Beach
softball ready for season
By Jack Schneider
On-line Forty-Niner
With hard work and a big goal to reach,
the Long Beach State softball team is ready
for competition.
Head coach Pete Manarino said that as each
season goes on, the team gets stronger.
“Defensively, year after year we are solid,”
Manarino said.
Manarino is seen as one of the most prolific
head coaches at CSULB leading the team to
five NCAA World Series, 13 Regionals and
three Big West titles.
This year will feature some new faces and
returning players such as 20-game winner
sophomore Meredith Cervenka.
“The key is staying healthy,” Manarino said.
“We have a very consistent make-up on this
team with 12 returnees, and five newcomers.
I like this team, and I am looking forward
to this being a good year.”
Some of the teams Long Beach State will
compete against are Oklahoma, Stanford,
Georgia, Texas A&M, Arizona and Florida
State.
“It’s always been my philosophy to play
tough teams in non-conference,” Manarino
said.
One team player to look out for will be
junior tri-captain, Arleigh Thorp. She was
named to the All-Big West and All-West Region
second teams during her sophomore year leading
the 49ers with a .303 batting average. She
also held the fourth highest single season
total in the program’s history and leading
Long Beach State with 25 RBIs and racking
up a solid 56 hits.
Freshman Tiffanie Wedell will be playing
center field for the 49ers. Wedell helped
lead her high school team to back-to-back
Miramonte League championships in the 2000-01
season. She was also named 2002 Defensive
Player of the Year.
Other changes include the replacement of
Natalie Walker in center field will be sophomore
Lauren Johnson, who Manarino said is an
all around dynamic player.
“She has great range, a good arm, and a
good feel for the position. We need her
to stay healthy this season,” Manarino said.
Rotating in and out of right field, Manarino
will platoon between three players: junior
Darcey Brown, senior Elizabeth Borcich,
and junior Colleen Burdick.
Freshman Melanie McCauley, will be replacing
Nicole Spencer at first base, and Manarino
said is very consistent in her playing.
Recently the Long Beach State softball team
was selected to finish third place in the
Big West Conference according to the 2003
Pre-Season Coaches poll.
Long Beach State softball will start off
the regular season at the UC Santa Barbara
Tournament competing against Santa Clara
this Friday.
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