Defending Big West Champions Long Beach State Softball Adds Eight Newcomers

Photo by: Diego Devia @Devia.Img

Defending Big West Champions Long Beach State Softball Adds Eight Newcomers

9/21/2023 11:07:00 AM | Softball

Two transfers and six incoming freshmen will join the squad for 2024.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Reigning Big West Coach of the Year Kim Sowder and the Long Beach State coaching staff have welcomed in eight new players to the program who will train in the fall prior to debuting for the Beach this coming spring for the 2024 season.

                "I'm excited to welcome this class of high character student-athletes that have excelled both on and off the field," said Sowder. "This class brings power, speed, athleticism, and the competitive mindset that we want here at Long Beach State. We've added strong depth to every position on the field."

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS
Long Beach State will add one new battery to the staff with a graduate transfer and a standout high school freshman. Jaeden Barajas comes to the Beach after four years at Utah Valley where she started 76 games over the final two seasons. Last year, Barajas hit .264 with six doubles and seven home runs (including one against Long Beach State), second-most on the Wolverines while driving in 20 RBI.

                Freshman pitcher Kate Barnett comes to Long Beach State with a unique multi-sport background, competing in track and field and cross country in addition to softball at Central Coast New Technological High School in Nipomo. A team captain for all three programs, Barnett played both ways, earning league MVP honors and Utility Player of the Year after posting a 0.97 ERA with a pair of no-hitters as a senior.

INFIELD
                Jocylyn Vidal comes to Long Beach State as a transfer student after competing at San Jose State. A former teammate on the Spartans with former SJSU to LBSU transfers Shannon Haddad, Ashley Machado and Suzy Brookshire, Vidal played 137 games in her career with the Spartans while batting .259 and hitting six home runs.

                She'll be joined by two freshman infielders in Sopia Stein and KaLeena Gonzales. Stein hit over .400 as a senior at Louisville High School in Calabasas, while Gonzales prepped at Oxnard High School, where she hit over .500 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 27 RBI as a senior.

OUTFIELD
In the outfield, Long Beach State brings in three freshman to supplement a trio of returning All-Big West outfielders in Sara Olson, Lilyanna Martinez and Makayla Medellin.

Emily Dowden is another multi-sport athlete, playing volleyball as well as softball at North High School in Bakersfield, excelling in both. Dowden hit over. 500 in her high school career, and finished with seven home runs, 20 doubles and 27 RBI to winning league player of the year honors.

The Beach also welcomes two local players. Erica Estrada played just up the road at Millikan High School, earning both offensive and defensive player of the year awards during her time with the Rams. A proven winner, Estrada helped lead Millikan to three straight Moore league championships and batted over .350 in her high school career.

                Malayna Terrones comes from Los Alamitos High School, where she was a former teammate of Beach All-Big West selection Carly Robbins. As a senior, Terrones helped lead the Griffins to a Sunset League championship.

Those eight players join a strong returning core from the defending Big West Champions. The Beach brings back eight starters and all three members of the starting rotation, a group that has seen eight different players earn All-Big West honors during their time at Long Beach State.