Heading into Jenny Condon’s 20th year as Cal Poly’s head softball coach, expectations are high, with sights set on the Big West title. The Mustangs are looking to build off their 19-23 campaign last season, only losing one senior in the process.
“We’ve got a lot of experience and [the players] know how it felt when we came up short,” Condon said. “Our pitching staff is stronger, our defense is a lot more solid and we’re hitting the ball better.”
Improvement was a theme last year as well, specifically with junior infielder Caroline Allman who had a breakout sophomore season, raising her batting average 185 points from her freshman year mark. Allman led the team in RBI and triples last season, solidifying a role as one of the focal points of the program.
Along with the main core from the previous season, five freshmen have been added to the roster. Condon anticipates that this group will make an immediate impact.
Freshman middle infielder Sehren Martinez is expected to be on the field quite a bit, both at the second base and shortstop positions. Other freshmen standouts include JJ Pina and Natalie Curran, who have shown the ability to execute offensively in the preseason.
Most of the offensive execution in the past couple of seasons has come by way of junior outfielder Jessica Clements. Last year, Clements was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region Third Team and All-Big West First Team for a second consecutive season. Clements enters this season with the highest batting average in program history, boasting a .370 clip. She attributes her success to her tireless work ethic.
“I put in a lot of extra work on and off the field,” Clements said. “I am dedicated to the sport and I’m always wanting to get better in any way I can.”
Along with her individual success, Clements has taken more of a leadership role this season, hoping to guide the squad to their first winning season since 2017.
“I’m really taking the freshmen in a little bit more under my wing this year,” Clements said. “I’m trying to teach them the ways of how we do things here, how we expect greatness from them, and how we can execute and hopefully get our ring.”
A ring is a goal shared amongst the team, including standout sophomore pitcher Sophia Ramuno. Fresh off a fantastic year in which she was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team after finishing fourth among conference pitchers with 142 strikeouts, sixth with 12 victories, seventh with 141.1 innings pitched, and eighth with 21 starts, Ramuno is looking for an even bigger year. Working closely with pitching coach Brie Galicinao, Ramuno has spent the offseason ironing out her game.
Alongside Ramuno in the circle is junior right-hander Paige Maier, forming one of the strongest tandems in the Big West. Maier’s calm demeanor has helped Ramuno navigate the stress of in-game action.
“I learned a lot about calmness from Paige,” Ramuno said. “I think that it was important to learn in these very intense games how important it is to stay grounded and stay calm.”
With the combination of an experienced and talented youth, the Mustangs are ready to take a big leap and take home the elusive Big West title.
“I think [a title] is everyone’s goal and it should be,” Clements said. “If we can come out and execute how we need to, we are really going to be able to do it.”
For this goal to be achieved, it’s going to take beating the powerhouses of the conference in recent years. Cal State Fullerton is no exception, sweeping Cal Poly in a three-game set last season.
“We know we can hang with them,” Clements said.
Condon will look to add to her length resumé this year, one that includes three Big West Conference Coach of the Year honors, and program best 441 all-time wins. These figures make Condon the winningest coach in Cal Poly softball history. Everyone involved this year is looking to add to that total.
Hot start
Cal Poly kicked off their season over the weekend of Feb. 9-11 in Sacramento at the NorCal Kickoff tournament, winning all five of their contests. The Mustangs started the weekend strong with a pair of shutout wins on Friday: a 15-0 rout of San Jose State and a 1-0 victory over Sacramento State.
On Saturday, both wins were decided by one run, beating Middle Tennessee 4-3 and Saint Mary’s 6-5. The squad closed out their stellar weekend on Sunday with another win over Saint Mary’s, 13-6. The Mustangs will look to remain unbeaten in their upcoming game against Seattle University on Feb. 16.