THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.— Cal Lutheran softball features a senior class of eight, 17 returners in all, and welcomes seven new Regals for the 2020 season.
Head Coach Debby Day enters her 18th season at the helm and is ready to see the team out on the field and competing.
"We have an exciting mix of seasoned returners and well-rounded new players," said Day. "Our experienced pitching staff is very focused to surpass last year's standings.
"The first week of practice has been upbeat, challenging and rewarding. Our coaching staff is very happy with the work ethic and dedication."
Leading the way for the Purple and Gold is Kendall Marinesi. She is coming off a huge year in which she tied the program record for homeruns in a season, putting 12 over the fence. She was named NFCA First Team All-West Region and First Team All-SCIAC.
Marinesi is joined by fellow seniors Celeste Ekman, Lexie Findley, Lauren Salvati, Sierra Scali, Olivia Serrano, Catherine Slabaugh and Brittany Workman.
Slabaugh and Salvati were the only Regals to start every game in 2019. A fixture on defense, playing in both the infield and the outfield, Slabaugh also came up clutch on the offensive side and delivered two walk-off hits. Salvati made play after play in center field and had a fielding percentage of .971.
Scali, Serrano and Workman make up part of the pitching staff while Ekman plays infield and Findley is a catcher. All eight look to get the Regals back to the SCIAC Tournament in their senior season.
The junior class consists of returners Marissa Alfaia, Meghan Henry and Sienna Perez and transfer Natalie Winokur. The duo of Henry and Perez will take to the mound, Alfaia is in the outfield and Winokur is an infielder. Henry looks to build off her first career shutout in 2019 while Perez pitched her own shutout in 2018. Alfaia has played in 61 games during the past two years and Winokur brings in experience from Mount San Antonio College.
The sophomore class, looking for bigger roles, is made up of Sammy Edmonds, Taryn Faull, Rilee Grau, Courtney Haapanen, Mia Onesto and Stephanie Ramirez. Edmonds and Faull are pitchers, Grau and Haapanen will be in the outfield, Ramirez plays in the infield and Onesto is available for infield and outfield.
The freshman class adds five new faces to the program. Competing for the Purple and Gold for the first time is outfielder Genevieve Avalos, outfielder Megan Dillon, infielder Madison Gunn, infielder Natalie Luna, infielder Ariana Mendoza and infieder Brielle Workman.
Cal Lutheran opens its 2020 campaign on the road as the season starts Tuesday against the University of Antelope Valley with a doubleheader at 12 and 2.
2020 Roster: Regals Softball
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
