Evans Puts Best Foot Forward in Pitching Arizona to Title
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After sitting out last season because of a foot problem, Arizona junior right-hander Nancy Evans led the Wildcats to their fifth national softball championship Monday in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City and set a school record for victories.
Evans, a Hoover High graduate who became the Wildcats’ only pitcher when senior right-hander Carrie Dolan was dismissed from the team for breaking team rules after regionals, pitched every inning for Arizona in the series and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Evans was 4-1 in the tournament, pitching 40 innings in five days. She allowed 28 hits, four walks and struck out 35.
Her bases-loaded double in the first inning scored the Wildcats’ first two runs in a 10-2 victory over UCLA in the championship game, which was called after five innings because of an eight-run rule.
Evans, an All-American, was granted a medical redshirt season last year after complications from foot surgery in September 1995 kept her from competing. She was 4-0 in 1996 before pain and swelling on the top of her right foot forced her out of action.
Evans, with only six losses in 94 decisions, finished this season 36-2, breaking the previous school record of 35 set by Dolan in 1996.
Local roundup: Cal State Northridge is making a concerted effort to recruit baseball players from the Valley and Ventura County. The success this season of local products such as Terrmel Sledge of Kennedy High, who batted .392, Andy Wilson of Thousand Oaks (.340) and Adrian Mendoza of Royal (.274) have intensified the Matadors’ efforts.
Tim Montez, the Matadors’ second-year pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, is conducting a week-long camp this summer targeting local high school players with Division I potential.
“This will bring us in line with other top schools that cultivate the talent of kids close to the school,” Montez said. “It’s a proven method of giving local talent the chance to learn what it takes to play at this level.”
The camp, which will take place July 28 to August 1, will be limited to 50 players who will be sophomores, juniors or seniors in the fall.
Information: (818) 677-3218 or (805) 376-2893.
Future Matador: Clinte Motley of Alta Loma High, who has signed a letter of intent with Northridge, turned in an impressive individual performance in the Southern Section divisional track and field championships Saturday at Cerritos College.
Motley won the high jump at seven feet and the triple jump with a wind-aided 49-2 3/4 and placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.18 in Division I competition.
