Lindstrom Quits CS Northridge Softball Team

Heather Lindstrom, Cal State Northridge’s top pitcher last season, said Tuesday that she has quit the softball team because of a lack of playing time.

Lindstrom, a senior right-hander, did not show for games in Northridge’s tournament Saturday or for practice Tuesday.

“I’m not going back,” said an angry Lindstrom, who has not spoken to the coaching staff since Friday but plans to talk to Coach Gary Torgeson this week. “It’s not worth it to keep playing. Mentally, I can’t go out there not knowing if I’m going to pitch, or when I’m going to pitch.”

Kathy Blake (17-3), a freshman right-hander who picked up five victories last week, has emerged as the top pitcher of the five-player staff with a team-low 0.88 earned-run average. Senior right-hander Cami Allen (6-6) has an ERA of 1.58.

“The only reason I’m not playing is because I’m not pitching,” said Lindstrom, who is 3-5. “(Torgeson) tries to make it out like I’m pitching horrible. If he thinks that, then why should I stick around? I’m not pitching anyway.”

Of the 11 games the 20th-ranked Matadors (30-17-1) played last week, Lindstrom pitched five innings against Oregon and did not get a decision.

Her most recent decision was a 4-0 loss to No. 16 Cal State Long Beach on March 15 in the championship game of the Bakersfield tournament.

Lindstrom (16-10 last season) has struggled in her past three outings, giving up 15 hits and seven earned runs in 15 innings to raise her ERA to 1.98. All five of her losses have come against Top 20 teams.

It was the irregular, sporadic starts that unnerved Lindstrom.

“No pitcher pitches well when you pitch every sixth game,” she said.

Torgeson said Tuesday that he did not know the reason for Lindstrom’s absence. However, he said he had noticed a change in her recent performances and attitude.

“In her last two games against Long Beach and Oregon, she just hasn’t been the same Heather,” Torgeson said. “You look at her stats from last year to this year and you can see she’s just not the same.”

Lindstrom, a Crescenta Valley High graduate, was 36-13 with an ERA of 1.04 at the NCAA Division II level her first two seasons. In Northridge’s inaugural season in Division I last year, Lindstrom led the three-player pitching staff with a 1.47 ERA.

Lindstrom’s career record is 55-28 with 28 shutouts and 12 saves.