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The chatter was non-stop on the field at Robinson Park, the new home of PCC softball. “It’s a lot easier,” said returning outfielder Maycee Murphy about the new turf outfield compared to Brookside Park’s difficult grass field. “The ball comes a lot faster and there are no sudden hops on us anymore.”

Most of the chatter was led by newly appointed Head Coach Josh Musselman, who called directions and suggestions to his players between game-situation drills.

“This field is sort of indicative of how the softball team is going to be,” said Musselman. “It’s just a better facility.”

Musselman was brought in after former coach Elaine Martinez stepped down in May. Martinez’s 2009 season was the best of her four year head coaching career at PCC, leading the Lancers to 20 wins and 19 losses. The 2010 season saw the struggling Lancers finish in sixth place in the South Coast Conference with a record of 9-28 overall and a conference record of 2-16.

Although this is Musselman’s first head coaching gig, he is not new to the field. According to PCC’s athletic website, Musselman has coached at Loyola Marymount University, Cal Baptist University, CSU San Bernardino and Sonoma State University, where the team reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II tournament.

“The whole culture has changed,” said Musselman of the team and what he hopes to bring. “We spend a lot of time making sure that this concept out here is not individuals, but it’s a team-oriented sport. We’re really making this strong.”

Musselman said that the team has even spent time off the field, strengthening its bond by attending movies at the California Science Center, watching the Hubble Spacecraft and having picnics in the park.

“They really pull for each other and have each other’s backs,” he said. “We don’t allow anybody to slip down, so everybody’s on the same tier.”

The team has not played any games together since the 2010 season and has only six returners (some of whom may red-shirt) so they must fill positions on top of becoming a more cohesive unit.

“Right now we’re just trying to find people to fit the right positions,” said returning catcher Nancy Perales. “We have a lot of new girls coming in but as of now, we look good.”

“He keeps us working and always busy,” said outfielder Murphy of her new coach. “We’re [at Robinson Park] a lot, always hitting and stuff, which is good.”

As one of two returning coaching staff members, Assistant Coach Mary Geer thinks it’s important for the team member to know that they are important in more ways than one.

“We just want to keep the basic philosophy of PCC: that the players come first as people, then students, then athletes,” said Geer. “[We want them] to realize that this is just like a microcosm of life: you work together. You’re accountable for your own actions, but everyone needs you to make the whole team better as a whole.”

One of the new members of the coaching staff is pitching coach Brittany Williams, who has played for Musselman in the past.

“They’ve embraced [Musselman] from the very beginning,” she said. “They’ve adapted to everything and done everything we’ve asked them to do and then some.They’re a good group of girls, definitely.

Sophomore outfielder Maycee Murphy anticipates the softball in an outfield drill during softball’s pratice in the W building on Tuesday. (Louis C. Cheung)

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