Talented roster makes Thousand Oaks a title contender
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers LANCER LIFTOFF- Thousand Oaks High freshman Paris Shipp takes a few swings in the batting cage during Monday's practice session. With savvy veterans and a few fresh faces, the Lancers expect to make a run at their third consecutive Marmonte League title.

Thousand Oaks High head softball coach Gary Walin was faced with a tough dilemma last Friday.

Due to rainy weather, Walin had to make the necessary phone calls and arrangements to switch the location of the team's pictures from the softball field to inside the school's performing arts center.

Or he could have just pulled a fast one and used the team photo from last season.

Thousand Oaks, which has won eight of the last 11 Marmonte League championships including the last two years, will be returning 13 members from last season's squad.

The returnees include the reigning Marmonte League Most Valuable Player, Tiffany Messerschmidt, and Most Valuable Pitcher, Brittany Reynolds.

Marla Mathews, a first-team All-Marmonte League selection and the program's career leader in home runs with 15, is also back for her senior year. Seniors Emily Martino and Carisa Mudgett, both second-team all-league selections a year ago, are back as well.

"To say we're experienced would be an understatement," Walin said. "Most of the time, seven of the nine players on the field are going to be seniors.

"I'm very excited about this team; they work very hard and they're always very positive. Coaching them is a tremendous honor."

Leading off for the Lancers is Messerschmidt, arguably the league's quickest player. Last season Messerschmidt led the league with a .506 batting average and 24 stolen bases. In her threeyear career at TOHS, she's batting .406.

"The main element of this team is speed," Messerschmidt said. "It's definitely important for any leadoff hitter- no matter where you are in the lineup- to get on base to start the inning."

Batting second is Martino, who will play third base once again.

"Martino is a good left-handed slap hitter," Walin said. "Like (Messerschmidt), she's very fast, and she's also very good at advancing Messerschmidt when she gets on base."

Walin has switched the order of his third and fourth hitters. Right fielder/designated hitter Mudgett will bat third, while Mathews takes over in the cleanup spot.

Mathews, who broke the Lancers' record for most career home runs, home runs in a season and RBI in season with one swing at Westlake during her sophomore year, said the one record she still wants to break is the one for most career RBI.

Hitting fifth is right fielder Brooke Johnson, who batted .303 last season. Batting sixth is sophomore second baseman Jenna Bandy, although she could see competition from freshman Alysha Payne.

Senior Karli Adkins will once again play first base.

While the team has numerous seniors, Walin said he's excited about his new freshman shortstop, Paris Shipp.

"There's a big responsibility playing shortstop on this team," Walin said.

"The reason I decided to bring her up to the varsity squad this early in her TOHS career is because she's a good player. So far, she's been up to the task. She has a quiet confidence and leaves most of the vocal leadership to the seniors."

Reynolds said she's tried to make the young shortstop feel as comfortable as possible.

"The whole team just tells her to be confident," Reynolds said. "If you make a mistake, move on to the next play and learn from it. She's a good player that will help us a lot."

Reynolds fronts the pitching staff after being sidelined with a hip flexor injury for the past six months. Last season, Reynolds led the Marmonte League with a .799 ERA. She was second in the league with 16 wins and 185 strikeouts.

"About a month ago, (Reynolds) started throwing off the mound again, and she's looked pretty good," Walin said. "She's very competitive, and she has a good curveball and a great changeup."

Following Reynolds in the rotation is Jackie Manzer. Manzer won five games while posting a 2.33 ERA in 2007.

While the Lancers have been dominant in league play, the postseason has been another story. Last year TOHS lost in the first round of the playoffs to Saugus High, 5-4, after winning nine of their last 10 regular-season games.

"That game was a tough loss to take because we left something like 16 runners on base," Walin said. "We certainly didn't play our best game that day.

"I know that's a motivating factor with the girls this year. They've been disappointed by that loss, and they want to show that they're a top-flight team, not only in league, but in the postseason as well."

Messerschmidt said the playoff defeat comes up frequently.

"Just today we were talking about the errors we made on defense in that game and how that stuff isn't going to happen anymore," Messerschmidt said.

"We've learned from our mistakes, and this team is very capable of going further than last year."

Mathews said it's time to let the loss go and move on to a new season.

"We can't dwell on that loss," Mathews said. "We have a lot of smart softball players on this team that know how to play, and I believe our defense is much improved."

Thousand Oaks opens its season on March 6 at home against Fountain Valley. The Lancers' begin their quest to repeat as league champs when they host Agoura High on March 18.