Knock Down The Door: Yuba College Women’s Softball

The Yuba College Women’s Softball team played a round robin three game, pre-season, special against Modesto and College of the Redwoods, Saturday, February 17th, 2018 at home in Marysville.

The cozy little park sits just outside the Yuba College Gymnasium, behind the football stadium, with a perfectfully manicured diamond and firm field of grass.
The weather was sunny and clear, the temperature cool enough to wear long or short pants.

The dugouts were nicely cleaned and equipment was neatly placed to allow for the starters and reserves to contribute and participate in the game.
The first game started at 10am with a slight morning mist above the outfield. Both pitchers warmed up well and the ladies were in full squad.

The Yuba College starter for the first game was Caroline Molina, who was relieved by Brandy Gilliam who also pitched Yuba’s second game against Redwoods.

The Modesto starter, Isis Figueroa Perez, was the pitching prospect of the day, hurling a complete first game and finishing five innings of the middle game for a Modesto team which won both its games.

Highlights for Yuba College were a slew of young freshman and hot catching prospects from high school, now playing for Yuba College at different positions across the diamond.
Emily Smoot is the starting catcher for the Yuba College Women, a strong power hitter and solid defensive player behind the plate.

Smoot drove in the first run of the first game for Yuba with a big line-drive triple in the gap to get Yuba on the board.

This promising young player is a local product from River Valley High School, twelve years a local star. She is a freshman who plans to play for Yuba College again next year, with future plans to attend North Dakota State.

Smoot says, “I keep confidence in every single pitcher, staying tough, believing in yourself and your pitching staff.”

When asked how she relaxes at the plate, Smoot said, “Breathing techniques are important for comfortability behind the plate for all-field hitting and placement. I scope the field and find the gaps, planning on the way to knock the door down later. Find a place to hit and be ready, always hitting the ball hard to all fields.”

Dusty Steele drove Smoot in from third base with a two-out double to the wall to complete the mid-lineup power combination for the 49ers.

Steele, like Smoot, keeps her focus on the ball as a hard contact hitter. A confident, team-oriented player she helps keep motivation going in the right direction with her rugged style of play.
Steele, a perennial third-baseman from Lindhurst High School, now playing for Yuba College in her second year, says, “The relationships with teammates are what I like best, just knowing that my team will always be there to pick me up helps morale stay high.”

With the season just getting underway, the attitude should help the Yuba College women stay tough once again.

Holly Huber and Jamie George are also two local players who will be counted on by Yuba College Coach Ashley Walden for quality playing time.

Huber played shortstop for Marysville High School and is an outfielder here at Yuba College in her freshman year. She likes being here with her new teammates.

Huber says she appreciates “new people with different personalities and diverse backgrounds.”

George’s natural position is catcher but she plays shortstop for Yuba to allow for two strong bats in the line-up.

“I like to provide options for my team. Wherever I can be most useful to get us a win is the best place to play. Utilizing our talents well in position changes gives the team its best opportunity for success.”

George is a local Lindhurst High School graduate studying nursing at Yuba College.

Ashley Walden is in her first year as the Yuba College Women’s Softball Head Coach, succeeding Stephanie Reynolds. Although the game against Modesto ended in a 19-3 loss, Walden stays positive.

“The first year is always a learning experience, a chance to find out what works and find areas of improvement,” Walden said, “Intensity levels and creative energy at the beginning of the game are important to start, staying on top, keeping consistency throughout the game. I also want to stay consistent with the line-up at the plate, but move players around in the field to keep a strong defense.”

With Walden’s enthusiasm and solid record as a player, the Yuba College Ladies Nine should do well this 2018 season. Walden finished her education at Chico State in 2015 and was an Assistant Coach for Humboldt State University last year before taking the job at Yuba College this season.