Jessica Mendoza: Breaking Down Softball Regionals


USSSA Pride left fielder Jessica Mendoza made a guest appearance on ESPN breaking down softball regionals, making her guesses to who she thinks will advance in the Regional Tournament. If you can’t see this video embedded here, please click here to see it at ESPN.com.

About USSSA Florida Pride

The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.

2012 NCAA Softball Bracket Released

On May 13, the NCAA released their 2012 Division I Softball Championship bracket, announcing the regional line-ups for the Nation’s top 64 softball programs, including the teams of all seven of our 2012 USSSA Pride Draftees.

Draftee Valerie Arioto and her team, the number 1 seed Cal Bears will host Iona, Boston University, and Arkansas in the University.  Cal will face Iona on May 18 at 7 p.m..

The winner of the Cal tournament will take on the champion of the Seattle regional, hosted by Draftee Nikia Williams and her team, the number 16 seed University of Washington.  The Huskies will take on Harvard, Texas Tech, and Maryland, and will kick off their regional run at 6 p.m. on May 18 vs. Harvard.

Draftee Andrea Harrison and the number 12 seed UCLA host their regional tournament in Los Angeles.  Hofstra, Florida State, and San Diego State will compete against UCLA, who will play their first game of the tournament on May 18 versus Hofstra at 5:30 p.m.

The winner of the Los Angeles Tournament will take on the winner of the regional tournament hosted by the number 5 seed University of Florida and Pride Draftee Michelle Moultrie. The Gators will face Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of South Florida in Gainseville.  The tournament opens on May 18 at 3:30 p.m. when Florida takes on UCF.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette earned the number 14 seed.  The Ragin Cajuns and Draftee Christi Orgeron will host Stanford, Baylor, and Mississippi down in Lafayette from May 18-20.

Draftee Kristyn Sandberg and the number 10 seed Georgia Bulldogs will host their own regional tournament featuring Georgia Southern, North Carolina, and Coastal Carolina.  On May 18 at 5 p.m., Georgia will play in their first bout of the tournament against Coastal Carolina.

Louisiana State University, home to both draftee Brittany Mack and head coach Beth Torina, will play in a regional tournament hosted by Texas A&M, which also includes Texas State and Bethune Cookman College.  LSU and Texas State kick off the tournament at 3 p.m. on May 18.

Click her to see the 2012 NCAA Division Division I Softball Bracket in it’s entirety.

 

NPF Draftee Update 5/14 – Valerie Arioto

Via Calbears.com:

ASA Names Arioto, Henderson POY Finalists (5/9)

BERKELEY – The Amateur Softball Association announced that it considers Valerie Arioto and Jolene Henderson two of the top 11 student-athletes in the country when the Golden Bear pair landed on the top-11 list of finalists for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The award – which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country – will be announced at the opening of the 2012 NCAA Women’s College World Series.”

To read entire article, visit Calbears.com

 

Vs. Arizona State University, May 10, 11, and 12

Game 1, 5/10: Cal 4, ASU 2

Game 2, 5/11: Cal 5, ASU 0

Game 3, 5/12: Cal 0, ASU 5

Batting: AB-5;R-2;H-1;RBI-2;BB-5;SO-2;PO-19;A-4;LOB-5

Pitching: W, 20-2 IP-7.0;H-6;R-0;ER-0;BB-1;SO-11;WP-0;BK-0;HBP-0;IBB-0;AB-29;BF-30;FO-4;GO-6;NP-108

 

Game 1:

“The No. 1 California softball team battled back from a two-run deficit to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth against No. 2 Arizona State before senior Valerie Arioto unleashed a two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Sun Devils 4-2.”

Game 2:

“Senior player of the year award candidate Valerie Arioto pitched the complete-game victory, shutting out the Sun Devils as she struck out 11 of them.”

 

NPF Draftee Update 5/14 – Andrea Harrison

Via UCLABruins.com:

Vs. Oregon, May 10, 11, and 12:

Game 1, 5/10: UCLA 10, Oregon 0

Game 2, 5/11: UCLA 2, Oregon 3

Game 3, 5/12: UCLA 2, Oregon 8

Orgeron, 5/10-12: AB-10;R-2;H-1;RBI-0;BB-1;SO-1;PO-2;A-0;LOB-2

Game 1:

“…the Bruins loaded the bases on a single up the middle by senior Andrea Harrison and a free pass to Bates would force home Snow with the Bruins’ sixth run.”

Game 2:

“Freshman Stephany LaRosa drew a walk and the inning was extended when senior Andrea Harrison reached on a booted ball at second. Bates then recorded the first Bruin hit of the ball game, going the opposite way and getting one down just inside the left-field chalk line to plate LaRosa and Harrison to make it 3-2. ”

Game 3:

“Senior Katie Schroeder led off with a slap single to second base, moved to second on a sacrifice by LaRosa and advanced to third on a ground out to second off the bat of seniorAndrea Harrison.”

Christi Orgeron Named SBC Player of the Year

For the second consecutive year, Christi Orgeron, the 20th overall pick made by the USSSA Pride in the 2012 NPF Draft, was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.  The Announcement was made by the SBC on May 9.

Orgeron, utility player for the University of Louisianna at Lafayette, leads the nation in RBI with 89 and RBI per game with 1.82.  Orgeron has also become the SBC career leader in doubles (62) and RBI (283).

Additionally, Orgeron leads her conference in RBI, homeruns, slugging percentage, walks, and total bases.

The Ragin’ Cajun earned a spot in an outfield position on the SBC All-Conference First Team.

For the complete All-Conference Announcements from the SBC, visit SunBeltSports.org.