Ladies of the Diamond

The girls at Yuba College always have something to get excited about when it comes to softball and Coach Stephanie Reynolds. The Lady 49ers have a competitive team almost every season under the tutelage of the enthusiastic Reynolds. Pre-season expectations are full of hope and promise as the 49ers have some talented athletes on this year’s team. Yuba College has seven returning sophomore players, including one transfer student. Reynolds has been very active recruiting and has brought some excellent prospects to Yuba College. She says, “We go to all the local schools and promote the value of our program.”

Erica Lehman, sister of sophomore second baseman Sierra Lehman, is a young catching prospect and a player to watch. Catching is a very important position in softball. The catcher must be able to handle a pitching staff, stop the opposition from stealing bases, and act as field general. Keep in mind that the bases are only 60-feet apart in the game of softball, as opposed to 90-feet in hardball.

The pitching staff will feature two freshman pitchers, Frannie Cox from Gridley High School and Kristin Montgomery from Lindhurst High School, both recruited locally. Expect sophomores, Taylor Crabb and Maggie Uhlman to be the top two starting pitchers. Reynolds said, “Both have good control and they throw strikes.”

As Reynolds stays focused on hard work and fundamentals for the softball athletes playing here at Yuba College, she brings integrity and a winning spirit to the program. Local high school athletes should consider making Yuba College their first choice when planning for a community college education. Academically, we have a superior faculty and staff, so the softball program offers a great opportunity to succeed at a college level while being able to stay close to home.

Now, some ladies opt to enroll in and play for community colleges that have a higher student population/ enrollment, like Sacramento City College, only to find out that a smaller school, like ours, could or would be a better choice to showcase their talents and get a quality education. For those who go on to transfer to four-year institutions, Reynolds has this to say: “I don’t mind losing them to four-year colleges, it’s understandable that would be a choice for university academics.”

In short, a special thanks is in order for Coach Reynolds and her efforts to make the softball program here at Yuba College a great one for her athletes and fans alike; and her contributions to the sport.