Cougar Athletics
32 NAIA National Championships
101 GSAC Championships
...and counting

THIS YEAR: An experienced newcomer, junior college transfer Heather Gilbertson is a solid middle infielder with a cannon for an arm ... Is penciled to make a transition to second base after playing shortstop most of her career ... Rated a good field leader ... Likely to bat in the bottom half of the line-up.

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Played 2 seasons at Butte College in Oroville, Calif. ... Was a shortstop and pitcher for the Roadrunners ... Twice received All-Golden Valley Conference honorable mention ... As a 2008 sophomore was named team MVP after batting a team-high .333 (43-for-129) with 7 doubles, a triple, a home run and 17 RBIs ... Also topped the team with 14 stolen bases ... Was 5-6 as a pitcher in 62.2 innings of work for the 18-25 Roadrunners ... As a 2007 freshman batted .341 (42-for-123) with 12 doubles, 2 home runs, 31 RBIs and a team-high 17 stolen bases in 43 games played for the 24-22 Roadrunners.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 2 seasons of varsity softball for head coach Lenni Dean at Paradise (Calif.) High ... As a 2006 senior was named All-CIF and All-Eastern Athletic League first team after batting .395 with 4 triples and 4 home runs while producing team highs of 19 runs and 17 RBIs ... .Hit safely in 21 of 27 games played, which included 10 multiple-hit contests ... Was 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs in a victory over Las Plumas High ... Was also a pitcher, fashioning a 3.19 ERA in 59.1 innings of work for the Bobcats ... As a 2005 junior batted. 262 in 33 games played for the 21-13 Bobcats

PERSONAL: Born July 8, 1988 in Paradise, Calif. ... Parents are Bob (teacher, basketball coach) and Donna (teacher) Gilbertson ... Has 1 brother (Erik) ... Majoring in applied exercise science ... Played travel ball for the Chico Starz, which played in the 2007 Canada Cup.

THIS YEAR: Now in her third year in the program, junior Erin Halma is an emerging leader on the team ... Is an excellent defensive first baseman and will also serve as the Cougars' No. 2 pitcher ... Offers a good left-handed bat and will appear in the top third of the Cougar line-up ... Considered a ground ball pitcher, who lives at the knees and corners ... Could press for all-conference honors ... Is a key figure in the Cougars' potential success.

2008 (sophomore): Started all 47 of the Cougars' games as a 2008 sophomore ... Was third on the team with a .313 batting average and was second with 20 RBIs and 42 hits ... As a pitcher was 5-7 with a 3.56 ERA in 18 appearances in the circle ... As a batter, hit safely in 30 games, fashioning a 7-game hitting steak in midseason ... Best showing came in a victory over No. 5-ranked Simon Fraser in which she went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and a double ... Overall best game came in the Cougars' 7-0 win over No. 10-ranked Vanguard in which she fired a complete-game shutout while batting in 3 runs and scoring 2 others ... Also pitched a 4-hit shutout over Oregon Tech.

2007 (freshman): Fashioned a fine 2007 rookie season in which she batted .287 in 31 games played (all starts) ... Also made 25 appearances in the circle and became the Cougars' workhorse, throwing a team-leading 124.1 innings ... Was 5-16 with a 4.28 ERA ... At the plate, opened her collegiate career by hitting safely in 9 of the first 11 games, which included an 8-game hitting streak ... Had 7 multiple-hit games, all 2-hit contests ... Her 5 doubles were fourth best on the team ... As a pitcher picked up her first collegiate win in just her second appearance, not allowing an earned run in 7 innings of work against Chico State ... Posted career-high 7-strikeout performances in back-to-back wins over Madonna and Dakota Wesleyan.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 4 seasons of varsity softball for head coach Don Harper at Valley Christian High in Cerritos, Calif. ... Was a 4-time All-Olympic League pick, earning first team recognition her final 3 seasons ... Teamed with current Cougar hoopster Kristel Eddington to lead Valley Christian to 4 straight softball league championships ... Posted a 13-5 record over the course of her junior and senior seasons before a broken finger cut short her final campaign ... Also lettered 3 years in soccer (defender) and 2 in tennis ... Was a 2-time all-league honoree in tennis and was a member of the 2005 CIF co-champion soccer team.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 27, 1988, in Long Beach, Calif., ... Parents are Randy and Carol Halma ... Has a brother (Rob) and a sister (Tracey, played softball at NAIA member Northwestern College in Iowa) ... Majoring in liberal studies ... Has been to Costa Rica on a mission trip.

HALMA at AZUSA PACIFIC
YEAR   G-GS   AB   R   H  2B-3B-HR   RBI    SLG%   BB  HBP   SO   SB-SBA   AVG
2007  31-31   87  10  25    5-0-0     14   .345     4   1     8    0-0    .287
2008  47-47  134  19  42    3-1-0     20   .351     6   0    10    1-1    .313
      78-78  221  29  67    8-1-0     34   .348    10   1    18    1-1    .303

YEAR   W-L    ERA   G-GS  CG  Sho  SV   IP     H    R   ER   BB   SO
2007   5-16  4.28  25-20   7   0    1  124.1  173  117  76   76   53
2008   5-7   3.56  18-15   5   2    0   84.2   96   54  43   30   34
      10-23  3.99  43-35  12   2    1  209.0  269  171 119  106   87

THIS YEAR: The ace of the Cougar staff, senior Camille Hundley returns to the pitcher's circle in search of all-conference recognition ... Has an outstanding fastball and has improved her repertoire of off-speed and breaking pitches ... Ranks among Azusa Pacific's all-time top ten in victories, innings pitched and strikeouts ... Rated a good offensive player as well and will see additional work as a designated player.

2008 (junior): Appeared in 44 of the Cougars' 47 games during her 2008 junior season ... Was the Cougars' top pitcher, putting together an 11-14 record with a 1.91 ERA ... Struck out 113 (fifth in the GSAC) in 154 innings of work ... Enjoyed her best season at the plate, batting .248 with 4 doubles and 9 RBIs ... Batted .324 through the first 27 games before a season-ending slump dropped her numbers ... Was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles in win over Oregon Tech ... As a pitcher, fired 4 complete-game shutouts, including a 2-hit blanking of Southern Oregon in the season-opener ... Collected a career-high 11 strikeouts in a 2-hit, complete-game effort vs. Vanguard ... Also had 10 strikeouts vs. Lee ... Held top-ranked Cal Baptist to just 2 earned runs in 7.1 innings of work.

2007 (sophomore: Appeared in 25 games, primarily as a pitcher ... Led the staff in victories (9), ERA (3.22), and strike outs (55) ... Collected the team's only shutout of the season, allowing just 3 hits in a run-ruled victory over Trinity International ... Registered 4 games with 5 or more strikeouts, including a season-high 8 in a 6-inning victory over Dakota Wesleyan ... Worked all 10 innings in a 1-run loss to Biola ... Also had 16 plate appearances, getting a pair of singles and walking once.

2006 (freshman: Endured a typical freshman season with several ups and downs along the way ... Posted an 8-9 record with a 3.16 ERA ... Worked 102 innings ... In her first collegiate game, fired 5 innings of 4-hit softball, striking out a season-high 8 in an 8-1 victory over Bethany ... Also struck out 8 in victories over Dominican and Hope International ... Best outing came in defeat, firing 6 innings of 3-hit softball vs. top-ranked Cal Baptist but surrendered a sixth inning home run to suffer the 1-0 setback ... At the plate, batted .209, getting 6 of her 9 hits in just 2 games, going 3-for-4 with a home run vs. Dominican and then going 3-for-3 with a double vs. Williams.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 4 seasons of varsity softball for head coach Rob Weil at state power Pacifica High in Garden Grove, Calif. ... Was a key member of a Mariner program that went 88-7 over Hundley's final 3 seasons, winning 2 CIF championships while posting a perfect 36-0 mark in Garden Grove League play ... Was a 2-time All-Garden Grove League honoree and key member of 2 CIF championship teams ... Did not allow an earned run over her final 2 seasons (61 innings of work) ... As a 2004 junior, batted .364 with 2 home runs and was 5-0 as a pitcher in 43 innings of work.

PERSONAL: Born Dec. 7, 1986, in Anaheim, Calif. ... Parents are Patrick and Minerva Hundley ... Has 1 brother (Garrett) ... Majoring in English and would like to teach and coach high school softball ... Volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club ... Coached little league baseball ... Likes to fish, hike, and go off-roading.

HUNDLEY at AZUSA PACIFIC

Year    G-GS   AB   R   H   2B-3B-HR   RBI   SLG%   BB   HBP   SO   SB-SBA  .AVG
2006   20-15   43   7   9     2-0-1     6   .362     2    1     7    1-1    .209
2007    7-4    15   1   2     0-0-0     0   .133     1    0     1    0-0    .133
2008   42-41  105  12  26     4-0-0     9   .286     8    6    18    1-1    .248
       69-60  163  20  37     6-0-1    15   .282    11    7    26    2-2    .227

Year    W-L   ERA   G-GS   CG   Sho  SV    IP     H    R   ER   BB   SO
2006    8-9  3.16  22-16    9    2    0  102.0   98   57   46   26   65
2007    9-7  3.22  25-16   11    1    0  108.2  126   74   50   37   55
2008   11-14 1.91  28-24   17    4    1  154.0  126   56   42   42  113
       28-30 2.65  75-56   37    7    1  364.2  350  187  138  105  233

THIS YEAR: An energetic and hardworking player, sophomore Nicole Llorens will battle throughout the season for starting berth in leftfield ... Noted for her aggressive and fearless drive ... With a year of college ball under her belt, is expected to be more consistent in her play, particularly on offense ... Known for her poise and ability to produce in pressure situations.

2008 (freshman: After a year-and-a-half away from the game, returned to softball as an invited walk-on who was discovered in a recreation class ... Appeared in 46 of the Cougars' 47 games, starting 43 in leftfield ... Batted .228 on the season with 3 doubles, a home run and 13 RBIs ... Also had a pair of stolen bases ... Her first collegiate double was a 2-run game-winner to propel Azusa Pacific to a 3-2, 8-inning victory over Dominican ... Capped a 4-for-4 effort with an eighth-inning, game-winning single to lift the Cougars to a sweep of No. 19-ranked Concordia ... Opened her collegiate career by going 2-for-6 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs in a sweep of Southern Oregon ... Connected on her first-ever home run, a 2-run shot vs. University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in the Sun West Tournament ... Had 2 multiple-hit games, both vs. Concordia.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 2-sport standout at Western Christian High in Covina, Calif., from where she graduated in June of 2006 ... As a senior, named co-Lancer Female Athlete of the Year, sharing the honor with current Cougar soccer All-American Theresa Broad ... In softball, earned 4 varsity letters and helped lead the Lancers to the 2005 CIF semifinals ... Was a 2-time All-Christian League selection in basketball and was named team MVP as a senior.

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 6, 1988, in San Dimas, Calif. ... Parents are Robert (banker) and Denise (teacher) Llorens ... Has 4 brothers (Bobby, Joey, Anthony, Lorenzo) ... Majoring in communication/broadcast arts ... Plays the guitar.

LLORENS at AZUSA PACIFIC

YEAR  G-GS   AB  R  H  2B-3B-HR  SLG%  BB  HBP  SO SB-SBA  AVG.
2008 46-43  114 17 26   3-0-1   .281    9   2   19  2-3   .228

THIS YEAR: A late addition to the team, freshman Erika Marmolejo gives Azusa Pacific another quality arm in the pitcher's circle and a powerful bat ... Should offer a significant boost to the Cougar offense ... Can play first base as well when not pitching ... Excellent athlete with a promising future.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 3-sport standout at Merced (Calif.) High where she earned all-conference recognition in softball, volleyball and basketball ... Played 4 seasons of varsity softball for head coach Bart McAfee ... Registered 6 home runs and over 40 RBIs in her 70-game career at Merced ... As a 2008 senior, named all-area and All-Central California Conference first team and all-district second team after leading the Bears in nearly every offensive category ... Batted .470 (39-for-83) with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs and 25 RBIs for the 18-7 Bears ... Best game came in a 5-0 win over Pittman High in which she went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a home run ... As a 2007 junior, batted .254 in 21 games and earned all-conference honors ... As a 2006 sophomore batted .294 with a home run, double and triple, collecting 12 RBIs in 20 games played for the 15-11 Bears ... Named all-conference and all-area first team ... Also played 4 years of basketball (forward) and 3 years of volleyball, twice earning all-conference recognition ... Was also a 3-year Central California Conference All-Academic honoree ... Served on ASB as class representative and treasurer ... Signed with Loyola Marymount where she spent the fall of 2008 before transferring to Azusa Pacific at semester's break.

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 10, 1990, in Turlock, Calif. ... Parents are Richard (safety manager) and Martha (high school administrator) Marmolejo ... Has a younger brother (Richard) ... Majoring in political science and would like to go into law.

THIS YEAR: A postseason honors candidate, senior Natalie Mickelson is the quiet general of the team … Is the Cougars’ top power threat and is likely to lead the team in slugging percentage … Rated a smart catcher and highly trusted by the Cougar pitching staff … Can also play third base … Enters the season with 22 career home runs, second best on the Cougar all-time chart.

2008 (junior): Started all 47 games and led the team in every offensive category with a .316 batting average to go along with 5 home runs, 22 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples and 21 runs scored with a .530 slugging percentage … Hit safely in 28 games, including 8 multi-hit contests … Was 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs and a home run in a win over Southern Oregon … Also had a 3-run blast vs. St. Thomas … Led the team with a .471 on-base percentage … Walked 28 times and struck out just 15 times in 156 plate appearances.

2007 (sophomore): Returned to the Cougar line-up after sitting out a season with injury and batted .264 with a team-high 6 home runs … Was third on the team with 24 RBIs and fourth with 5 doubles … Recorded 7 multi-hit games, including a 3-for-4 effort with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in a 7-2 victory at Hope International University … Was also 2-for-5 with 4 RBIs in a win over Dominican.

2006: Sat out the 2006 season while recovering from surgery.

2005 (freshman): Enjoyed an outstanding rookie season, slugging 11 homes runs (second in the GSAC and second-best single-season total in program history) to go along with a .333 batting average and 31 RBIs … Was second in the GSAC in slugging percentage (.675) and on-base percentage (.475) … Led the GSAC with 25 bases on balls and set the school single-season record with 9 hit-by-pitches … Defensively, picked off 4 runners from her catcher’s position, most in the GSAC … Opened her collegiate career in rather impressive fashion by hitting safely in 16 of her first 17 games, batting .500 (23-for-46) with 19 RBIs, 7 home runs and 4 doubles in the first 6 weeks of play … Tied a then school record in just her fourth game with 6 RBIs, going 4-for-5 in a 17-0 victory over Bethany … Had 8 multiple-hit games … Cougars went 10-0 in games in which she homered, including a seventh-inning solo shot to knot the score at 1-1 vs. Concordia, a game the Cougars later won 2-1 … Was 2-for-2 with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs in a 14-3 win over Briarcliffe … An injury hampered her over the final third of the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Los Alamitos (Calif.) High where she lettered 4 years as a catcher … Helped lead the Griffins to 3 straight Sunset League championships … Guided Los Alamitos to a 40-17 record her final 2 seasons, including a 21-12 record during her 2004 senior campaign when the Griffins finished as the CIF Southern Section Division I runners-up … Named All-CIF honoree second team as a senior … Was a 2-time All-Sunset league pick, including first team honors in 2004 … As a 2003 junior helped lead the Griffins to the Division I CIF quarterfinals … Named scholar athlete during all 4 varsity seasons.

PERSONAL: Born April 17, 1986, in Long Beach, Calif. … Parents are Kevin (teacher) and Denise (teacher) Mickelson … Has 1 brother (J.T.) … Second cousin to PGA great Phil Mickelson … Majoring in psychology … Enjoys riding horses and painting … Engaged to marry Josh Jones in June.

MICHELSON at AZUSA PACIFIC

YEAR    G-GS    AB   R   H   2B-3B-HR  RBI   SLG%  BB  HBP  SO  SB-SBA   AVG
2005   46-46   126  35  42    6-2-11    31  .675   25   9   28   2-2    .333
2006                         injured--did not play
2007   38-38   110  19  29    5-0-6     24  .473   11   6   19   0-0    .264
2008   47-47   117  21  37    6-2-5     22  .530   28   7   15   1-1    .316
      131-131  353  75 108   17-4-22    77  .564   64  22   62   3-3    .306

THIS YEAR: Junior Sarah Moore returns to the game after missing all of last summer and fall while recovering from a hip injury ... Termed a “spin” pitcher who depends upon movement ... Is a change of pace pitcher who will get 1 to 2 innings of work out of the bullpen each outing.

2008 (sophomore): Appeared in 15 games in her first year at Azusa Pacific, including 12 in the pitcher's circle ... Was 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA ... Collected her first win with a 7-inning, 3-hit, complete-game effort against Hope International ... Also worked 5 innings and posted a season-high 4 strikeouts in a complete-game win over Hamline (Minn.) ... Worked 11 of the Cougars' first 29 games ... Also had 6 plate appearances ... Did not have a hit.

WILLIAM PENN: Spent her 2007 freshman season at William Penn College, an NAIA-member school in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where she doubled as a pitcher and infielder ... Batted .397 (23-for-58) in 23 games in the field with 3 home runs for the 46-14 Statesmen who advanced to the NAIA softball tournament ... In the circle fashioned an 8-2 record with a 5.41 ERA in 54.2 innings of work ... Led the Statesmen pitching staff in ground outs.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 1 season of varsity softball at Madison High in San Diego, Calif., from where she graduated in 2006 ... Was a 2-time all-academic honoree ... Also played 1 season of varsity volleyball.

PERSONAL: Born Sept. 17, 1988, in San Diego, Calif. ... Parents are Jason (electrician) and Christy (office manager) ... Has 1 brother (Tyler) ... Majoring in business ... Interested in becoming in a lawyer.

MOORE at AZUSA PACIFIC

YEAR  W-L   ERA  G-GS  CG  Sho  SV   IP    H   R  ER  BB  SO
2008  3-0  3.04  12-4   2   1    0  27.2  31  18  12  12  10

THIS YEAR: Senior Erika Navarrete is hoping to build upon a breakthrough 2008 season and establish herself as a key offensive weapon … A great leader by example … Plays hard and produces infield hits with her speed … Crafty at the plate and is very good in execution … Will compete for starting berth in right field but may see a lot of time as the designated player.

2008 (junior): Put together a surprising 2008 junior campaign in which she batted .236 overall but was an impressive .328 (22-for-64) in GSAC play, third best on the team … Led the team with 14 runs scored in 24 GSAC games played … Went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored in an extra-inning victory over No. 19-ranked Concordia University … Was 8-for-12 with 8 runs scored in 4 victories over Hope International University.

2007 (sophomore): Appeared in 22 games as a 2007 sophomore, primarily as a pinch runner … Started 11 contests … Went 5-for-11 with 3 RBIs and a run scored in 3 games at the Tucson Invitational.

2006 (freshman): Appeared in 18 games as a 2006 freshman at Azusa Pacific, starting 3 ... Had 4 hits on the season, including her first-ever collegiate at-bat, a pinch-hit, run-scoring single in an 8-0 victory over Bethany.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 3-sport standout at Maranatha High in Pasadena, Calif. … Earned league honors in both softball and volleyball … As a 2005 senior, was All-Olympic League first team and All-San Gabriel Valley second team in softball after batting .352 while swiping a league-best 22 bases and scoring a team-high 24 runs for the 15-10 Minutemen … Best outing came in back-to-back victories over Calvary Chapel Christian and Viewpoint High in which she was a combined 8-for-9 with 6 runs scored and 3 RBIs … Hit safely in 18-of-25 games as a senior … Played 4 varsity seasons of softball, 3 for Cougar Hall of Famer Doug Barnett and 1 for Bill Larew, 2 seasons of volleyball for former Azusa Pacific head coach Gary Yee and 2 other seasons of basketball … Was a 4-year scholar-athlete … Served as yearbook editor and was a member of ASB.

PERSONAL: Born March 29, 1987, in Los Angeles, to Eric and Karen Navarrete … Majoring in communications with a minor in marketing.

NAVARRETE at AZUSA PACIFIC

YEAR   G-GS   AB   R   H  2B-3B-HR  RBI  SLG%   BB  HBP  SO SB-SBA   AVG
2006   18-3   17   3   4    0-0-0    1  .235     0   0    3  0-0    .235
2007   22-11  34   7   9    0-0-0    2  .265     2   0    5  3-3    .265
2008   45-43 127  19  30    1-0-0    4  .244     8   0   20  1-1    .236
       85-57 178  29  43    1-0-0    7  .247    10   0   28  4-4    .242

THIS YEAR: Penciled to be the Cougars' starting shortstop from the outset of the season, rookie Leslie-Anne Picone is a solid defender with fluid skills that will help her develop into an outstanding collegiate shortstop ... Can also play second base ... Offensively, is a contact hitter.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 4 seasons of varsity softball for head coach Dave Piper at Capital Christian High in Sacramento, Calif. ... Was a 4-year starter at shortstop and batted .364 in a 91-game career ... Was a 4-time All-Golden Empire League athletic and academic selection ... Was a 3-time Sacramento Bee all-metro honoree ... Named team defensive MVP 3 straight years ... As a 2008 senior batted .403 (31-for-77) for the 15-14 and league-champion Cougars with 5 doubles, 3 triples and 26 runs scored in 29 games played ... Was a perfect 11-for-11 on stolen base attempts ... Went a combined 4-for-6 with 4 runs and 8 RBIs in back-to-back victories over San Juan and Highlands highs ... Two weeks later went a combined 8-for-8 with 8 runs and 2 RBIs vs. the same 2 schools ... Batted .609 (28-for-46) over the final 17 games of the season ... As a 2007 junior batted .339 (19-for-56) in 19 games with a 5 triples and 13 RBIs for the 16-11 Cougars who finished as the CIF runner-up ... Missed the final 6 games with an injury ... Went 3-for-3 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs in a win over Bret Harte High ... As a 2006 sophomore appeared in 22 of the 14-8 Cougars' games, batting .379 (25-for-66) with 2 triples, 6 doubles and 19 RBIs ... Went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs in a win over Lindhurst High ... As a 2005 freshman batted .322 (19-for-59) with 5 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs for the 14-10 Cougars ... Also lettered 2 seasons in basketball, earning all-league first team honors as a junior and senior while playing on a pair of Golden Empire League championship teams ... As a junior, played a key role on a Cougar team that advanced to the CIF SAC-Joaquin championship game ... Was a co-recipient of the 2007-08 Capital Christian scholar-athlete award.

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 17, 1990 ... Parents are Marty (sheriff) and Kathy Picone (tuition manager) ... Has 1 brother (Michael) ... Majoring in athletic training ... Her dad played baseball in junior college ... Her grandfather played in the New York Yankees' farm system and her uncle in the Angels' system ... Also played travel softball for the Foothill Gold, Sacramento Dynasty, Roseville Heat, California Sting and Mizuno All-American 18 Gold ... Enjoys reading and solving Sudoku puzzles.

THIS YEAR: Freshman Carissa Piper figures to use the 2008 season as a developmental year as she makes the adjustment from the high school ranks to college ball ... Will get her opportunities out of the bullpen ... Off-speed pitcher and should serve as a change-of-pace player.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 4 seasons of varsity softball for her father, head coach Dave Piper, at Capital Christian High in Sacramento, Calif. ... Pitched the Cougars to 54 of their 59 victories during her 4-year career and was a 2-time team MVP ... Was a 4-time All Golden Empire League first team selection both athletically and academically ... As a 2008 senior was 15-10 with a 0.75 ERA, starting 26 of the Cougars' 29 games ... Named league MVP ... Earned all-metro honorable mention from the Sacramento Bee ... Struck out 177 in 140.2 innings of work ... Struck out 10 or more batter 8 times, including a season-high 15 in a shutout victory over CIF top-ranked Denair High ... Fired a pair of 5-inning no-hitters, first over Valley Christian High (Roseville, Calif.) and then against Highlands High (struck out 11) ... Produced 9 shutouts and threw 31 consecutive innings of shutout softball toward the end of the season ... As a 2007 junior fashioned a 15-10 record with a 0.75 ERA for the 16-10 Cougars ... Struck out 210 in 150 innings of work, including a career-high 16 in an 8-inning victory over Vinden High ... Had 10-or-more strikeouts in 9 games ... As a 2006 sophomore was 13-8 in the circle with a 0.93 ERA and was named team MVP ... Collected 183 strikeouts in 128.1 innings of work ... Best outing came in a victory over Lindhurst High in which she fired a 1-hitter while striking out a season-high 14 ... As a 2005 freshman was the Cougar ace of the staff, going 11-8 with a 1.04 ERA ... Struck out 174 in 108 innings ... Named team MVP ... Also played 2 seasons of varsity volleyball for Capital Christian.

PERSONAL: Born April 14, 1989, in Placerville, Calif. ... Parents are Dave (car salesman) and Rhonda (teacher) Piper ... Has an older sister (Michelle, played softball at Bethany University) ... Majoring in psychology ... Hopes to work with terminally ill children ... Enjoys painting, singing and writing

THIS YEAR: One of the most versatile players on the Cougar roster, sophomore Bekah Weisser could prove to be a key factor in the Cougar fortunes ... Can play a variety of positions, including both corner infield spots and catcher ... Where she excels in the field could prove to be of great benefit to the team ... If she catches, it allows Natalie Mickelson to play a very good third base ... Could also prove to be a valuable tool at first base when Erin Halma is pitching ... Has potential to be a quality hitter and significant offensive threat in the line-up.

2008: Put together a fine 2008 freshman season despite enduring wrist and back injuries ... Appeared in 35 games, starting 28 ... Batted .233 with 4 doubles ... Came through in the clutch and finished with 17 RBIs, third best on the team ... Batted .333 with runners in scoring position ... Made an early-season splash by going 2-for-2 with 4 RBIs and a run scored in the Cougars' 7-0 upset of No. 5-ranked Simon Fraser University ... Later in the season, was 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs and a double and 4 RBIs in a 9-2 GSAC win over Hope International.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 2-sport standout at San Ramon Valley High in Danville, Calif. ... In softball, was a 4-time All-East Bay Athletic League honoree, earning second team honors as a 2004 freshman and 2006 junior and first team honors as a 2007 senior ... Named team MVP as a senior when she led the Wolves to a 17-8 record ... Also played 2 seasons of varsity volleyball for San Ramon Valley ... Played travel ball of the Valley Stompers during the 2007 summer.

PERSONAL: Born Rebekah Cherie Weisser, April 2, 1989, in San Diego, Calif. ... Parents are Rick (pediatrician) and Kerry (high school tutor) Weisser ... Has 3 older sisters (Rachel, who competed in crew and lacrosse at UC San Diego, Jessica, and Bethany, former player and current assistant coach on the Cougar softball team) ... Majoring in psychology ... Enjoys photography and making clothes ... Traveled with Competitive Edge International playing softball in East Asia.

WEISSER at AZUSA PACIFIC

YEAR  G-GS  AB  R   H  2B-3B-HR  SLG% BB HBP SO SB-SBA  AVG.
2007 35-28  73  8  17   4-0-0   .288  10  1  16  1-1   .233

THIS YEAR: Senior Jennifer Whitten anchors the Cougar outfield ... Speedy player who can quickly cover a lot of ground ... Likely to return to the top of the line-up after batting toward the bottom most of last year ... Will spearhead the Cougar offense ... Did not participate in fall workouts because of knee injury ... Should push for postseason honors.

2008 (junior): Started 46 of the Cougars' 47 games as a 2008 junior, her first season at Azusa Pacific, and was named All-GSAC first team and NAIA All-Region after batting a team-high .339 (21-for-62) in GSAC play ... Overall batted .282 on the season with a team-leading 8 stolen bases ... Was third on the team with 17 RBIs ... Had 11 multiple-hit games and put together a mid-season stretch in which she went 10-for-18 in 6 games with 6 RBIs ... Opened the season with a 4 game-hitting streak before hitting a slump that dropped her average to .154 ... Rallied by hitting safely in 22 of the final 32 games ... Went 4-for-6 with 2 RBIs, a double and a triple in a doubleheader sweep of No. 19 Biola.

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Returned to softball after a year layoff and played her 2007 sophomore season at Santa Rosa Junior College, playing for current head coach Carrie Webber ... Named All-Big 7 Conference second team after batting .406 with 8 doubles, 5 triples and a home run ... Academically, made the dean's list.

SONOMA STATE: Played her 2005 freshman season at NCAA Division II Sonoma State University ... Appeared and started in 17 games for the Seawolves, batting .317 (19-for-60) with 3 triples and 9 stolen bases.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 3 seasons of varsity softball for head coach Tracy Harrison at Vacaville (Calif.) High ... Was a 3-time All-Monticello Empire League first team selection, including her 2003 junior season when the Bulldogs won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship.

PERSONAL: Born Nov. 23, 1986, in Upland, Calif. ... Parents are Roy (piping designer) and Dee (office manager) Whitten ... Has a younger brother (Chris) ... Majoring in psychology ... Plans to go on to graduate school.

WHITTEN at AZUSA PACIFIC

YEAR  G-GS   AB  R  H  2B-3B-HR RBI  SLG% BB HBP SO SB-SBA  AVG.
2008 46-46  142 11 40   4-2-0    17 .338   2  4  17  8-11  .282