By Brandon Petersen

Westcliff softball head coach Vanessa Kellems was hired a year and a half ago just five days before school began, tasked to lead a team full of players she didn't recruit, or even know. 

Kellems describes the experience as surreal, but, impressively, the head coach and her staff didn't let circumstances dictate the program's direction, and a few whirlwind months later, the Warriors collected their first postseason win in program history.

Fast forward a year and the foundation is in place. 

The softball program is thriving and Kellems is a fast-rising star in the Westcliff athletic department, having branched out to both the cross country and women's wrestling programs —  the "other" two sports she competed in at Steele Canyon High School. 

There, she was a softball star. A four-year starter, and a captain, for a team that competed in league finals and either the CIF semifinal, or final, in three of her four years. 

Kellems went on to play four years at South Dakota State, then quickly climbed the coaching ladder at Grossmont College, before taking over in Irvine. 

And now, with a year under her belt, and her first recruiting class mixing nicely with a group of veterans who have already proven they belong in the upper echelon of the Cal Pac, the sky's the limit. 

"Having played with each other for only months, they look like they have been playing together for years," Kellems said. "The offseason has been a growing period for us all. But now we have the opportunity to build a team that we want to create for the program. We still have some development to go through, but we will continue to grow and create our traditions."

Kellems says while it took some time for everyone to learn each other's dynamics during fall ball, the team culture was created, and a number of players stood out, both returners and newcomers, as the Warriors battled through a rugged scrimmage schedule that included heavyweights Cal Baptist and Azusa Pacific.

Like many other coaches at Westcliff, Kellems is a believer in scheduling a tough preseason, but with a caveat.

"Playing difficult opponents in the preseason can only help your team grow," she said. "However, there is a fine balance in finding competition that will push you, versus defeating your team morale.

"I think we did a good job this season of finding that balance."

The Warriors will open with an exhibition against Biola on Jan. 28. They then face off with D3 powers Whittier College and Chapman, before double-dipping with Vanguard and welcoming both Menlo and Jessup to the Great Park. 

The Warriors wrap the early docket with a home series against San Diego Christian. 

Cal Pac play begins March 4th at Benedictine Mesa in Arizona. 

A year ago, the Warriors finished conference play 19-13, good for third place in the Cal Pac and the program's first postseason appearance in its first year of play. 

Nina Hendriks, Olivia Pino, Gabby Clippinger, Celeste Huffman, Lauren Coppla and Natalie Ziegler all return this season as a core group of players who helped elevate the program during league play a year ago. 

Kellems has placed a lot of faith in her returners, saying she wants to see their diligent work ethic continue, and for them to set the tone for a program that now has very high expectations of itself.

"We have quite a few returners who have definitely been working hard and stepping up as leaders," she said. "It has had a positive impact on the team. Hendriks, Pino, Huffman and Coppla — those four have shown great improvement, vast progress, and it's due to their work ethic over the summer and this fall."

That could be a scary thought for Cal Pac opponents, especially in the case of Hendriks, who was at times dominant in the circle a year ago. The Netherlands native returns for her senior campaign with a chance to be one of the best pitchers in the conference. 

As with the baseball team, softball was the benefactor of Marymount University closing this offseason. Diamond Lewis transferred in, and will immediately be slotted into the starting lineup as a consistent barrel contact hitter and an outstanding glove in the infield. 

"Diamond is an impact player," Kellems said. "She brings great leadership and experience. She helps create that connection the team utilizes to bounce back in difficult situations, and set the tone of the game."

Twins Iyari and Airilin Ramirez transferred in from Santa Ana College and have a long track record of playing for extremely successful teams — they know how to win. Last year Santa Ana made it to the California CC final four. 

Then there's Evette Mendoza, a transfer from Monterey Peninsula College, where she played with some of the Warriors' current returners at the JC level. 

"Evette is new, but she is a diligent, hard worker," Kellems said. "She has been setting the tone and helping our program create new traditions as we continue to grow."

Sierra Danna, Ayanna Aguilar and Haley Garcia are freshmen out of high school. They played for elite travel ball teams in Southern California. 

"They are 5Cs players," Kellems said. "Not only team players, but they have the skills to become great leaders within the program and help take us a greater level."

Kellems says the Cal Pac season will be tough, and she expects both Embry-Riddle and Simpson to be as formidable as they were a year ago. 

But she also believes the Warriors can win the Cal Pac tournament.

"Our team is working with the mindset of making it to the NAIA World Series," Kellems said. "However, we will take each opponent, and each day, one by one, and set goals to accomplish in each of those games."

Westcliff's first game on the books will be Saturday, Feb. 4. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Whittier College, with a second game to follow at 1 p.m.

The Warriors' first home tilt at the Great Park will be Sunday, Feb. 19, when the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds come calling.