Softball Season Sets Sail this Friday

The perennial Orange Empire Conference (OEC) powerhouse and California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) playoff regular Santiago Canyon College softball team is ready to kick off the 2024 campaign on Friday night. The 17-player roster includes a handful of returners, many fresh faces and a new leader at the helm of the program.

Leading the charge as the Hawk's new skipper is Brandice Custpec. The first-year head coach and Hawk softball alumni is familiar to the team. She acted as an assistant coach for the Hawks in 2016 when they hauled in a 3C2A State Championship and was a member of the 2014 coaching staff as well. She helped earned the program's first bid to the state championship tournament. She looks to add to the Hawk's trophy case this season. She is joined by assistant coaches Rylie Seip and Danielle Stallings. 

The Hawks earned a 25-20 record last season that encompassed a 13-8 conference record that landed them in third place. They hosted the Antelope Valley College Mauraders in the first round of the Southern California Regional playoffs by defeating them in a three-game series on home turf. They went on to face the Palomar College Comets in the Southern California Super Regionals where they lost in two games. This was the final season under longtime Head Coach Lisa Carmaco.

The offense is projected to be led by sophomore outfielder Alyssa Patlan. Patlan was one of the more consistent weapons for the Hawks during her inaugural after inking a .340 batting average in 144 at bats. She barreled 44 hits with four going for extra bases. She swiped 11 bags, which was tied for second on the team, while driving in 18 runs, scoring 25 times, and drawing six walks.

The Hawks begin action this Friday as they take on a trio of teams in their first two scheduled dates. They begin by facing off against the Bakersfield College Renegades under the lights at 6:30 pm, backed by a non-conference doubleheader starting with San Mateo at 11 a.m. followed by southern rival Mt. San Antonio at 4 p.m.

They follow with games against Cerritos, Grossmont, Ventura, LA Mission, Palomar, Pasadena City, and San Diego City with reoccurring matchups against Bakersfield and Mt. SAC. They begin conference play on Tuesday, March 5 against Orange Coast will newly approved three-game series against conference opponents.  

For all information regarding softball, please visit www.scchawks.com.