Long Beach State University Athletics
Softball Adds Four In 2016 Signing Class
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State Softball has received commitments from four outstanding high school players who will join the Beach for the 2016 season. Tierra Falo, Nichole Fry, Cielo Meza, and Jessica Nogosek have all signed National Letters of Intent during the fall signing period.
"This class really brings a little bit of everything: pitching, hitting, athleticism, and versatility," said head coach Kim Sowder. "I'm excited that they bring a lot of experience, and have a winning background, playing for top programs."
The Beach is adding one pitcher in the class, 2014 CIF Player of the Year and first-team All-State selection Cielo Meza out of St. Bonaventure High School. Meza helped lead the Serephs to the CIF Championship, posting a 15-2 record with a 0.64 ERA and 228 strikeouts. Overall, the team went 24-4 and was unbeaten in the Frontier League. The season before, Meza posted 133 strikeouts as a sophomore and recorded 11 wins.
"I think Cielo's a pitcher that's going to come here and make an impact right away," said Sowder. "She has a tremendous amount of movement on her pitches, already has excellent command, and is a real competitor. We're looking for her to be a big contributor, and she's already had a lot of success."
The 49ers are also adding three offensive players.
One year after leading her team to the CIF Finals, Tierra Falo lifted the Cathedral Catholic Dons to the Division I championship in 2014. A two-time All-Western League selection, Falo has hit 19 home runs in her career, and had 36 RBI as a sophomore in 2013.
"Tierra brings a ton of power at the plate, and like Cielo, was a CIF champion last year," said Sowder. "We're looking forward to her having a real presence at the plate and as a part of our offense."
Nichole Fry is the third former state champion to be joining the Beach, winning the Division I CIF championship at Santiago in 2013.
"Nichole will come in and should jump right into the shortstop position that Shayna Kimbrough has held for us the last four years," said Sowder. "She's a very good defensive shortstop, and hits with a high average as well.
In 2013, Fry hit .330 as part of the CIF championship team, and then followed that up with a breakthrough season as a junior, hitting .467 with 43 RBI for the Sharks. She also played club softball with SoCal Athletics, taking two top three finishes over the last two years at the Premier Nationals.
The final member of the signing class is Jessica Nogusek out of Woodcreek High School in Roseville, Calif. A two-sport letterwinner in softball and track,
Sowder describes Nogusek as a "versatile athlete, who we can use in either middle infield position or in the outfield. She has a tremendous amount of talent, and we're really looking forward to working with her, and seeing her develop."
