Rejuvenated Cal Poly softball team ready to begin 2016 campaign

Motivated by last year’s ninth-place finish in the Big West Conference, the Cal Poly softball team returned to practice this season with a renewed sense of urgency.

Coming off a trying 22-33 campaign, the Mustangs welcomed six talented freshmen into a group that brought back nine starters, many of them underclassmen.

For 12th-year head coach Jenny Condon and her assistants, working with an intriguing mix of newcomers and veterans has been both challenging and rewarding.

“They want to compete and they want to get better,” said Condon, a three-time Big West Coach of the Year recipient. “They want to win and they’re willing to do whatever it takes and they’ve proven that.”

Cal Poly will get a chance to measure its offseason progress against one of the top teams on the West Coast this weekend. The Mustangs officially begin their 2016 season against sixth-ranked Oregon at 10:30 a.m. Friday during the first round of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Georgia State, Stanford, New Mexico and Oregon State will be Cal Poly’s other opponents at the three-day tournament, hosted by Arizona State. Also included in the Mustangs’ 54-game regular season schedule are nonconference tournaments in Cathedral City, Stockton, Stanford and San Diego over the next two months.

Cal Poly will make its home debut March 4 during the ShareSLO Mustang Classic, with Weber State, Toledo and Saint Peter’s set to visit Bob Janssen Field.

“We’re so competitive with each other this year,” junior outfield Courtney Tyler said. “Our pitching came back a whole other level this year, so it’s great to compete against them. It’s constantly a battle defensively and offensively.”

‘Best of the best’

College softball fans will certainly recognize the newest addition to the Cal Poly coaching staff.

First-year assistant coach Ally Carda, who works primarily with the Mustang pitchers, is just a few months removed from the end of her decorated collegiate career at 11-time national champion UCLA. Carda was a two-time All-American and twice was chosen as the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year.

She was one of the most successful pitchers in the Pac-12 in recent years and graduated as the program’s all-time leader in appearances (178), while ranking third in victories (100) and fourth in strikeouts (815). Carda was equally dynamic offensively, and finished in the top-10 in UCLA history in walks (142), home runs (43) and RBIs (180).

“She’s just a great compliment to what we have here,” Condon said. “She’s so unassuming, but she was the best of the best.”

Since joining the Mustangs, Carda has thrown batting practice daily and worked with the pitchers on their mechanics and mental toughness. The extra work also benefits Carda, an active member of the U.S. National Team.

“She knows exactly what’s going on, especially because she just got out last year,” junior pitcher Sierra Hyland said. “She’s been helping me a lot on my mental game, just working on simple things.”

Hyland, a 5-foot-5 right-hander, has been Cal Poly’s most consistent pitcher since she arrived on campus more than two years ago.

As a freshman in 2014, Hyland earned Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades following arguably the best statistical season in program history. She set the single-season records for strikeouts (263), shutouts (13), innings (264 1/3), starts (34) and appearances (42).

Hyland garnered second-team all-conference recognition as a sophomore despite limited run support. The Mustangs played 20 games last season that were decided by one run, finishing 9-11 in those contests.

For her career, Hyland holds a 1.91 earned run average over the course of more than 521 innings.

“She’s not just a thrower, she’s a pitcher,” Condon said. “I think Ally working with her is benefiting her hugely.”

Condon also gave high praise to sophomore right-hander Lindsey Chalmers. After being somewhat limited by a nagging injury as a freshman, Chalmers has developed into one of Cal Poly’s most consistent pitchers this spring.

Embracing their roles

When asked who has stood out among the six-person freshman class, both Condon and Tyler pointed to catcher Makenna Young and utility player/outfielder Noa Yakir.

Young will likely compete for playing time with returner Susanne Morris, who made 39 starts behind the plate last season. The rest of the infield has another year of experience to lean on, with senior Breana West returning at first base, junior Ashley Tornio at second, sophomore Chelsea Convissar at shortstop and sophomore Alejandra Garcia at third.

“I think they’ve pushed each other in practice, and once we start in games, it’ll be interesting to see how the role players really embrace their roles,” Condon said. “But everything that they’ve shown us so far is they’ll do anything they can for this team to be successful.”

In the outfield, Tyler made 50 starts in right field a year ago and she led the team with 49 hits. Sophomore Amanda Sandoval started every game in center field, and sophomore Stephanie Heyward returns after earning all-Big West freshman team honors.

Tyler said what separates this year’s team from previous ones is its work ethic and willingness to put in extra time. Having been picked sixth in the Big West preseason coaches poll, the Mustangs are eager to prove they’re contenders this spring.

“People can underestimate us. It doesn’t matter,” Tyler said. “We’re going to come out hard and ready to go.”

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 2:14 PM with the headline "Rejuvenated Cal Poly softball team ready to begin 2016 campaign."