Softball preview: OCC armed and loaded

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - With last season a forgotten nightmare for Orange

Coast College’s softball team, the Pirates have revamped their offense

and pitching for an Orange Empire Conference title run.

“Despite the number of freshman, we have actually gained a lot of

experience this year,” Coach Rick Buonarigo said. “A lot of these players

have played in various travelball leagues, so they’re used to playing

against high levels of competition. It’s a totally difference atmosphere

this year.”

Leading the spring cleaning is freshman pitcher/infielder Monica Ortega.

She will anchor the pitching staff with an array of pitches to chose

from.

“She can throw the rise well and has a nice drop ball,” Buonarigo said.

“Those are her main pitches, but she can also come in with a fastball and

change-up at times.”

Aiding Ortega for the Pirates’ pitching staff is Noelle Espinoza, the

only remaining player from 1999.

Following last year’s 5-32 season, Buonarigo wanted to make sure he knew

what he was getting for the 2000 season by hitting the road in search of

talent.

“Anybody that was going to play for us, I wanted to make sure that we saw

them play,” Buonarigo said. “Either at the high school level or on travel

teams, I wanted to see what kind of players they were and what they were

made of.”

Leading the offense in different capacities will be freshman infielder

Kristin Degree and freshman outfielder Renee Snyder.

Degree will bat second in the Pirates’ order and with her quickness, will

be a threat on the basepaths for Buonarigo’s squad.

“She’s really doing a great job for us, not just offensively, but at

third base, which is a new position for her,” Buonarigo said. “She’s

making all the routine plays and is starting to pull in some of the more

difficult plays.”

If Degree gets on, look for Snyder to drive her in.

“Renee is probably our most consistent power hitter,” Buonarigo said.

“She’ll play center field and bat third for us.”

Buonarigo has been really harping on the basics as the key to being

successful.

“This year we really wanted to back to fundamentals,” Buonarigo said.

“With these players and the experience they have playing at all these

levels, we now have a very fundamentally-sound team.”

In the always-tough OEC, Buonarigo sees a pretty even slate across the

board.

“Fullerton is loaded, Saddleback and Cypress are always tough and Santa

Ana has some hitters,” Buonarigo said. “With our improvements, it could

be anyone’s guess who ends up where.”

COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE SOFTBALL

1 Tasha Thurmond OF So.

3 Meredith Miles INF Fr.

4 Kristin Degree INF Fr.

5 Renee Snyder OF Fr.

7 Kelly Lee Keller INF/OF Fr.

9 Jennifer Jensen INF Fr.

10 Amy Sorenby INF/OF Fr.

21 Noelle Espinoza P/OF So.

22 Angelia Valdez C Fr.

24 Monica Ortega P/INF Fr.

33 Kimberly Guillen INF Fr.