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PAZ: Shortstop had two strong seasons at COS
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Two former Roseburg High softball standouts are hooking up at Portland's Concordia University.
Carrie Kosderka-Farrell, a 1997 RHS graduate, recently completed her sixth year as the Cavaliers' head coach. One of her recruits for the 2010 season is Ali Paz (Class of 2006), a hot-hitting shortstop who starred the past two years at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif.
“I'm excited to go and play for her ... she'll be the right coach for me,” said Paz. “She's a person I can talk to outside of softball and school.”
Paz — who didn't play collegiately in 2007 — will have two years of eligibility for Concordia, an NAIA school. She hit .405 (53-for-131) with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs as a sophomore for the Screamin' Eagles, who took third in the California JC state championship tournament and finished 47-5 overall.
Paz scored 54 runs and stroked 26 extra-base hits, drawing 21 walks and striking out only five times. She was selected the MVP of the Golden Valley Conference.
“This (Concordia) should be a good fit for her,” Kosderka-Farrell said. “I've known Ali since she was 15 years old. She has always been a great kid, but she's really matured and is starting to learn there's more to life than being on the softball field.”
Paz turned in an impressive two seasons at COS, highlighted by JC All-American recognition as a freshman in 2008.
“Ali had a fantastic two years for us,” said COS coach Doug Eastman. “She got it done and proved she's a great player, and knows how to play every facet of the game. I don't think she has a weakness ... the only thing I could think of is she could put in a little bit more extra work.
“People talk about her offense all the time, but there wasn't a shortstop in the state I'd rather have than Ali. She has fantastic hands, her throwing ability is on the money and she's a really smart and headsy player at her position.”
While Eastman calls Paz a future Hall of Famer at COS for her performance on the diamond, the coach was more pleased about her improved focus on academics.
“Last semester, she was right around a 3-point. I'm extremely proud of her, for what she's accomplished from last year to this year,” he said. “There's no replacing an Ali Paz.”
Carrie Kosderka-Farrell, a 1997 RHS graduate, recently completed her sixth year as the Cavaliers' head coach. One of her recruits for the 2010 season is Ali Paz (Class of 2006), a hot-hitting shortstop who starred the past two years at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif.
“I'm excited to go and play for her ... she'll be the right coach for me,” said Paz. “She's a person I can talk to outside of softball and school.”
Paz — who didn't play collegiately in 2007 — will have two years of eligibility for Concordia, an NAIA school. She hit .405 (53-for-131) with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs as a sophomore for the Screamin' Eagles, who took third in the California JC state championship tournament and finished 47-5 overall.
Paz scored 54 runs and stroked 26 extra-base hits, drawing 21 walks and striking out only five times. She was selected the MVP of the Golden Valley Conference.
“This (Concordia) should be a good fit for her,” Kosderka-Farrell said. “I've known Ali since she was 15 years old. She has always been a great kid, but she's really matured and is starting to learn there's more to life than being on the softball field.”
Paz turned in an impressive two seasons at COS, highlighted by JC All-American recognition as a freshman in 2008.
“Ali had a fantastic two years for us,” said COS coach Doug Eastman. “She got it done and proved she's a great player, and knows how to play every facet of the game. I don't think she has a weakness ... the only thing I could think of is she could put in a little bit more extra work.
“People talk about her offense all the time, but there wasn't a shortstop in the state I'd rather have than Ali. She has fantastic hands, her throwing ability is on the money and she's a really smart and headsy player at her position.”
While Eastman calls Paz a future Hall of Famer at COS for her performance on the diamond, the coach was more pleased about her improved focus on academics.
“Last semester, she was right around a 3-point. I'm extremely proud of her, for what she's accomplished from last year to this year,” he said. “There's no replacing an Ali Paz.”
“I learned a lot from coach Eastman and I think I grew as a student,” Paz added. “I focused more on my education. I cracked down on schoolwork ... I knew I had to get it done in the classroom and did more studying than hanging out with friends.”
Paz was the No. 3 hitter in the lineup for the Eagles and Kosderka-Farrell expects she'll be in the meat of the order at Concordia. The Cavaliers also signed catcher Courtney Wooden, a teammate of Paz's at COS.
“We graduated eight seniors and two others left (for different reasons),” said Kosderka-Farrell, whose club went 27-9 this spring and finished third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference at 14-8. “Six of our seven returners are starters, and I expect us to be one of the top two teams (College of Idaho is the defending CCC champion). Ali will make a massive impact on our conference.”
Paz, a two-time first-team all-state shortstop for Roseburg, is happy to be back in the state playing softball and working toward a degree.
“We have a great group of girls coming in (to Concordia),” she said. “Hopefully we can win a conference title.”
The Cavaliers will return all-conference pitcher Danielle Pulfrey and all-CCC outfielder Kayla Vickaryous. Kosderka-Farrell, a first-team all-conference second baseman as a senior under Ken Cooper at Roseburg, likes the potential of the club.
Other schools in the Cascade include Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Corban, Northwest Christian and Eastern Oregon.
Cassie Bishop, a 5-8 sophomore infielder from Douglas High in Winston, hit .323 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games for NCC this spring. She led the Beacons in doubles (10), tied for first in runs scored (19) and had a .938 fielding percentage.
• You can reach Sports Editor Tom Eggers at 957-4220 or by e-mail at teggers@nrtoday.com
Paz was the No. 3 hitter in the lineup for the Eagles and Kosderka-Farrell expects she'll be in the meat of the order at Concordia. The Cavaliers also signed catcher Courtney Wooden, a teammate of Paz's at COS.
“We graduated eight seniors and two others left (for different reasons),” said Kosderka-Farrell, whose club went 27-9 this spring and finished third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference at 14-8. “Six of our seven returners are starters, and I expect us to be one of the top two teams (College of Idaho is the defending CCC champion). Ali will make a massive impact on our conference.”
Paz, a two-time first-team all-state shortstop for Roseburg, is happy to be back in the state playing softball and working toward a degree.
“We have a great group of girls coming in (to Concordia),” she said. “Hopefully we can win a conference title.”
The Cavaliers will return all-conference pitcher Danielle Pulfrey and all-CCC outfielder Kayla Vickaryous. Kosderka-Farrell, a first-team all-conference second baseman as a senior under Ken Cooper at Roseburg, likes the potential of the club.
Other schools in the Cascade include Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Corban, Northwest Christian and Eastern Oregon.
Cassie Bishop, a 5-8 sophomore infielder from Douglas High in Winston, hit .323 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games for NCC this spring. She led the Beacons in doubles (10), tied for first in runs scored (19) and had a .938 fielding percentage.
• You can reach Sports Editor Tom Eggers at 957-4220 or by e-mail at teggers@nrtoday.com
