Former Roseburg High softball standout Paz turns in All-America season for Siskiyous

With an outstanding year of junior college softball under her belt, Ali Paz is looking forward to the 2009 season with College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif.

The former Roseburg High standout, a shortstop for the Screamin’ Eagles, received first-team all-Golden Valley Conference honors and made the 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA California JC All-American team.

Paz, who turns 20 on Aug. 2, led Siskiyous with a .497 batting average (82-for-165) and knocked in 49 runs. She finished with 20 extra base-hits (four of them home runs) and stole 10 bases. Defensively, the 5-foot-6 Paz made only four errors and had a .989 fielding percentage.

The Eagles went unbeaten en route to the Golden Valley Conference championship and advanced to the California Community Athletic Association State Championships tournament, finishing 52-5 overall.

“I was surprised. I didn’t expect to do as well as I did,” said Paz, a two-time first-team all-state shortstop for Roseburg in 2005-06. “I’m really pleased about my success and am proud of myself (for making the All-American team).”

Paz did not play collegiately in 2007, but her performance didn’t diminish on the diamond.

“It actually helped. I’m glad I took that year off,” she said. “It gave me time to think ... time to figure out where I wanted to go.”

Siskiyous head coach Doug Eastman is thrilled Paz chose to play for his program.

“She did a fantastic job for us,” Eastman said. “Not only did Ali come in and dominate at shortstop, she was very strong for us in the No. 3 (batting) spot in the lineup. She came from a very good high school program at Roseburg and is just very fundamentally sound.

“Ali makes everything look easy. When you consider her arm strength, smooth hands and knowledge of the game, she’s by far the best shortstop I’ve ever had down here and we’ve had some good ones. She’s a quality player, quality lady and good team leader.”

Eastman believes Paz has a future at a four-year school, providing she continues to progress academically.

“Ali is definitely a D-I player,” the coach said. “It she takes care of herself in the classroom there are a lot of schools that would love to have Ali play shortstop for them. Her biggest challenge is whether she can concentrate and get it done in the classroom. That’s one she has to face and conquer if she’s going to play at the D-I level.”

Paz agreed.

“I have confidence I could play D-1,” she said. “I know I have the talent, but I have to get my grades up. Grades are really important and will play a huge part in wanting to transfer to a four-year school.”

Paz enjoys her teammates and coaches at Siskiyous, and is eager to begin fall practice when school resumes in late August. Eastman said seven of his nine starters last season were freshmen and expectations will be high in 2009.

“I think we’ll be a lot better,” she said. “We have a very talented team and every single one of us wants to win a state title.”

OKLAHOMA BOUND

Roseburg will be well-represented at the ASA 18 Gold national tournament, which is scheduled Aug. 3-10 at the Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City.

Roseburg High coach Tony Campos is the head coach of the Northwest Bullets Gold team, which qualified for the 64-team tournament. Playing for the Bullets are second baseman Brandi Campos, daughter of the coach and a sophomore-to-be at Portland State University, and shortstop/third baseman Crysta Conn, a junior-to-be at Roseburg. Crysta’s father, Jay, is an assistant coach for the Bullets.

The team is managed by Dennis Muir, a 1987 South Umpqua High graduate. His daughter, Kylee, is a first baseman for the Bullets and a senior-to-be at Lincoln of Portland. Infielders Cami Bennett and Karleigh Prestianni, who were members of Grants Pass’ state championship team in the spring, are on the club.

Infielder Nikki Bassett, who’ll be a senior at Roseburg this fall, is playing for the Oregon Silver Bullets Gold team. The Silver Bullets are coached by Steve Wallo.

Pitcher Mikayla Endicott, a Roseburg graduate headed to the University of Oregon, is with the Washington LadyHawks Gold team. The LadyHawks are guided by Wayne Miller.