By: SID Chase Dodge
Westcliff Softball has concluded their 1st season of competition with an overall record of 22-31 and 19-13 in conference play. The Warriors also in their 1st year grabbed the 3rd seed and an appearance at the 2022 Cal Pac Softball Tournament.
The Warriors won their 1st game in the elimination bracket against La Sierra. Westcliff fell in the next game against Simpson.
This season as a whole felt like every other sport season softball players competing in the regular and conference schedule. You would be forgiven if you forgot that it was Westcliff Softball's first year as a program. Coaches and players came into the 2022 season wanting to prove themselves to the rest of the Cal Pac. They have definitely achieved that goal. Westcliff grabbed a win against all conference members faced during the season. At the end of the regular season Westcliff was selected as the 3rd overall seed in the Cal Pac conference tournament.
Westcliff also had 5 players earn All Cal Pac Honorable Mention: Celeste Huffman; Gabby Clippinger; Kassandra Ramos; Nina Hendriks; Natalie Ziegler. Our right fielder Natalie Ziegler was also named to the 2022 Cal Pac Defensive Team.
We sat down with Head Coach Vanessa Kellems to talk about the season and the future of Westcliff Softball:
What was the best series you played against this season?
"The best series we played was against ERAU and Simpson. Both teams were solid games. Both series were tough competition but our team continued to battle each inning. Even though we listen these series, this competition help elevate our team game level. We went extra inning with Simpson and continued to battle. One game against Simpson, we were behind and Des Moreno got a home run to bring us back into the game. In that same game, we went extra innings and Gabby Clippinger smacked one over the fence to pull us ahead."
How was the feeling of being a 1st year program along with making it to your 1st conference tournament?
"It was an amazing feeling to be apart of a new program and making a strong impact our first season out. We had a lot of standards set for ourselves to reach to set the tone of the program. It was a great feeling to have the team earn the third seed in the conference and make it into postseason play. Knowing that we are one 5 teams with and Westcliff was one of the 5. To make it in the first season is even a greater feeling of accomplishment. It was a bit surreal to make it to post season and we were a bit nervous our first game, but it was great to make it our first year so we know what to expect for next year."
What are some goals for next season?
"Our goals for next season is to come out strong on our preseason against tough competition to prepare us for conference play. We love to rank high in the seeding next year and play the post season tournament again, potentially even past it. Our main goal is continue to make a name for ourselves and surprise teams with our continual progress."
What are some positives from the season that you want to carry into the next season and group of athletes?
"One big positive we are carrying over into next season is we will have a large returning class. For our first season, we were a very young team mainly consisting of freshmen and sophomore with one senior. So one big thing for us is our players being so young have already experience the first season and make into the postseason for the first time I will be better equipped to go through it again. Another big positive as we have Nina Hendriks returning back in the circle for us which is great with her experience this season and to help guide our younger pitchers."
