Corban's Ohta Signs Six Recruits for 2012
SALEM, Ore. – Following a record-breaking season, Corban University’s fourth-year head softball coach Nathan Ohta announced Tuesday the signing of six players to Cascade Collegiate Conference Letters of Intent that includes local product Shelby Mauermann (Clackamas, Ore.) and early signee Danielle Horne (Vacaville, Calif.) from Northern California.
Along with Mauermann and Horne, Ohta has also signed Jessie Compton (Kalispell, Mt.), Mallory Murphy (Eagle, Idaho), Kayla Peterson (Elma, Wash.), and Karly Schmitt (Spokane, Wash.) for the 2012 season.
“I'm excited to have this group of players joining Warrior softball next year,” said Ohta. “The talent they bring, along with their work ethic and love for the game is exactly what we need to help us continue to a successful program here at Corban. This is a group of freshmen with a big upside, and we are excited to be able to begin working with them next season!”
Mauermann, a 5-foot-8 second baseman and outfielder, comes to Corban after playing for nearby Clackamas High School. A team captain this season as a senior, Mauermann has helped lead the Cavaliers to the playoffs in each of her seasons on varsity. Mauermann was named All-Three Rivers League 2nd team as an infielder following the conclusion of her freshman and sophomore seasons, while also earning the Multnomah Athletic Club Scholar-Athlete award. Along with her prep accomplishments, Mauermann also helped lead her club team to the 16A state championship and a fifth place finish at the California ESPN Rise Tournament last year.
"Shelby is a great athlete and a very fundamentally sound softball player,” commented Ohta. “She has the ability to play in both the infield and outfield, as her versatility will be a great asset next year. Shelby will bring much needed depth to our roster at a number of positions and her speed will help us greatly on the offensive side of things as well.”
Horne, a 5-foot-6 right-handed pitcher, is the second early signee that Ohta has inked during his coaching career, as the Northern California product is in the midst of her junior season at Will C. Wood High School. For the first time in nine years, Horne helped lead the Wildcats to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs last week thanks to a complete game, six-hit victory. A 1st team All-Monticello Empire League member as a sophomore, Horne was also named Will C. Wood High School Athlete of the Month in March of 2010. The right-hander has also excelled for her club team, the California Yard Sharks, helping lead the team at the 18U Triple Crown Sparker in Westminster, Colorado.
“We are very excited to have Dani joining our team in 2013,” said Ohta. “We're convinced that she has the ability to be a true #1 and expect her to make an immediate impact for us in the circle. She has good velocity, very good movement, and locates her pitches extremely well. Dani is also highly intelligent, and understands the game of softball on multiple levels. We will be watching very closely as she continues to develop over the next year and a half and anticipating her arrival here at Corban!”
Compton, a 5-foot-3 utility player, comes to Corban from Glacier High School where she has played for the Wolfpack for the past four seasons. An academic all-state student-athlete, Compton earned All-Western Conference honorable mention following the conclusion of her freshman and sophomore seasons. Compton also earned the team’s defensive MVP award as a freshman, while helping lead her club team, the Flathead Monsters, to the AAU national tournament in three straight seasons.
“Jessie will be a great addition to our pitching staff next year and we are excited to see how she will make the transition to the college game,” commented Ohta.
Murphy, a 5-foot-9 outfielder, will arrive at Corban next fall after playing three seasons at Eagle High School in Idaho. A two-time team captain, Murphy was named All-Southern Idaho Conference 1st team as a junior and earned the team’s Most Inspirational Award and Coaches’ Award as a sophomore and junior, respectively. Murphy, a three-time member of the all-academic team, helped lead the Mustangs to a district title as a sophomore and also played the past two summers for the Idaho Diamond Bandits Gold team.
“Mallory is an outfielder with a lot of upside,” Ohta said. “She is strong and very athletic and will be a great addition to our team next season.”
Peterson, a 5-foot-3 second baseman and outfielder, comes to Corban after playing the past four seasons at Elma High School in Western Washington. A four-time WIAA All-Academic honoree, Peterson was named varsity captain as a junior and senior along with earning All-Evergreen Conference 1st team honors as a sophomore in 2009. Peterson is also playing for the Chehalis Impact ASA team during the summer.
“Kayla will also be joining out outfielders next season,” said Ohta. “She has a fair amount of high level experience with her ASA team that will help her tremendously as she makes the transition to the college game.”
Schmitt, a 5-foot-2 utility player, will begin classes at Corban in the fall after playing for Mt. Spokane High School in Eastern Washington. As a member of the Wildcats’ team, Schmitt has helped lead Mt. Spokane to a 14-5 overall record this season that includes a 13-5 mark in Greater Spokane League play. Schmitt and the Wildcats have qualified for the state tournament this season and are currently in second place in the league. Along with her high school experience, Schmitt also plays summer ball for the Spokane Stealth.
“Karly is a talented infielder that has the ability to play on the corners or in the middle,” said Ohta. “Like Shelby (Mauermann), her versatility will bring much needed depth to our infield next season.”
This group of players will be added to next season's roster that features eight returning starters that helped lead Corban to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in program history.
Corban is coming off its second straight trip to the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship Series, as the Warriors set single-season records for wins (25) and winning percentage (.595). At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Corban was 25-17 overall and 16-8 in league play en route to finishing second in the conference standings for the second year in a row.