Gcc Season Preview??softball:

GLENDALE — Though the season is just getting underway, Glendale Community College softball Coach Dave “Hawk” Wilder said there’s already a calming influence with a primarily new cast of players.

That wasn’t a commodity Wilder enjoyed last season, when the Vaqueros finished a disappointing 10-30 and 4-19 in the Western State Conference Southern Division. The up-to-the-minute group of players have listened carefully to Wilder, a sign they are committed to competing during the next several months.

“We have people who are listening and most of them have extra experience from having played travel ball,” said Wilder, whose 15-member team began its season Friday against Long Beach City College in the first of three pool-play games in the fifth annual Glendale College Softball Classic at the Glendale Sports Complex. “We have something like 14 players who have played travel ball, so they are committed to the sport and want to keep learning.”

Wilder stopped short of predicting that the Vaqueros will win a division or state championship. Yet, there’s potential to at the very least produce a winning record for the first time in two seasons.

There’s depth at most positions and an eagerness for Wilder to watch redshirt freshman Jennifer Meza pitch after she missed all of last season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. As Meza goes, so do the Vaqueros.

“How we do is going to depend a lot on our pitching,” Wilder said. “We want to have Meza out there, and if we can get her into game shape by the start of conference play, we could be anywhere.

“She’s going to get you a lot of ground balls. She makes you put the ball in play. If she’s healthy, we are going to be fine.”

While Meza will handle most of the pitching responsibilities, sophomore Rachel Flores might also see time in the circle.

The first basemen will be freshmen Aileen Menendez, Tatiana Mejia and Kristina Ortiz, a Burbank High graduate. When she’s not pitching, Flores will play second base. Sophomore Valerie Garcia will also play second base and shortstop.

Freshman Liana Hernandez — another former Bulldogs’ standout — will be the starting shortstop and the starting third baseman will be Burroughs graduate Brittni Spear, a freshman. Hoover graduate Marissa Vasquez, a freshman, will also play third base.