Share:

In many of science’s simplest phenomenon, heat is the catalyst that triggers variation. Whether it is the explosion of dynamite, the burst of a kernel into popcorn, or the melting of ice into water, fire generates change.The fire that PCC softball Head Coach Elaine Martinez saw in her Lancer players this season is the factor that transformed her squad from a dismal 2008 (13-24) record to a decent overall record (20-19) this season.

“We did our conditioning in the fall; it’s completely different from what we’ve done in the past. The girls have been working together since the summer. They have had really great chemistry together and early on it was good too see that I would have a team that was going to be committed and determined,” said Martinez.

The flames of determination resulted in many positive occurrences this season.

For the first time in school history, the PCC softball team was crowned champion of the Golden West Tournament after winning five straight games over the span of three days. Top programs East Arizona College and San Diego Mesa College each fell victim to the Lancers in perhaps their brightest moment of the 2009 campaign.

It is has been three years since the team reached the 20 win plateau and end with a win percentage over .500, despite its fifth place finish in the competitive South Coast Conference (7-11).

The heat could also be felt off the Lancers’ top contributors throughout the season.

“The coaches and I had a lot of proud moments with the girls this year. After our first game I knew these players were never going to settle for less,” said Martinez.

Emerging freshmen Marissa Rangel and Lupita Contreras had breakout performances in their first collegiate seasons.

Rangel held a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in center field and was second on the team in batting average (.340), slugging percentage (.474), on-base percentage (.366), and runs scored (21). She was also a First Team All-South Coast Conference libero on the PCC volleyball team bringing a different type of intensity to the field, according to Martinez.

Contreras was the team’s most consistent hitter and the first legitimate second basemen in a long time for the Lancers, according to Martinez. The second baseman was third on the team in batting average (.321) and slugging percentage (.429) and second on the team in hits (36), RBIs (20), and doubles (four).

However the Lancers’ hottest player this season was freshman Amber Frame. She led the team in almost every hitting category with a .343 batting average, .565 slugging percentage, .427 on base percentage, 25 runs scored, 37 hits, 24 RBIs, 11 doubles and three home runs. Frame was also the team’s go-to player on the mound, leading in a majority of the pitching categories with a 3.25 ERA, 13 wins, 140 innings pitched, 112 strikeouts and a 13-9 record.

“Amber is a natural leader and she kind of stepped into that role early in the season,” said Martinez. “She is just a solid player.”

The fire did cool throughout the season, as the main problem with the Lancers was their consistency according to Martinez. “We had a hard time finding consistency with it. The fire was a huge factor in all of our games. The fact that we were a young team contributed to the inability to be consistent,” said Martinez.

Martinez and her staff plan to keep most of the team for next season. Only three players plan on leaving the unit. Martinez is looking forward to the experience and chemistry that the returnees could bring to the upcoming season.

Follow: