while Seitz also posted a 2-run double and a run-scoring grounder to cap her 2-for-3, 5-RBI performance.

Meanwhile, Goff allowed just one hit in running her pitching record to 13-1 in winning her 12th straight. STEPHANIE BOURLET tossed two innings of 1-hit relief to earn her first collegiate save in combining for the shutout.

Grossmont returns home next Wednesday (Mar. 24), entertaining Southwestern at 3 p.m. Then they will meet Mt. San Jacinto and L.A. Mission in next Friday's (Mar. 26) opening round of the San Diego City Invitational at Hourglass Field in Mira Mesa, located a few steps south of Miramar College.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-18-10) — The push-and-pull to determine the best community college women's fastpitch program in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference again went the way of the push.

For the second time in as many meetings this season, a push bunt played a key role in determining a winner, as Grossmont College tipped visiting Palomar, 1-0, in Wednesday's (Mar. 17) PCAC showdown.

Freshman third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR, who received the surprising sign from head coach RICK TRESTRAIL with the count at 0-2, push-bunted the ball down the line with the Palomar first baseman playing deep.

The defender charged and fielded the ball, but the Comets saw no one else cover the bag, then a last-ditch effort at a sweep tag missed Taylor, allowing ANGELA LOVELADY to hustle home with the game's only run in the 6th inning.

Sir Isaac Newton would be proud with the implementation of his Law of Motion and his mathematical view of how the universe works.

"After the inning, Alyssa even said that coach gave her the sign even though there were two strikes on her," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "Sometimes you get so ingrained on what to do on certain counts – here, Palomar was playing back – and Alyssa caught them sleeping."

Both pitchers – the Griffins' MELANIE GOFF and Palomar's Danielle Lebeau – spun 2-hitters, with three of the four combined hits coming in an eventful 6th inning.

Palomar's second hit of the contest, a bunt single by Kelli Starr, followed a lead walk for the first scoring opportunity by either ballclub. However, Goff, facing the heart of the Comets, coaxed a pair of shallow pop-ups to the outfield.

Lebeau followed by sending a sharp shot up the middle which could've snapped the scoreless duel, but Grossmont shortstop Lovelady extended fully in making a diving stab of the low liner for the third out.

"Our defense was spot on – it was crazy," added Landeros. "Angela saved the game for us on that play, while Alyssa (at third base) and HEATHER (BREWER, the second baseman) played great games, too."

All season long, Grossmont seems to carry the momentum of a big defensive stop immediately into run production. This time was no different when Lovelady opened the 6th with a double over the bag at third – the first hit allowed all contest by Lebeau.

CAITLIN AIMALEFOA struck out, but on a dropped third strike, the throw went to first base which allowed Lovelady to advance and set-up Taylor 's game-winning bunt.

Goff (13-1) captured her 12th straight victory, helping the Griffins extend their school-record winning streak to 13 in a row. Lebeau (4-6) finished with nine strikeouts in a losing effort.

"Both pitchers were great – it was 1-2-3, 1-2-3, all game," added Landeros.

Grossmont (15-1, 6-0 PCAC) has now defeated Palomar in 7 of the team's last 11 meetings over the past four seasons. The Griffins not only dropped the Comets (11-9, 4-3 PCAC) into third place, while extending their lead over second-place Mesa (10-10, 5-3 PCAC) to 2 games.

The G-House next plays Friday at Imperial Valley, with a special start time of 1 p.m.

Notes – ANGELA LOVELADY was named the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference women athlete of the week.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-14-10) — Sophomore KELLEY SEITZ belted a go-ahead, 2-run homer, then AMBER BEEBE added a solo shot to back a 3-hit effort by MELANIE GOFF, propelling Grossmont College to its school-record 12th consecutive victory after dropping Santa Ana, 5-1, in the first game of a 3-way doubleheader hosted by the Griffins.

Game two was scoreless after 7 innings, then an explosion of runs ensued during the International Tiebreaker which saw Long Beach City outlast Santa Ana, 9-8 in 14 innings. The lengthy contest forced a postponement of the Beach-Grossmont game, yet Vikings coaches expressed a willingness to make a return trip to make up the ballgame.

Why? Because of its importance to the Southern California playoffs. Grossmont will get an opportunity to avenge its lone loss of the season. Long Beach, which is ranked 7th in the Southland, gets a chance to move up against the Griffins (14-1), who are rated 6th in this week's coaches poll.

"Santa Ana would score in the top half of the inning, so we would get warmed up for the third game," said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But then Long Beach would tie it, so we sat back down. After doing that 4-or-5 times, it got to be crazy out there."

If the event was held Sunday, Daylight saving time would be in effect, giving the teams a full two hours to complete the third game. Oh, well…

Meanwhile, Monday's re-scheduled contest with Saddleback has been pushed back to April – Gauchos officials forget spring break comes early in their school district. Thus, Grossmont's next date is a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference showdown on Wednesday (Mar. 17) with rising Palomar, which swept a road doubleheader from defending state champion Mt. San Antonio, 4-3 and 10-9.

When the Comets were annually competing for state championships, reeling off 10 or more victories was commonplace. But with the Griffins' dozen, the school is exploring unknown territories, with their last loss coming more than a month ago in January.

"The team doesn't want to talk about it – they don't want to jinx it," added Landeros.

The Seitz-Beebe combo helped Grossmont move even after Santa Ana scored in its first at-bat. Seitz laced a two-out single in the 2nd, moving to second base when the centerfielder bobbled the softball. Beebe followed with a line drive over the shortstop for a basehit and an RBI with Seitz taking two bases to score.

In the 4th, Goff lined a single to right field, with yet another Dons outfield error gave the Griffins an extra base. This time, the miscue was moot when Seitz took an outside riseball and planted it over the right-field fence for a 3-1 lead.

Grossmont, which has been averaging more than four extra-base hits per game over the past 10 days, continued its power display.

In the 5th, catcher KYLEE WILSON again showcased her speed with a lead triple to center, scoring on an ANGELA LOVELADY grounder. Although Lovelady's 7-game hitting streak was snapped, she registered another key RBI by smartly keeping the ball to the right side of the infield.

"Angela was a little upset about losing her hit streak," noted Landeros. "But when you do something good for your team and get the run in, everything is good."

Beebe, who smacked a walkoff grand slam earlier in the week, added another late bomb with her solo shot to center in the 6th, giving Goff plenty of cushion for yet another pitching victory. Goff struck out three Santa Ana batters.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-13-10) — For the Grossmont Griffins, they're living the Life of Riley of late – and there was nothing revoltin' about it.

Behind home runs by ANGELA LOVELADY and KYLEE WILSON, Grossmont scored six straight runs to close out a 6-2 triumph over second-place San Diego Mesa, helping the Griffins maintain their Pacific Coast Athletic Conference lead.

The victory, which equaled a school record with the team's 11 consecutive triumphs, drops Mesa into third place, leaving Grossmont with a 1.5 game lead over surging Palomar.

An inning after Grossmont rallied from a 2-run deficit to assume a 3-2 lead, the hot-hitting Lovelady opened the 5th inning with a leadoff shot to right. The longball – No. 6 on the season – was her 4th of the week, placing her at the top among the list of contenders for PCAC player of the week laurels.

Meanwhile, Wilson, the smallest of the Griffins at 5-foot-3, then shocked the Olympians by muscling a leadoff homer in the 6th, pumping the ball in range of the scoreboard in left-center field.

Mesa jumped to a 2-0 lead on a 2-run double to right by Bryana Garcia in the 3rd, but it would be the only damage allowed by Grossmont pitcher MELANIE GOFF, who struck out six and went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Grossmont immediately answered on an RBI single by Lovelady, then the Griffins took the lead in the 4th when Goff singled and scored on a double by HEATHER BREWER, who then plated the go-ahead run on a sharp basehit to right by BRITT WRIGHT.

For the contest, Wright went 3-for-4 with a triple to highlight a 13-hit Griffins attack, giving the G-House nine consecutive victories against Mesa over the past four seasons (and 19 of 22 since 2003).

Grossmont will seek a record 12th straight victory on Saturday (Mar. 13) to open a stretch of three straight ballgames against quality competition. The Griffins will host a 3-way doubleheader with Santa Ana and Long Beach, starting at 10 a.m., then complete an important 5-game homestand on Wednesday against Palomar.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-11-10) — Sophomore outfielder AMBER BEEBE hit a ball deep into the night, catapulting Grossmont College to yet another Pacific Coast Athletic Conference victory.

The Santana High product capped Wednesday's (Mar. 10) ballgame with a walkoff grand slam, lifting the Griffins to a 10-0 decision over visiting San Diego City College. The slam activiated the run rule, ending the ballgame in the bottom of the 5th inning.

Grossmont (12-1, 4-0 PCAC) has now won 10 consecutive contests, one shy of the school record. The G-House will get a shot at the milestone on Friday (Mar. 12) when they host San Diego Mesa, a team they have defeated eight straight times over the past four seasons (and 18 of 21 since 2003).

Beebe's slam was the second Grossmont homer of the inning.

Leading 4-0, KYLEE WILSON opened the 5th by reaching on an error, then ANGELA LOVELADY clouted her third homer of the week (5th overall) to make it 6-0.

CAITLIN AIMALEFOA continued the rally with a single through the left side of the infield, ALYSSA TAYLOR was hit by a pitch, then MELANIE GOFF registered an infield single to load the bases. Beebe followed with her slam, allowing the Griffins to remain one game in front of Mesa in the PCAC standings.

The Olympians kept pace by edging Southwestern, 4-3 in 8 innings, while third-place Palomar erased Imperial Valley, 20-2.

Grossmont scored twice in its first two trips to the plate to secure an early lead.

In the 1st, Taylor clubbed a two-run double over the left fielder, bringing home BRITT WRIGHT (walk, stolen base) and Lovelady (single), who matched Beebe with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate.

An inning later, HEATHER BREWER tripled to right. Wright answered with an RBI double to left-center, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Wilson.

Meanwhile, Goff posted her second shutout of the season in a 2-hit performance. Goff struck out 7 over 5 innings and walked just one. Three different Griffins pitchers have tossed shutouts this season.

Lovelady's second HR halts Hawks

© East County Sports.com
ORANGE (3-9-10) — Freshman shortstop ANGELA LOVELADY almost didn't get a chance to become a hero Monday (Mar. 8), when the entire Southern California community college softball schedule was rained out – except for one game.

Playing on the new $2.3-million softball complex at Rancho Santiago College, which comes complete with an artificial playing surface, Lovelady's second homer of the game unlocked a 7th-inning tie, lifting Grossmont College to a 5-3 non-conference decision over the host Hawks.

The homer extended the team's winning streak to nine games and gave the Griffins (11-1) their best start in school history.

On opening day, Lovelady smacked two homers, but over a pair of contests in a doubleheader sweep at the Glendale Tournament. This time, she hit book-end shots, sending a drive to center field in the 1st, then a 2-run shot to left to break a 3-3 tie.

The second homer was needed after Rancho Santiago rallied from a 3-0 deficit with three runs in the 6th, including a pair of unearned markers. Included was the game-tying run when Grossmont missed the tag on a rundown at third base, so when a throw then went to second base to catch the batter for what should've been a double play, the runner at third took off for the plate and scored.

"We were talking about that play in the dugout - we all wondered what happened," noted assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "But we didn't let it bother us."

Grossmont promptly responded with a leadoff double by BRITT WRIGHT. Two batters later, Lovelady went to left field with her fourth homer of the season, giving the pitching victory to MELANIE GOFF.

Following Lovelady's first homer, Grossmont expanded its lead with single runs in the 5th and 6th innings.

AMBER BEEBE led off the 5th with a base hit. She advanced to third on groundouts by HEATHER BREWER and Wright, then scored on a double over the center-fielder's head by KYLEE WILSON.

An inning later, ALYSSA TAYLOR singled to center, then Goff registered a basehit to right. A ground ball moved both runners into scoring position, with Beebe then capping a 3-for-3 performance with an RBI single to plate Taylor.

© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-6-10) — Following an emotional victory over Palomar the inevitable letdown definitely occurred, with the Grossmont College bats sleeping soundly.

However, Southwestern College allowed the Griffins off the hook after the Jaguars hit KELLEY SEITZ with a pitch with the bases loaded in the 8th inning, giving Grossmont a 2-1 nod in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference action Friday (Mar. 5).

The victory gives the Griffins (10-1) their best start in school history (9-1 last season, and 8-0 in 2007), and not only leaves them in first place in the PCAC, they are the only ballclub with a winning conference record (pending two late contests which have not been reported).

"We had trouble adjusting to their pitcher," noted Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "She wasn't terribly fast, but Southwestern wasn't hitting either."

Griffins pitcher MELANIE GOFF finished with her second consecutive 3-hitter, but two of the hits occurred in the 5th when the Jaguars tied the contest, including an RBI double by Jessica Mendoza, who got in front of a riseball on a shot to centerfield to score Vivianne Atkins.

Grossmont struck early when BRITT WRIGHT opened the ballgame with a walk, then circled the bases on a stolen base, followed by an illegal pitch, then a run-scoring basehit to left by ANGELA LOVELADY.

The fateful 8th looked like another scoreless frame when KYLEE WILSON, who was hit by a pitch, was out at the plate on the relay following Lovelady's double to center field. However, the Griffins were the receivers of several gifts to break the deadlock.

CAITLIN AIMALEFOA walked, then Lovelady and pinchrunner ADRIANA CRUZ advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Following a pop out, ALYSSA TAYLOR walked to load the bases, then Seitz was plunked by Nicole Fonteneaux for the game-winning RBI.

Grossmont has a busy 5-game schedule next week, starting with Monday's (Mar. 8) road contest at Santiago Canyon College in Orange. The Griffins will open a 6-game homestand with San Diego City on Wednesday (Mar. 10), San Diego Mesa on Friday (Mar. 12), then a 3-way doubleheader Saturday (Mar. 13) with Santa Ana and Long Beach.

Grossmont's Melanie Goff (Photo & Slideshow by Hugh Cox, Palomar College media relations)

"Errors! That was annoying," said assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "So we focused on our hitting – we were hitting the ball all over the place."

Following a leadoff walk to HEATHER BREWER, the ballgame may have been decided on the very next pitch when BRITT WRIGHT smacked a low liner off Comets pitcher Danielle LeBeau.

"The ball hit right off her pitching hand," noted Landeros. "So she had to come out of the game."

By the time the Palomar bullpen settled down in emergency relief, Grossmont posted six additional hits in the inning to put the mercy rule into effect.

With two runners on base when LeBeau exited, KYLEE WILSON caught the already rattled Palomar defense napping with a push bunt, which went unfielded until it rolled into right field for a tie-breaking basehit.

Then the floodgates opened.

After ANGELA LOVELADY walked to load the bases, CAITLIN AIMALEFOA singled to center for a 3-1 advantage, then MELANIE GOFF doubled the lead with a 2-run double over the head of the centerfielder.

ALYSSA TAYLOR walked to re-load the bases, setting up a KELLY SEITZ bloop single which sailed over the shortstop for another run.

Palomar finally registered an out on a fielder's choice at the plate, but with the bases still loaded, Brewer returned to the plate and blasted a 3-run triple. She would later score on a Wilson basehit to center to cap the outburst.

Brewer finished the day by going 2-for-2, with two runs and three RBI.

Aimalefoa, who also singled home Brewer in the 1st, matched Wright by going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI each.

Goff gained the pitching win for Grossmont, allowing just three hits and an unearned run. She struck out five in a game called after five innings.

Grossmont, in matching its 2009 start with nine wins in 10 starts, is slated – weather permitting – to participate in Sunday's second day of the Mt. San Jacinto Tournament, to be held at the historic Old West town of Winchester in south Riverside County. The Griffins, on paper, are scheduled to meet Allan Hancock at 9 a.m. in the first of two contests.

The first set of back-to-back double helped open the scoring in the 3rd inning.

To counter the "small ball" play by Mesa, BRITT WRIGHT led off with a bunt single.

Wilson and Lovelady followed with drives which reached the fence in left-center field for a 2-0 lead. A wild pitch would plate Lovelady with a third run.

In the 7th, HEATHER BREWER reached base on a dropped fly ball in left field, advancing to second on a ground ball by Wright.

With an open base at first, Mesa elected to pitch to Wilson, who pounded another drive to deep left-center for a 4-1 lead. Of course, following script, Lovelady answered with an identical drive for another two-base hit and a 5-1 cushion.

Mesa had two chances to steal the ballgame, but Grossmont pitcher MELANIE GOFF shut the door.

The Olympians saw their first three batters reach in the 1st, but Goff escaped the bases-loaded situation. The first potential run on a passed ball turned into an out when Wilson, the catcher, quickly recovered the ball and fired to Goff covering at the plate.

Goff then registered a strikeout, then a tapper back to the pitching circle for an easy groundout.

In the 7th, Mesa cut the Griffins lead in half with a pair of runs, including an RBI groundout by first baseball KELSEY ALVAREZ (Grossmont HS), plus another marker on a wild pitch. However, with the potential tying run at the plate, Goff coaxed a pop out, then she registered the final of her six strikeouts.

Grossmont (8-1), which is off to its best start since opening the 2007 season with an 8-0 mark, gets a major test on Friday (Feb. 26) when they travel to meet Palomar at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-20-10) — Los Angeles Harbor College is one of the best road teams in Southern California. After posting a 9-2 non-conference mark on the road last season, the Seahawks were 4-1 on the road so far in 2010.

"And that included a win Thursday at Long Beach," said Grossmont College assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "And Beach is ranked 8th in Southern California."

Impressive statistics, for sure, but it didn't seem to matter to Griffins pitcher MELANIE GOFF. The freshman right-hander limited Harbor to just four basehits all afternoon, as Grossmont cruised to a 7-0 shutout victory Friday (Feb. 19).

Prior to the contest, the jersey and number for the late Griffins standout KYRSTIN GEMAR was retired. Her No. 73 hangs on the fence next to the team's third-base dugout.

Plaque Inscription: "#73 on the field, but #1 in our hearts"

A jersey retirement ceremony for Kyrstin Gemar was held at Grossmont College on Friday. Head coach Rick Trestrail (left) and Jim Spillers, the Director of Athletics, carry a jersey box for Gemar's parents. Meanwhile, members of the college's women's fastpitch team – Kylee Wilson (l-r), Caitlin Aimalefoa (Gemar's prep teammate) and Kelley Seitz – present a banner listing Gemar's uniform number. (Photo by Lenny Gemar)

Goff allowed just one Harbor baserunner to reach second base all contest on a one-out double in the 5th. However, she stranded the runner there in dominating the Seahawks, who twice brought the potential game-tying run to the plate, only to be thwarted.

"Melanie just smoked them – she's just pitching so well right now," added Landeros. "And Harbor was supposed to be coming in hot after beating Long Beach."

The Griffins (7-1) then rewarded Goff by breaking open a 2-0 contest with five runs in the 5th, with BRITT WRIGHT serving as a key component to the rally

Wright started the inning with a triple down the right field line. She scored when the Seahawks tried to cheat on defense, bringing their shortstop in just in case ANGELA LOVELADY tried to squeeze.

"But Angela also hit the ball hard in her previous at-bat, so the left-fielder was also playing back by the warning track," noted the coach.

Lovelady plunked the ball between the defenders for a basehit for the RBI and extended her hitting streak.

Goff followed by smacking a low liner to shortstop. Although the base umpire ruled a catch, the home plate umpire over-ruled the call, as the play went for a run-scoring infield single.

AMBER BEEBE followed with a 2-run single to right, HEATHER BREWER walked to re-load the bases, then Wright capped the outburst with another walk to force in the final run.

"Everyone is starting to hit – and it's good timing, too," said Landeros, who noted the team's next ballgame will be the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference opener at San Diego Mesa this Wednesday (Feb. 24) at 3 p.m.

The Griffins scored single runs in their first two trips to the plate.

In the 1st, CAITLIN AIMALEFOA registered an RBI single. An inning later, catcher KYLEE WILSON lifted a sacrifice fly to score Goff, who singled to center, advanced to second on a walk to Brewer, then to third on a bunt single by Wright.

Harbor, ranked 15th in the Southland, saw its overall record fall to 7-3.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-18-10) — The twice re-scheduled ceremony to honor KYRSTIN GEMAR is now set for 11:45 a.m. Friday (Feb. 20), prior to Grossmont College's noon doubleheader with Los Angeles Harbor College.

Friends and family of Griffins softball are asked to attend the proceedings for Gemar, who lost her life along with two other Dickinson (N.D.) State University teammates in an auto accident last year. Gemar's number (73) will be retired during the event.

Following a prep career at Clairemont High School, Gemar played for Grossmont in 2006 and 2007, capturing the Pacific Coast Conference championship during her sophomore season to snap the long string of titles by Palomar College. The starting third baseman twice captured team MVP and all-PCC laurels, ranking among the state top 10 in several offensive categories, including home runs (7), doubles (16), RBI (39) and slugging percentage (.818).

Gemar was recruited by DSU, sitting out the '08 season to rehab an injury, then exploded back onto the scene in '09 with a .475 batting average, with 10 homers, 38 RBI and a .925 slugging percentage.

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO CUCAMONGA (2-13-10) — A pair of products from San Diego City high schools paced Grossmont College to a non-conference, doubleheader sweep of Chaffey College. Clairemont High alum CAITLIN AIMALEFOA smacked home runs in both games Friday's (Feb. 12), while MELANIE GOFF of Mira Mesa High earned a pair of pitching victories.

The Griffins rallied for a 9-4 victory in the opener, then skated to a 5-2 decision in the nightcap over the winless Panthers (0-7), which are obviously struggling following a third-place finish in the Foothill Conference last season.

Meanwhile, Grossmont (6-1) own the best record among Pacific Coast Athletic Conference ballclubs in the early going in an attempt to regain the conference title captured in both 2007 and 2008.

In game one, Goff did damage on both offense and defense. After entering the game to pitch in the 2nd inning, she shutout Chaffey over the final 5 1/3 innings. On offense, she delivered in the 4th, belting a game-tying, 2-run triple to right-center field, then scoring what proved to be the game-winning run when HEATHER BREWER (El Capitan) lined a double over the head of the left-fielder.

Aimalefoa later belted a solo homer in the 5th, then added a 3-run homer to open the scoring in game two to back Goff's complete-game victory. ANGELA LOVELADY (Granite Hills) also registered a run-scoring basehit for the G-House.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-4-10) — It wasn't officially stat-padder day at Grossmont College, but it might as well have been after the Griffins blasted visiting Mt. San Jacinto College, 13-2 and 18-0, in Wednesday's (Feb. 3) non-conference doubleheader.

The victories raised Grossmont's mark to 4-1, while the hapless Eagles fell to 0-5.

In the opener, San Diego City College transfer CAITLIN AIMALEFOA blasted a tape-measure grand slam, capping a 7-run outburst in the 1st inning.

"I moved to a better team, with more depth and more pitching," said Aimalefoa, who prepped at Clairemont High. "This team works hard almost all of the time."

Aimalefoa's shot cleared the 18-foot high scoreboard in left-center field, landing in the Grossmont College Maintenance Dept. equipment station – an estimated drive of more than 250 feet.

The homer will aid Aimalefoa in her battle with teammate KELLEY SEITZ for the starting berth at first base.

"Whoever performs the best will deserve the spot," said the nursing major. "Both of us can hit."

In addition, BRITTANY WRIGHT, who recently relocated from Texas, batted 3-for-4 with a pair of triples, while ALYSSA TAYLOR popped a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning for Grossmont, making a winner of starting pitcher KELLIE WATSON.

In Game 2, a last-minute decision by the coaching staff found STEPHANIE BOURLET making her collegiate pitching debut, tossing a 2-hit shutout at Mt. San Jacinto. She struck out five in a contest called after 5 innings by run rule.

ANGELA LOVELADY scored four times after smacking a pair of doubles and walking twice, as the Griffins batted around twice while scoring 12 times in the 3rd.

© East County Sports.com
GLENDALE (1-31-10) — Day two of the Glendale College fastpitch tournament on Saturday (Jan. 30) saw Grossmont College trailing Long Beach City College, 4-3, after six innings when the game was called because of the 90-minute time limit. The only problem was: there was no need for a time limit since the Griffins did not have any further contests.

Earlier in the day, Glendale officials told Grossmont that after they complete pool play against Long Beach, they could then play either Imperial Valley or San Diego City, both Pacific Coast Athletic Conference rivals. The coaching staff declined, effectively eliminating many of the afternoon ballgames.

The Gauchos imposed the time limit rule anyway, which didn't give Grossmont one final opportunity to rally.

The Vikings scored three times in the 1st inning, two unearned, only to watch the Griffins tie it in the second thanks to a mammoth, 3-run homer by HEATHER BREWER.

Designated player CAITLIN AIMALEFOA opened the inning with an infield single on a blooper which landed between the pitcher and the shortstop. KELLEY SEITZ reached on a fielder's choice, then AMBER BEEBE singled to center. Brewer then sent a shot beyond the left fielder to the fence-less outfield to circle the bases.

Long Beach scored another unearned run in the 2nd, then both pitchers – and both defenses – settled in. Griffins pitcher MELANIE GOFF allowed just four singles the rest of the way, but the offense failed to score after loading the bases in the 4th, 5th and 6th, then got slighted in their 7th-inning at-bats.

Aimalefoa went 2-for-2 with a double, while Seitz, the first baseman, also posted a pair of basehits among nine by Grossmont (2-1).

The Griffins will host a pair of events next week, both starting at 1 p.m.

On Wednesday (Feb. 3), they will play a doubleheader against Mt. San Jacinto. Then on Friday (Feb. 5), the school will entertain Saddleback, which will feature a special pregame event when the school will retire the number (73) of former star KYRSTIN GEMAR, who lost her life in an auto accident last year while attending Dickinson State (N.D.) University.

© East County Sports.com
GLENDALE (1-30-10) — When it comes to meeting poorer competition, at least Grossmont College doesn't try to run up the score.

The Griffins made short work over a pair of opponents in Friday's (Jan. 29) opening round of the Glendale College Tournament, pasting the hosts 8-3, then downing a pathetically poor team from College of the Desert, 9-0.

How bad are the Roadrunners? They lost their season opener to Saddleback by a count of 32-5, but at least they scored.

Grossmont was carried by the arm of pitcher KELLIE WATSON, who struck out a pair in posting a 2-hit shutout. Meanwhile, first baseman KELLEY SEITZ batted 2-for-4 with a 2-run single in the 6th inning.

The day's batting star was shortstop ANGELA LOVELADY, who pumped home runs in each contest.

In the opener against the Gauchos, Lovelady sent a bomb to left field in the 4th to give Grossmont a 3-0 lead. The Griffins then added five markers in the 5th, including a pair off a double by AMBER BEEBE.

MELANIE GOFF gained the victory in her collegiate debut, yielding just four hits and striking out a pair.

Grossmont (2-0) will meet Long Beach to close out pool play in a 9.a.m. start Saturday (Jan. 30), then will play an opponent from the opposite pool later in the day.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (1-28-10) — State budget cuts may have trimmed the community college women’s fastpitch season to a mere 40 ballgames, placing additional emphasis on each outing, yet such a condensed schedule should hold little effect on Grossmont College this season.

The Griffins, who saw their 2010 opener against Cerritos get red-lined due to wet grounds Wednesday (Jan. 27), hold the perfect balance on their roster, which features five returning sophomores, six freshmen, and a trio of transfers.

“It’s what you’re always looking for to maintain continuity in your program,” said Grossmont assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. “And we have talented players at every position.”

Although the starting line-up is drastically different than what was originally penciled in during fall ball, the pieces re-shaped quickly into a unit which hopes to recapture a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship they won in 2007 and 2008 following last season’s runner-up finish.

A reconfiguration of the infield finds the LOVELADY sisters – AMBER and ANGELA – anchoring the middle. Amber transferred to Grossmont from Southwestern.

Amber will start the season as second base, while Angela, who starred at Granite Hills in 2009, is the shortstop.

ALYSSA TAYLOR, a Santee resident who played for La Jolla last season, is the lone freshman among the position players at third base, while power hitter KELLEY SEITZ (Valhalla) will share starting duties at first base with San Diego City College transfer CAITLIN AIMALEFOA. Both are power hitters, too.

In the outfield, El Capitan product HEATHER BREWER, who improved tremendously over the second half of the season, will start in right. AMBER BEEBE (Santana) gets the nod in left, with center to be taken by Northern California transfer BRITT WRIGHT (Chabot College).

“The only position we thought we had a problem was catcher,” noted Landeros. “Then we found out KYLEE WILSON can catch.”

Wilson, who once won a SDCIF championship at Granite Hills, was known as an outfielder in high school, but will don the gear for the Griffins despite her diminutive 5-foot-3 frame.

The pitching staff includes returnee KELLIE WATSON, who was the youngest college player in the nation at any level last season. Watson will be joined by a motivated right-hander in MELANE GOFF.

A Mira Mesa product, Goff was ticketed to Arkansas, but a new Razorbacks coaching staff cleaned house without looking at the freshman, so she returned home with a chip on her shoulder in order to prove those coaches wrong and again work hard for a Division I scholarship.

Grossmont (29-9, 10-2 PCAC) will now open the season in this weekend’s Glendale College Tournament. The Griffins will meet College of the Desert, Long Beach and the host Gauchos in the pool play portion of the event, which opens Friday (Jan. 29). The new home opener is slated for next Wednesday (Feb. 3) in a 1 p.m. doubleheader with Mt. San Jacinto.

A public memorial service for former Grossmont College softball player Kyrstin Gemar, 22, will be held Saturday (Nov. 14) at 11 a.m., at the college's Main Quad area. (where graduation ceremonies are traditionally held). More than 500 people are expected to attend. Following the memorial service, internment will be held at El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley.

Kyrstin Gemar (DSU photo)

LOCAL COVERAGE The Dickinson Press

Yahoo! Sports STORY

© East County Sports.com
Near PATTERSON LAKE, N.D. (11-3-09/Updated 11-4-09) — Former Grossmont College women's fastpitch standout KYRSTIN GEMAR and two of her teammates from Dickinson State University, who disappeared Sunday (Nov. 1) on a stargazing trip, were found dead Tuesday near the southwestern North Dakota campus, local authorities announced.

Gemar, 22, along with Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba, were found in Gemar's white 1997 Jeep Cherokee at the bottom of a 12-foot deep pond on a farm outside of Dickinson, N.D.

Around 11:20 p.m. CT Sunday, the group twice called a friend for help, about one minute apart, before the line cut out on Sunday according to Dickinson police. One woman was difficult to understand during a 40-second call, with the friend telling authorities of hearing the woman say they were near a lake and water.

A 2007 file photo of Kyrstin Gemar slugging a game-winning sacrifice fly for the Griffins. (Photo by Lenny Gemar)

It was determined that Gemar and one of the other women attempted to call for assistance from an air bubble inside the submerged vehicle before tragically drowning. No determination on how the vehicle went into the lake has been announced.

"A couple of our former players knew about them being missing Monday, so we were hoping all day for them — using the present tense when talking positive about them," said Griffins assistant coach ANA LANDEROS. "Then we heard the news — it's so sad."

It was the second major disaster for the Gemar family recently. Last year, their house burned down in a fire.

"Their family is so awesome, and now this happened," added Landeros. "There isn't much you can say."

The combination of talents saw several colleges make her scholarship offers, yet Gemar selected a small NAIA school to continue her college career.

"Krystin was used exclusively as a designated hitter while rehabbing her shoulder," Landeros added about the former All-Pacific Coast Conference pitcher, who unseated Palomar for the 2007 conference championship. "But she was going to pitch again this season."

Since a person can only participate in two seasons at community colleges, most members of the current Grossmont roster did not know Gemar. The lone player who did is San Diego City College transfer first baseman Caitlin Aimalefoa, who was a teammate at Clairemont High School.

Dickinson State features several local players on the roster of the nationally ranked Blue Hawks. Included are former Steele Canyon High outfielder VANESSA ADAME, and former Grossmont College and Granite Hills High pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH.

A 2007 file photo of (l-r) Kyrstin Gemar, Marissa Utley, and Lauren Hastings celebrating another victory after the Griffins raised their record to 6-0. (Photo by Lenny Gemar) Editor's Note: By coincidence, Lenny Gemar, Krystin's father, was the official team photographer in 2007, while also supplying photos for East County Sports.

The Usual Suspects... 2007 PCC Fastpitch Champions

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

Sat., May 8
Southern California Super Regionals
At Cerritos College, Norwalk
Mt. San Antonio 5, Grossmont 2
Fullerton 4, Cerritos 1
Mt. San Antonio 6, Cerritos 5

At Cypress College, Cypress
Riverside df. East L.A.
Cypress 10, Saddleback 2 (6 inn.)
Saddleback 4, Riverside 3

At Cypress College, Cypress
Riverside df. East L.A.
Cypress 10, Saddleback 2 (6 inn.)
Saddleback 4, Riverside 3

Grossmont College Athletics Website

Pacific Coast Conference