2011 Preview
By Dave Loveton, SBCC sports information
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011
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Experience will be key for Vaqueros
Snyder, Cannon twins lead seven sophomores
With an experienced core of sophomores. Paula Congleton is looking forward to her 13th year as SBCC’s softball coach.
“We have a solid foundation of sophomores with a year of experience,” she noted. “Last year, we struggled a little bit in
close games. We’ve also got an eager group of freshmen who want to have a huge impact.”
The Vaqueros went 23-14 last year with the second-highest win total in school history. They finished fourth in the WSC Gold
Division with a 9-7 mark. They were 17-4 in games decided by three or more runs but just 6-10 when the margin was one or two.
SBCC is 2-1 this year and will take on Pasadena on Saturday (Feb. 19) at noon, weather permitting.
The Vaqueros’ diamond received extensive improvements from Measure V funds. There’s a higher backstop, new pitching areas
for both teams and a large 60-foot batting cage with side-by-side hitting areas.
Kailey Snyder, a pitcher from St. Joseph High in Santa Maria, tops the list of returning sophomores, along with the Cannon
twins, Joan and Laura. Snyder had a 1.20 ERA last season and pitched a no-hitter late in the year. She had 85 strikeouts in
81 innings and also batted .383.
Snyder pitched a two-hitter in an 8-0 season-opening win over Glendale and is off to a 2-1 start with 25 strikeotus in 19
innings.
Joan Cannon, who plays center field, earned first-team All-WSC honors after batting .368 with 27 stolen bases. Her sister,
Laura, is a shortstop who also earned all-conference honors.
Other returners are third baseman Lisa Zeitlin, left fielder Elicity Fabing, right fielder Nicole Adair and Jasmyne Holmes.
Holmes played second last year but moved to first base after shoulder surgery last fall.
The Vaqueros also got it done in the classroom last year when they were nominated for the Community College Scholar Team
award.
The freshman class features catcher Stephanie Bolanos, outfielder Carly Smith and Mariah Coyazo, who will play second base.
Jennifer Stevens, who’s currently playing for the basketball team, will be a utility player.
“With 12 players, the keys to our success will be staying healthy and preparing well for each game,” said Congleton. “We
talk about three things -- being prepared; honoring the game, your teammates and opponents; and loving what we do.
“This is a great group, with lots of great personalities. It’s going to be a fun year.“
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