(Orange, CA) - Santiago Canyon College (SCC) softball team won the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state championship for the first time, Sunday, May 22, 2016. On May 24, the team’s coaches were also named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) California Junior College (CalJC) National Coaching Staff of the Year.
The CCCAA state championships were held at Bakersfield College from Friday, May 20 until Sunday, May 22. The SCC softball team played their first game Friday, then two games on Saturday, and the last two games were played on Sunday. They played Cypress College, College of San Mateo, and Sacramento City College throughout the weekend.
SCC’s softball team is the first team to ever lose the first game played then come back and win a state championship since 1996. Also, this is the first win since 2005 that was won by the mercy rule, which is when one team is up by eight runs after battling five of the regularly-scheduled seven innings and the end the game is called by the officials. SCC won over Sacramento City College 8-0 after five innings.
The team members include: Lake Forest residents Jessica Daniel (outfielder), Brittney Howe (infielder), Lauren Hammond (pitcher), and Shannon Thornton (pitcher); Huntington Beach residents Kaitlyn Lanksbury (infielder), Alyssa Sojka (infielder), and Emili Olague (infielder); Fullerton resident Riley Nahrwold (pitcher); Corona resident Dalinda Ramos (infielder); Santa Ana residents Krista Carranza (infielder) and Christine Woodling (catcher); Mission Viejo resident Ashley Clark-Johnson (outfielder); The Netherlands resident Manoa Weijgertse (infielder/catcher); and Peoria, Arizona resident Jordaen Hicks (outfielder).
Team members won serval awards at the state championship, including:
- All-State: Kaitlyn Lanksbury and Emili Olague
- All-American: Emili Olague
- Academic All-American: Lauren Hammond
- All-Tournament Team: Riley Nahrwold, Alyssa Sojka, Emili Olague, Manoa Weijgertse,
Ashley Clark-Johnson, Jessica Daniel, and Brittney Howe - Golden Gloves: Alyssa Sojka
- Best Hitter: Kaitlyn Lanksbury
- Most Valuable Pitcher: Riley Nahrwold
- Most Valuable Player: Kaitlyn Lanksbury
The coaching staff includes, head coach and Lake Forest resident Lisa Camarco; assistant coaches and Orange residents Brandice Cutspec and Marc Kendrick; and assistant coach and Costa Mesa resident Keely Starr. The head coach, Camarco first came to SCC in 2006 to lead the softball program in its inaugural year, 2007. This is Camarco’s tenth year as head coach for SCC. Cutspec has coached at SCC for three seasons now and is a SCC alumni. Starr has coached at SCC for four seasons. And, Kendrick has coached at SCC for one season.
For more information about the Santiago Canyon College softball team, visit
www.sccollege.edu/softball.
About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) serves about 14,000 students each semester. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and careers, and provides courses for personal and professional development, as well as customized training for business and industry. The college is recognized for its adult education program which keeps the working adult - and seniors - in mind by offering flexible schedules, and community locations. Serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park, SCC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
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