Long Beach State University Athletics
Sowder signs three players to National Letter's of Intent
11/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 10, 2011
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Long Beach State softball coach Kim Sowder announced today (Nov. 10) the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent. High school seniors Selene Pola (Segerstrom HS/Santa Ana, Calif.) and Darian Tautalafua (Carson HS/Carson, Calif.), and junior college transfer Nichole Zink (Riverside City College/Corona, Calif.) will join the 49ers in the fall of 2012.
"We are excited about our future with this signing class," Sowder said of the trio who has combined to win nine national championships and a junior college league championship. "They bring a championship mentality and are the perfect fit for our program."
Below are capsules on the three players:
Selene Pola, RHP, 5-5, R/R, Fr., Santa Ana, Calif. (Segerstrom HS)
A three-year letterman at Segerstrom High School in Santa Ana, Calif. ... Earned first-team All-CIF honors as well as Golden West League Pitcher of the Year honors as a junior after finishing with a 15-3 record with 113 strikeouts and a 0.77 ERA ... Hit .365 with nine stolen bases on offense ... As a sophomore, named second-team All-CIF and Golden West League Pitcher of the Year ... Finished the season with a 9-4 record with 103 strikeouts and a 0.42 ERA, while batting .349 with five stolen bases ... As a freshman, named first-team all-league after finishing with a 7-1 record with 53 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA ... Hit .435 with 15 stolen bases ... Won four summer fastpitch national championships ... A member of high school honor society ... High school coach is Yvonne Alonzo.
Coach Sowder says: "She is a smart, competitive pitcher with great poise on the mound. She has played on several national championship teams and knows what it takes to win."
Darian Tautalafua, 3B, 5-7, R/R, Fr., Carson, Calif. (Carson HS)
A three-year letterman at Carson High School in Carson, Calif. ... A USA Softball Junior Women's National Team Selection Camp attendee ... Heads into senior season with 35 career home runs ... Named Daily Breeze Player of the Year as a junior after batting .554 with a .603 on-base percentage, a 1.119 slugging percentage, 15 home runs, 47 RBI, 51 runs scored and 12 doubles ... Earned Cal-Hi first-team all-state honors, while claiming first-team All-Marine League, first-team all-area, and Marine League MVP accolades ...As a sophomore, named second-team All-Underclass All-State and first-team All-Marine League after batting .373 with a .475 on-base percentage, a .882 slugging percentage, 16 home runs, 40 RBI, 40 runs scored and four doubles ... As a freshman, named first-team all-league after hitting .351 with a .426 on-base percentage, a .574 slugging percentage, five home runs, 21 RBI, 28 runs scored, four doubles and one triple ... Won three USA/ASA Class "A" National Championships (12U, 14U, 16U) and two Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships (16U and 18U) ... High school coach is Cam Werner.
Coach Sowder says: "She is one of the most powerful and consistent hitters we have ever recruited. She is also very gifted defensively and will have a strong impact on our program the day she gets here."
Nichole Zink, RHP, 5-6, R/R, Jr., Corona, Calif. (Eleanor Roosevelt HS/Riverside City College)
Played one season at Riverside City College where she was named the Orange Empire Conference Pitcher of the Year, as well as first-team all-state and first-team all-league after posting a 9-3 record with a 0.92 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 83.1 innings ... Junior college coach is Michelle Daddona ... In high school, lettered four times at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Corona, Calif. ... Named first-team All-Big 8 Conference after senior year ... During career compiled a 17-6 record with a 0.98 ERA, 229 strikeouts and 16 walks in 177 innings pitched ... High school coach was Ron Smith.
Coach Sowder says: "She is one of the best junior college pitchers in the country. Nichole really excelled last year in leading her team to a conference title. Her experience and maturity will impact our team immediately."
