Thorp Leads Charge
by Gordon Verrell, Long Beach Press-Telegram
May 18, 2004 The NCAA selection committee did quite a number on Long Beach State's softball team, rewarding the 49ers for their Big West Conference championship by sending them to the toughest of the eight regional tournaments, UCLA.
There's no argument. Any regional with defending national champion UCLA in it clearly is the toughest.
So, speaking for the team, Arleigh Thorp, the 49ers' left fielder, a captain and one of a half-dozen seniors on the club, says ... that's great?
"Yes,' Thorp said. "I honestly feel it's one of the best places we could have been sent to.
"If we deserve to go the (College) World Series,' she said, "we should have to beat UCLA. We've played UCLA three times this season, and we've lost three times, but the whole team believes we could have beat them.'
The third-seeded 49ers don't have to concern themselves with UCLA just yet. They open the regional Thursday morning at 9 against Ivy League champion Cornell. If they win that one they'll likely get No. 2-seeded Alabama on Friday at noon.
"I think the team is excited,' Thorp said. "It's a little scary, but we're excited, too. And we play better when we're nervous, when there's more pressure.'
Maybe that's the trick. There wasn't much pressure the first three times the 49ers played UCLA, nothing like last weekend, when they needed to win two of three games at Cal State Northridge to claim their first Big West title in five years. They ended up winning all three, coming from behind in every one of them.
"It was our turn, we deserved it,' said Thorp, who was on fourth-, third- and second-place teams her first three years at Long Beach State while Cal State Fullerton the school she turned down to play for the 49ers won the Big West each year.
"It was what I was looking for,' Thorp of her decision out of Murrieta Valley High to sign with Long Beach State. "And I love the beach.'
Thorp is well aware it's the 49ers' remarkable 1-2-3 pitching combination of Marcel Torres (14-3, 0.98 ERA), Meredith Cervenka (19-5, 1.16) and Lindsey Knoff (15-3, 1.21) that has led the club to its 15th regional tournament appearance.
She, however, also speaks up for the rest of the 49ers' lineup.
Asked for her "scouting report' on the rest of the 49ers' starters, here's what Arleigh Thorp had to say:
* Colleen Burdick, first base: "Colleen is really powerful. She gives us lots of confidence as our leadoff hitter.'
* Tiffanie Wedell, second base: "Tiffanie is all over the place. She's great.'
* Melanie McCauley, third base: "Melanie has the greatest eye on the team. She really works the count. She gets hit by pitches a lot. Haven't figured that out.'
* Jamie Farnworth, shortstop: "Jamie's on fire.'
* Lauren Johnson, center field: "Lauren bunts like nobody's business. And she's an awesome outfielder.'
* Kourtnee Gervasi, right field: "Kourtnee's really good, especially for a freshman. She has a strong arm.'
* Roxanne Staniorski, catcher: "Rocky's the best catcher in the league. She's got the best arm, she blocks so many pitches in the dirt, she calls a great game. Look at all the no-hitters our pitchers have (four). And she's really been big lately in the clutch.'
Thorp took a deep breath, smiled, and added, "I love our team.'
Thorp, too, has been a big part of it, helping the 49ers to a 48-11 record, tying the school record for most wins. She's hitting .286, second to Farnworth's .345, is tied for second in home runs with five and tied for second in RBI with 31.
She leads the club with 12 doubles, and she has a school-record 46 for her career.
"Apparently when I hit, I hit doubles,' Thorp said with a laugh. "I guess I'm an alley hitter.'
Thorp also needs only one more homer to tie the school's all-time career home run record (16, by Jessica Smith, 1999-02).
"People bring it up all the time, saying, 'One more, one more,' ' Thorp said. "I want to do it. I'd be proud, leaving my name here.'
For sure, Arleigh Thorp's done that already. |
