By Jim Richards
The official start of the ACCAC softball season is still four months away, but first-year coach Kristina Schmallen has descended on the SMCC campus in the manner that SMCC Athletic Director Chris Haines prefers--She’s hit the ground running.
With a full roster of 19 players, the Schmallen Era began a few weeks ago as the Cougars took the field for scrimmages against ACCAC rivals Scottsdale, Gateway and Chandler-Gilbert.
Her upcoming mission is to rebuild the SMCC softball program in one of the toughest conferences in the nation and she’s already toughened up her roster by making players show up to practice bright and early at 6 a.m.
“I truly believe that I had to come in here and show them some discipline and expectations of being a college athlete, getting them up by 5:30 and kicking them in the butt in the morning,” said Schmallen, who admitted that getting 19 players on the roster exceeded her expectations. “I went out and recruited from the middle of June through August. And all of the sophomores returned.”
Schmallen, who answers to the nickname ‘Beanie,’ is a former prep star at Tolleson Westview and collegiate standout at Pima CC and the University of New Mexico. She headed back to the Valley after serving as an assistant coach at Kansas’ Fort Hays State University.
Her first collegiate head coaching job will be a challenging one and Schmallen said her first goal is to bring the program back to respectability.
“I can only condition these kids and change their mindset to where we can compete with anybody in this league,” Schmallen said. “Our goal is to go to the playoffs this year, which would be a huge turnaround from last year.
Schmallen and her squad will be going up against five-time defending NJCAA Division II champion Phoenix College. She admits that trying to build a program to the PC level will be a step-by-step process.
“Do I wish I had some of the talent that Phoenix College has?” Schmallen said. “Absolutely. Having said that, I think the mission is to change the notion of what (SMCC softball) is all about. They were 6-32 last year and they didn’t have a lot of expectations. I’m changing the notion of the faculty, and staff members and I’m focusing on starting there.
“This is new to everybody--this whole coaching style, new expectations, new coaches in general, how I want them to throw the ball and hit the ball, etcetera.”
Schmallen has second baseman Trista Campbell back this season along with outfielder Samantha Macias.
Schmallen brought in freshmen outfielder Sarah Alexander out of Marana Mountain View, whom she figured could hit in the lead-off spot.
Freshman shortstop Vanessa Stokes of Goodyear Millennium figures to hit in the No.2 spot and, Schmallen said, could be the fastest player in the entire conference. She also added outfielder Megan Rozzi out of Chandler Basha.
Schmallen expects freshman Heather Vega (Chandler High) to recover from offseason shoulder surgery to handle most of the pitching and become “one of the top five pitchers in the conference.” Former St. Mary’s pitcher Tatianna Talbo is also expected to see action on the mound.
Like the players, Schmallen is also getting to know her team.
“I didn’t get to watch one game last year,” she said. “I can tell you from what I was told there was some talent here that wasn’t being put to good use. The kids that I have returning this year have all jumped on board with me and have exceeded my expectations in conditioning. They did everything I asked them to do. I can’t say enough about these players.
“(PC coach) Heinz Mueller is a great coach and he recruits great players. Having said that, if I change the mindset about what SMCC (softball) is all about, we can compete with anybody in the nation. We work harder than everybody in the conference. We have the expectation to make the playoffs. Once you get there, it’s anybody’s game.”
Fans can get a peek at the 2009 SMCC softball team when it hosts conference rival Paradise Valley CC on Oct. 18 at noon and at 2 p.m.