Colorado State University Athletics
Rams softball adds four for 2016-17
2/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State softball head coach Jen Fisher announced on Monday the addition of four freshman for the 2016-17 season. The class is made up of two players from both California and Texas.
The four out-of-state students are Corina Gamboa from Chino, Calif., Alison Petty from San Diego, Calif., Nicole Valdez from Katy, Texas and Francesca Olivas from Missouri City, Texas.
Gamboa joins the Rams from Chino High School in Chino, Calif., where she led the Cowboys as a 2015 team captain to win their league championship, earning a second consecutive all-league honor. In 2013 and 2014 the Cowboys went undefeated to win the league championship. In her time at Chino High School, Gamboa was named Defensive MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Gamboa also helped lead her club team to an ASA National Championship in 2011, and they won the Colorado Sparkler tournament in 2014.
“Corina ‘Baby’ Gamboa was yet another steal for Colorado State Softball,” Fisher said. “We first began tracking Baby for her defensive prowess, however she just kept bringing her bat. This was a bonus to our staff. Over the past two years, however, we have come to realize that as solid of a player as she is, Corina is an even better leader and person. We have continued to watch Baby intently lead both her high school and her club ball teams through some of the most challenging softball in the country. She has, without a doubt, been in some of the toughest competitions there are, and she continues to be a consummate professional on and off the field. She comes from a very close knit family and we look forward to extending our family to hers.”
Petty comes to CSU from Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, Calif., where she played both softball and field hockey. In 2014 Petty was named Player of the Game twice, and has tallied 76 total strike outs in 93.2 innings pitched throughout her high school career. Petty will graduate this spring with a 3.8 GPA and plans to study Animal Science at CSU.
“We are thrilled to have found such a fantastic fit in Alison Petty,” Fisher said. “She fits our coaching style and pitching staff as that tough, hard-working, and even-keeled athlete that you want in the circle. Petty is a seasoned champion whose competitive nature will be an asset to Ram Softball. Alison will also be a welcome addition to our team as an outstanding representative of what it means to be a student-athlete. As a lifetime Fort Collins resident and CSU Alumnus myself, it’s fantastic to see a young person who appreciates the value of a Colorado State degree. As excited as Alison is to play for us, I think she is even more thrilled to join the Animal Science program here at CSU.”
Valdez comes to Colorado State from Katy High School in Katy, Texas. In her time as a Tiger, Valdez has led her team to win the 2015 6A Softball State Championship, and earned First Team All-District and Academic All-District honors. The incoming freshman comes from an athletic family, as her brother, Chase Valdez, played baseball for Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas.
“Nicole Valdez was a great find for us, and we feel very fortunate that she chose Colorado State,” Fisher stated. “Nicole was really coming into her own when we first started tracking her, and the coaches have been very impressed with her continued development. She just matches up so well with our needs in this class and is so solid in many areas. She’s got great power and fast hands at the plate, soft hands and a plus arm in the infield, and runs the bases very well. She is a veteran to the highest level of club ball and a Texas State High School Champion. This experience will serve her and our team well. She is an exceptional student, person, and athlete. We are really looking forward to coaching Nicole and to bringing her and her family into our Ram Softball family.”
Olivas comes from Dulles High School, where she lettered four years in softball and also played volleyball. The left-handed hitter also played club softball for the Aces Express, and her father, Johnny, played baseball at Texas A&M.
“From the first moment I saw Chessi play, I loved her leadership, aggressiveness, and pace of play,” Fisher said. “She will bring a ton of versatility to our squad, as she has speed and quickness, a great glove, and a strong arm. She already has the very instincts on the bases, for the style of scoring that I like to teach, and she is a triple threat from the left side of the plate. Chessi may be small in stature but she is big in personality and will quickly become a crowd favorite.”
CSU will open its 2016 season in College Station, Texas, at the Texas A&M Invitational. The tournament will be played Feb. 12-14.
