Giants' softball features entirely new roster, same championship goals
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
Turnover is normal in community college athletics.
But having a completely different roster from last season is a new experience for College of the Sequoias' softball coach Cori Janelli.
"It's definitely a first for me not having any sophomores or returning players," Janelli said. "The coaches will have to be the leaders for a while until the girls get acclimated to the program. It's been a learning curve for all of us."
Gone are all nine of the players -- including All-Northern California selections Emily Ibarra (Redwood High), Emily Juarez (Hanford) and Audra Pratt (Golden West) -- who helped the Giants go 13-4 overall and 11-3 while placing second in the Central Valley Conference during a 2021 season that was delayed and shorted because of Covid-19 pandemic precautions.
In their place are 12 first-year freshmen recruited out of Tulare, Kings, Fresno and Kern counties who lack college experience but not talent.
"We have a good group. They work really hard," Janelli said. "The biggest challenge is just the inexperience, not knowing the pace of the game. Because it's different from high school to college.
"Getting them that experience is the biggest obstacle. You can hammer it into them as much as possible at practice, but until they get innings, they don't know what it's like."
The pre-conference season, which continues Feb. 3 when Sequoias (0-1) hosts Modesto (0-4) in a doubleheader scheduled for noon and 2 p.m., will be a baptism by fire for a team expected to be led by shortstop/outfielder Janette Ochoa (Redwood) and catcher/third baseman Mandy Pimentel (Riverdale).
Ochoa and Pimentel, who is expected to be sidelined 2-3 weeks because of a concussion, are among several Giants who will play multiple positions for Janelli, associate head coach Kim Artiaga and assistants Michelle Bolt and Bernadette Lawrence.
Sequoias' three pitchers -- Madisen Shimmon (Hanford West), Katie Simas (Riverdale) and Nataly Espinoza (Shafter) -- all will be on the field when not inside the circle. Shimmon will also play shortstop, Simas can play the corner infield spots and Espinoza will be in the outfield.
Jazmin Torres (Shafter), who started the Giants' season opener in center field, can also play catcher.
Two players set in their positions for now, according to Janelli, are first baseman Shalom Sanchez (Tulare Union) and second baseman Jacquelyn Esquer (Lemoore).
Sequoias' roster also features catcher/first baseman Victoria Flores (Woodlake), and outfielders Sarai Ozuna (Cesar Chavez-Delano), Jasmynne Nanez (Sierra Vista Charter-Tulare) and Allyson Garcia (Dinuba).
Flores and Garcia both played for the Giants volleyball team in the fall. Garcia is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.
"With everyone playing multiple positions, we're doing well adapting to that," Janelli said. "That was important, their willingness to do what was needed for the success of the team."
Sequoias opened its season with a 9-0 home loss to Sierra (1-0) on Jan. 29.
Ochoa provided the highlight for the Giants with a one-out double in the sixth inning.
The Giants also received a leadoff single from Torres in the fifth.
Sierra scored all the runs it would need on Darcy Gillan's two-run home run in the top of the first.
After facing Modesto, Sequoias will resume its 17-game non-conference schedule on Feb. 4, with a game at 10 a.m. against San Joaquin Delta and another at 2 p.m. against Cabrillo in Stockton.
The Giants won't play at home again until launching Central Valley Conference play at 2 p.m. March 3 against Merced.
Sequoias made three consecutive trips to the Northern California Regionals between 2017 and 2019 and won CVC titles in 2018 and 2019. The state playoffs were canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid-19 safety precautions.
"I hope we can win the conference," Janelli said. "The goal is always to do that, and make it to state. That's what we're shooting for."
