Second-year head coach Nathan Ohta announced the completion of his first official recruiting class as the leader of the Warriors.
Corban's Ohta Puts Final Pieces of Recruiting Puzzle in Place
SALEM, Ore. – Second-year head coach Nathan Ohta announced today the signing of six recruits to Letters of Intent for next season, as Corban's softball program has completed its recruiting for the summer and will look towards the 2009 season with high hopes and expectations.
Along with the program's first-ever early signee Nicole Sikes (San Diego, Calif.) and incoming junior Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.), Ohta inked six players to conference Letters of Intent that includes a sophomore and four freshmen.
The six signees are sophomore Ginger Riddle (Pullman, Wash.), freshman Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.), freshman Rebecca Anni (Independence, Ore.), freshman Twyla Baggarley (Hillsboro, Ore.), freshman Brittany Millermon (Silverdale, Wash.), and Ashley Strom (Salem, Ore.).
''This is a group of incoming players that I am very excited to have as a part of our program next year," commented Ohta. "They bring a combination of talent and experience that will greatly complement the core of players we have returning from last season."
Riddle, who is the sister of junior-to-be Mitch Riddle (Pullman, Wash.) of the Warrior baseball program, arrives at Corban after playing one season at Spokane Falls Community College. The 5-foot-4 catcher helped lead the Sasquatch to a win-loss record of 30-16 that included a 22-8 mark in conference play. In her lone season at Spokane Falls Community College, Riddle appeared in 12 games and collected five hits in 11 at-bats for a batting average of .455.
Wagner, a 5-foot-5 pitcher from Gladstone High School, earned 3rd team all-state honors as a senior after pitching 135.2 innings for the Gladiators, who compiled a win-loss record of 14-4. Wagner helped lead Gladstone to a third place finish in the 4A state tournament after falling 1-0 to eventual state champions Marist High School in the semifinal round. The senior captain earned 1st team All-Capital Conference following her final high school campaign, while amassing 128 strikeouts to go along with an Earned Run Average (ERA) of 1.14.
Anni, a 5-foot-7 first baseman from nearby Santiam Christian High School, earned 2nd team all-state as a senior while helping the Eagles to a win-loss record of 9-6. A member of the All-PacWest Conference 1st team, Anni helped guide Santiam Christian to a spot in the second round of the 2008 3A state tournament.
Baggarley, a 5-foot-7 pitcher from Liberty High School, earned All-Northwest Oregon Conference honorable mention as a senior. A team captain for the Falcons, Baggarley earned the Most Inspirational Player award as well as back-to-back Academic All-State honors in 2006 & 2007. Besides her pitching performance, Baggarley batted .292 at the plate, along with a slugging percentage of .512 and an on-base percentage of .439, as a senior
Millermon, a 5-foot-1 utility player from Central Kitsap High School in Washington, was named the team's Most Valuable Player and received the Coaches' Award as a senior. Millermon helped guide the Cougars to a spot in the 4A state tournament where Central Kitsap was eliminated in the 1st round of the consolation bracket to conclude their season with a win-loss record of 17-7.
Strom, a 5-foot-8 first baseman from nearby South Salem High School, earned 2nd team all-league following the completion of her senior season as a Saxon. Strom registered three hits in 31 at-bats, while scoring four runs and driving in three runs batted in this past season.
Corban, who ended the '08 season with its best record since 2005, will return 10 players from last season's roster that amassed a win-loss record of 15-22, which included an 11-13 record in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.