Last season’s City College softball team saw a successful season end in disappointment upon being eliminated from the Northern California Regional Playoffs. After coming up short in 2013, the Panthers are now aiming to improve on last year’s results and go all the way to the state championship in May.

The team began the 2014 season ranked sixth in the state and third in Northern California according to the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason rankings. Winning seven or their first 12 games, including their last three in a row, the Panthers look to be living up to their high preseason expectations.

“I don’t put much value on preseason polls,” said Panthers head coach Tim Kiernan. “But it’s nice that someone recognizes that we’re going to be pretty good.”

Kiernan originally coached the Panthers from 1982-1997. In that time, he won three state championships (1988, 1992, 1996) and 14 conference championships. Kiernan returned to fill the head coaching vacancy in 2012 and just one year later led the team to another conference championship. This season, according to Kiernan, hopes to be no different.

“The goals are always the same for softball: win the league, win the regionals, go to state, and win the state championship,” said Kiernan.

This year, the team has lost some key players from last season’s 33-7 squad that won the conference championship. Players like Molly Ryan, who was the MVP of the team and named All Northern-California last season, will be missed, according to Kiernan. However, with players like All-State pitcher Ashten Welch returning, the team looks to have another outstanding season, he added.

Last season, Welch boasted a record of 27-3, recording a 2.01 ERA with 207 strikeouts. Along with Welch, the team will have a total of four pitchers on the roster this season, which will provide depth at the position—a luxury the team did not have last season with only two pitchers on the staff.

“Pitching, we definitely are better because we have more depth,” said Kiernan. “We have a sophomore, a red shirt freshman, and two other freshmen, including a left-handed freshman.”
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According to Kiernan, the Panthers will have a deeper roster this season, which will allow them to be even better than last year’s team.

“Last year we were a little thin—we wore out a little bit at the end of the year,” said Kiernan. “I think that we’re in better shape this year than we were last year because we have depth.”

In addition to a bolstered pitching staff, the Panthers have two of the top offensive performers from last season returning. Shortstop Mickey Loveridge, who batted .416 last season, led the team in 5 statistical categories on offense. Loveridge, garnered 55 runs, 9 home runs, and 22 stolen bases, along with a .538 on base percentage and a .752 slugging percentage in 2013.

Outfielder Megan Winton, who batted .368 last season, also returns to the Panthers line-up. In 39 games last season Winton recorded 46 hits, 39 runs, and 20 RBI. Winton, who had a .957 fielding percentage, will also be returning to the outfield on defense, where she was the starter last season.

According to Kiernan, he looks forward to having some depth at the catcher position as well this season, with returning sophomore Allie Cheetham leading the way. Cheetham had a solid outing offensively in her first season with the Panthers and looks to improve in 2014. With two new players platooning at second base this season, Kiernan said he suspects that the team may not play for the double play as much.

“We may not turn as many double plays, I’m not sure of that,” said Kiernan. “We have two people that are playing second base and it’s fairly new to them.”

City College athletic director Mitch Campbell says he feels optimistic about the team’s prospects and expects they will have a successful season.

“I think this is a great group both on the field and in the classroom,” said Campbell.