| 12 softball players
accept scholarships Twelve players from
Palomar's 2000 State championship softball team
have accepted scholarship offers from four-year
colleges, including all three of the Comets'
All-American selections.
Among the three All-Americans,
as selected by the National Softball Coaches
Association, center fielder Heather Allister has
signed with Missouri, while pitcher Jessica
Jenkins and catcher Brandy Chavez signed with UC
Riverside, a school that's making the jump from
NCAA Division II to Division I and the Big West
Conference.
Pitchers Michelle Martinez and
Tanya Ledesma have signed with the University of
Hawaii Hilo and Cal State Northridge,
respectively. Second baseman Rachelle Biber
signed with Texas Tech. Shortstop Martha Serrato
signed with Temple. Third baseman Carissa Roustan
signed with Tennessee. Outfielder Melissa
Martinez signed with Hawaii Hilo. Outfielder
Chrissy Wells signed with San Francisco State
Both Michelle Martinez and
Roustan have just concluded their freshman
seasons. The others were sophomores.
The Comets also lost two
players just prior to the 2000 season when
pitcher Erin Renden accepted a scholarship to the
University of Mobile and pitcher Kelly Jensen
accepted a scholarship to Point Loma Nazarene.
A capsule look at the Comets
who are moving on via scholarships:
NATIONAL SOFTBALL
COACHES ASSN. ALL-AMERICANS
- HEATHER ALLISTER,
Missouri – Centerfielder,
Nacogdoches (TX) High School ... Also
visited the University of Texas, but
after returning from Austin, Texas, last
week signed with Missouri. ... Palomar's
third-leading all-time career hitter,
batting .430 during the 1999 and 2000
seasons. ... Batted .465 for the Comets
this past season with 23 RBI's and 25
stolen bases.
- JESSICA JENKINS,
UC Riverside – Pitcher, San
Marcos High School ... Moves back to the
Division I level after transfering from
Oklahoma St. to Palomar prior to the 2000
season. ... Was 29-5 during the recent
season with an ERA of 0.44 and 18
shutouts. ... Struck out 277 and walked
56 in 224 2/3 innings. ... Co-Outstanding
pitcher at the State tournament with
teammate Michelle Martinez.
- BRANDY CHAVEZ, UC
Riverside – Catcher, Mt.
Carmel High School ... Batted .384 as a
sophomore with 44 RBI's, 15 doubles, two
triples and three home runs. ... Struck
out only seven times in 177 at-bats. ...
A virtual unknown coming out of Mt.
Carmel, she's the sister of Oakland A's
third baseman Eric Chavez.
ALL-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SELECTION
- CARISSA ROUSTAN,
Tennessee – Third Base,
Temecula Valley High School ... The most
notable Comet to accept a scholarship
after her freshman season since All-State
pitcher Rebecca Eldridge, coach Mark
Eldridge's daughter, signed with Abilene
Christian following the 1999 season. ...
Batted .375 during the State championship
season with 53 RBI's, 14 doubles, five
triples and three homers. ... Fourth on
Palomar's all-time single-season RBI
list.
OTHERS
- MICHELLE MARTINEZ,
Hawaii Hilo – Pitcher,
Orange Glen High School ... Was 11-0 this
past season as a freshman with an ERA of
0.25, eight saves, five shutouts, ...
Struck out 92 and walked 14 in 85 2/3
innings. ... Pitched Comets to a 1-0
shutout over Long Beach City College in
the final game of the State tournament.
... Co-Outstanding pitcher in the State
tournament with Jenkins.
- MELISSA MARTINEZ,
Hawaii Hilo – Outfielder,
Orange Glen High School ... Hit .297 for
the State champs as a sophomore with one
double, three trples, one home run and 25
RBIs. ...She and Michelle Martinez, who
also is moving on to Hawaii Hilo, are
sisters.
- TANYA LEDESMA, Cal
State Northridge – Pitcher,
Carlsbad High School ... Returns to the
Division I level after transfering from
Southern Mississippi to Palomar prior to
the 2000 season. ... Compiled an 8-2
win-loss record during the 2000 season
with a 1.02 ERA, 50 strikeouts and six
walks in 54 2/3 innings.
- RACHELLE BIBER,
Texas Tech, Texas Arlington or Texas San
Antonio – Second Base, Mt.
Carmel High School ... Makes the jump to
Division I after one season as a Comet.
... Spent her freshman season at Division
II Cal St. San Bernardino. ... Batted
.307 for the Comets with 19 RBI's.
- MARTHA SERRATO,
Temple – Shortstop, Orange
Glen High School ... Batted .340 during
the 2000 season with 21 RBI's, four
doubles, two triples and one home run.
- CHRISSY WELLS,
San Francisco St. – Right Fielder,
San Marcos High School ... Played in 44
games for the Comets, driving in 11 runs.
- ERIN RENDEN, University
of Mobile – Pitcher, Escondido High
School ... Left just prior to the season
when she accepted a mid-year scholarship
to Mobile.
- KELLY JENSEN,
Point Loma Nazarene – Pitcher, Poway
High School ... Left just prior to the
season when she accepted a mid-year
scholarship to Point Loma Nazarene.
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