Adding to the depth of the pitching staff was the No. 1 key for head coach
Al Mendiola during the offseason – looking to solidify the No. 2 starting pitcher slot and deepen C of I's bullpen. Heading into 2019, the Yotes have accomplished what they set out to do.
A staff of seven pitchers – including five returners – will give Mendiola plenty of options throughout the season.
"The biggest improvement our team has made from last season, through the fall and now into the preseason, is in the circle," the 14th-year head coach said. "We return an all-conference pitcher, but have added depth to be able to staff games if need be. Our No. 2, 3, 4, and 5 pitchers as a group are the best we've had in a decade."
Anchoring the staff is ace
Colette Robert, who has led the team in every pitching statistical category in each of the past two seasons. The hard-throwing lefty earned All-Cascade Conference honors as a junior after posting a 15-9 record with a 2.04 ERA – striking out 115 batters and walking just 21 – in 154 innings, with seven of her nine losses coming in 1-run games.
C of I used a revolving door in the No. 2 starter role in 2018 – with three different players logging at least four starts. The squad will begin the season with true freshman
Hannah McNerney in that role – after an outstanding prep career and a great showing during the fall season. The 5-foot-10 right-hander was a Oregon 5A first-team All-State selection as a senior at Hood River Valley High, earning Columbia River Conference Player of the Year honors after recording 12 wins and 152 strikeouts.
Sophomore
Loryn Fonger will be key in the Yotes success after a solid 2018 season – working either as a starter or as one of the first options out of the pen. Fonger made 15 appearances in her first year in the Purple and Gold, including eight starts, going 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 40 innings.
True freshman
Reylene Cortes makes the jump from high school to college softball after winning three-straight 4A state titles at Middleton High – and will be utilized out of the bullpen. During her prep career, Cortes posted a 26-2 record with a 1.64 ERA, with 182 strikeouts – including a 10-0 mark as a senior.
Three other returners will give the Yotes an opportunity to work against specific match-ups out of the bullpen. Senior
Haylie Hudson made 11 appearances in 2018 and posted a 3.71 ERA in 11 innings of work; with sophomores,
Nichole Giesy and
Kendyl Boltz, combining to see action in 10 games out of the pen.
"One thing to our advantage is our pitchers complement each other," Mendiola said. "Depending on the match-up – we can throw a rise-ball pitcher with speed, a drop-ball pitcher, or a pitcher with a lot of spin. It is a luxury we haven't had in recent years. The key, however, is working ahead and throwing strikes."
