The Cougar softball program had its inaugural season in 1977 under the leadership of Head Coach Pam Robertson. In 1979 Coach Diane Campagna took the helm for the Cougars. She was the Head Coach from 1979-1987. The Taft College Softball team brought home its first conference title under Coach Campagna.
After the 1987 season the TC softball program welcomed Don Bandy as its new Head Coach. Bandy was the previous assistant in Coach Campagna’s system. Under the reigns of Coach Bandy the Cougars were 383-324-4 overall, winning the Conference Championship 7 times. In the spring of 2006 Bandy decided that he would end his 20-year tenure as a Taft College Cougar coach.
In the fall of 2006, the current Head Coach, Stefanie Walsh was hired to replace Coach Bandy. In the years since her hire, the Cougars continue to make strides to become legitimate conference contenders year in and year out. The Cougar softball team is built on five characteristics: Pride, Loyalty, Honor, Discipline and Work Ethic. Walsh believes that if those five characteristics are in place success is sure to follow. The sounds that can be heard from the Cougar softball field on a daily basis are erratic at best. You can hear the crack of softballs off the bat, bodies hitting the ground, loud words of encouragement, laughter, and the occasional bellowing scream. Energy exudes from the Cougar softball field and is carried over into the student-athletes accomplishments in the classroom.
It is a priority of the Cougar softball team to perform not only on the field but also in the classroom and in the community. During the last three years the Cougars have had seven academic all-Americans and have had team GPA’s above a 3.0. The TC softball team also believes in giving back to the community. The Cougars participate in the Salvation Army bell ringing campaign during the Holliday season, they collect foods for the college ASB canned food drive, and they participate in the opening day ceremonies for the WSPRD Ponytail softball league, and hold a community softball clinic during spring break.
Walsh believes that the lessons learned by being a part of an intercollegiate athletic team are immeasurable. They are lessons that can mold our lives and the lives of people around us. Each year brings new challenges and new lessons and one thing’s for sure; the Cougars will be there, awaiting those challenges, ready to pounce.
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Taft vs West Hills College (DH)
W 7-4/ L 1-6
by JeNiece Morgan
April 19, 2012
In the first game against West Hills, the Cougars sent freshman Peyton Buen to the mound. Peyton went 5 innings of work giving up 4 runs. Jessica Neher came in as relief for the Cougars holding on to get the win. Ashley McKeown hit a triple to get the Cougars fired up and keep energy levels high .The Cougars also came together and scored on multiple base hits. The final score left the Cougars on top 7-4.
In game two, the Cougars sent freshman Jessica Neher to the mound. The Cougars struggled offensively the whole game ending the in a 1-6 loss. This was a disappointing loss for the Cougars to end the season. The Cougars are looking forward to next season.
Taft @ Reedley College
W 7-4
by JeNiece Morgan
April 12, 2012
The Lady Cougars played Reedley College on Thursday sending freshman Jessica Neher to the mound. Alex Holland also pitched for the Cougars. Neher and Holland threw well, allowing 12 hits and 5 strikeouts. TC came together and played great ball taking the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Stephanie Keith hit a three run homerun getting the win for the Cougars. The final score was 7-4. The Cougars will take on Porterville College on Tuesday.
Taft vs College of the Sequoias (DH)
L 1-10/ L 7-11
by JeNiece Morgan
April 3, 2012
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Cougars sent freshman Peyton Buen to the mound to face College of Sequoias. The lefty went all 7 innings, giving up 8 earned runs on 17 hits and 1 strikeout. Ashley Mc Keown hit a solo shot homerun for the Cougars but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to beat COS. The Cougars will take on COS again for game two of the doubleheader.
In game two of the doubleheader, the Cougars sent freshman Jessica Neher to the mound to face the College of Sequoias. The righty went 7 innings, giving up 11 earned runs on 24 hits. Peyton Buen hit a triple in the 7th inning, and Brooklyn Amador and Ashley McKeown each added doubles for the Cougars but again, it wasn’t enough to beat COS. The Cougars will take on Reedley on Thursday April 12th.
Taft @ West Hills College
W 12-4
by JeNiece Morgan
March 22, 2012
The lady Cougars started the game with high energy levels ready to take on West Hills College on Thursday. The Cougars took the lead and scoring 6 runs in the first inning, including two homeruns from Brooklyn Amador and Mari Hernandez. The Cougars went on to score in every inning, forcing the game to end in a run rule, in the top of the 5th. The lady Cougars came out with a win beating West Hills 12-4.
Taft @ Fresno Bash Tournament
vs Sierra College
L 3-8
by JeNiece Morgan
March 3, 2012
It was the first day of the Fresno Bash in Fresno, and the Cougars were facing Sierra College. TC started the game excited and anxious for their first tournament of the season. The nerves were present on the field in beginning, as the Cougars took a slow start. Once the Cougars entered the third inning they were calm and ready to play, but Sierra College had already jumped on the board by scoring runs in the first inning. With four innings left, the Cougars had their work cut out for them. Unfortunately, TC didn’t catch up to Sierra College as the game ended in a 3-8 loss.
vs San Jose College
L 4-11
by JeNiece Morgan
March 3, 2012
The 2nd game of day one was against San Jose City College. TC was hoping for redemption from the last game against San Jose in Modesto in February. The Cougars came out slow, but started getting good hits and scoring runs in the third inning. Defensively, the Cougars were struggling to use the basic fundamentals that could keep them in the game. The game ended early in a 4-11 loss for the Cougars.
vs Fullerton College
W 7-1
by JeNiece Morgan
March 4, 2012
The lady Cougars were determined to make Sunday a different day. TC started day two of the tournament taking on Fullerton College. TC was ready for anything that Fullerton had to offer. The lady Cougars defense stopped almost everything holding them to just one run ending the game in a 7-1 Cougar Victory.
vs Sacramento City College
L 5-10
by JeNiece Morgan
March 4, 2012
For the last game of the Fresno Bash the Lady Cougars faced Sacramento City College. The Cougars came out in full force ready to give it all they had. TC was swinging strong bats, scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Sacramento answered with some runs to keep the game close. Energy levels started to vary and the Cougars kept getting base hits, just not enough to take the victory. The game ended in a 5-10 Cougar loss. The Cougars will take what they learned from this tournament and take it back into conference play on Tuesday against Fresno City.
Taft @ Merced College
W 7-1
by JeNiece Morgan
March 1, 2012
Much like pre-season, the Lady Cougars started off conference play on the road, traveling to Merced College. The Cougars defense came out strong stopping everything that came their way. Offensively, the Cougars were fundamentally sound. They were tracking the ball and making solid contacts. Team work paid off as TC started the season with a 7-1 victory over Merced College.
Taft vs Cuesta College (DH)
L 10-11 / W 12-7
by JeNiece Morgan
February 28, 2012
Taft College traveled to San Luis Obispo to face Cuesta College on Tuesday, for a doubleheader. TC came out strong, hitting great and fielding fantastic, stopping Cuesta from scoring. Cuesta’s bats came alive in the 4th inning rallying to tie the game and force extra innings. After putting up a fight in extra innings TC came up short losing game 1 to Cuesta 10-11.
In game two of the doubleheader against Cuesta College, TC came out ready to prove themselves. They were making solid contacts, getting base hits, and scoring runners from the beginning, showing Cuesta that they weren’t backing down. Cuesta answered with base hits but not enough to stop TC from taking the game 12-7.
Taft vs West Valley College (DH)
L 0-2 / L 0-2
by JeNiece Morgan
February 21, 2012
Taft College traveled to Saratoga to play West Valley College on Tuesday for a double header. TC was getting hits, just not enough base hits. The Cougars’ defense was pretty solid, keeping West Valley from scoring in six innings. TC fell short losing 0-2.
In game two of the double header, the Cougars were hoping for a comeback. Defense was very strong for the Cougars making many great plays to end innings quick. TC put up a good fight, but couldn’t supply any runs. The final score was left at 0-2. Next week the Lady Cougars will face up against Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo on February 28th at 1:00pm.
Taft vs Bakersfield College & Cuesta College
L 1-9 & W 7-5
by JeNiece Morgan
February 18, 2012
The lady cougars traveled to Bakersfield College on Feb. 18 for 2 games vs Bakersfield and Cuesta College. First up were the BC Renegades. TC came out sluggish and couldn’t get their game on, losing to
the Renegades 1-9.
Taft took on Cuesta College in the 2nd game of the day hoping for redemption after the loss to the Renegades. TC came out strong playing to win. The match ended in a 7-5 victory for Taft College. TC’s next game is on Tuesday, February 21st at West Valley College.
Taft vs Gavilan College
W 9-4
by JeNiece Morgan
February 17, 2012
The Lady Cougars traveled to Fresno to play Gavilan College on Friday, February 17th. Taft College was faced with obstacles prior to the game that had to be overcome. Regardless of the obstacles, the Lady Cougars stepped off the bus ready to play. The first three innings started out slow, but after that the bats were in full effect. On the defensive side, the Cougars were staying low and fielding balls all game. The game ended in a Cougar victory of 9-4.
Taft vs Modesto Jr. College & San Jose College
L 2-3/L 3-10
by JeNiece Morgan
February 11, 2012
The Lady Cougars traveled up to Modesto Junior College on Saturday, February 11th to play 2 games vs Modesto and San Jose. First up was Modesto and the Cougars came out with strong bats and were eager to score points. The game was close, with Taft coming up short 2-3.
Next up were the San Jose City College Jaguars. Offensively the Cougars were able to get runs in, but it wasn’t enough to lead the score. Defensively, the Cougars had some great plays throughout the game, but came up short, losing 3-10. The Lady Cougars next game is on Saturday, February 17th against Gavilan College.
Taft vs Allan Hancock College (DH)
W 4-2/L 10-11 in extra innings
by JeNiece Morgan
February 9, 2012
The Cougars traveled to Santa Maria to play the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Thursday in hopes to redeem themselves from last week’s devastating loss. After having a long week of practice the Cougars seemed to have worked on many of the obstacles that hindered them from winning their last game. Ashley McKeown hit a triple; Alex Holland, Stephanie Keith, and Brooklyn Amador all hit doubles to help score. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs Alyssa Abayari, hit a pop fly to Chelsea Eli-Kido in centerfield. Chelsea caught the ball and threw it to Brittany Peterson at second base, and Brittany threw to Peyton Buen at first base to complete the inning with a triple play. With the combination of strong bats and a solid defense the Cougars pulled out a win against the Bulldogs 4-2.
Game two of the double header against Allan Hancock was very intense. The game was a nail biter with the score neck in neck forcing extra innings. Both teams gave a great effort trying to take the win. In extra innings the Bulldogs were able to score one more run, taking the win 11-10.
Taft vs San Joaquin Delta College (DH)
L 0-4/L 0-12
by JeNiece Morgan
February 4, 2012
The Taft College Cougar softball team traveled to San Joaquin Delta College on Saturday for a double header. As the first game of the season began, the Cougars were excited and full of confidence. Alex Holland started on the mound and pitched a great game allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. The Cougars defense was pretty solid throughout the whole game, however they struggled at the plate. In the end the Cougars came up short ending the game 0-4.
For the second game of the doubleheader, Jessica Neher took the mound for the Cougars in hopes of bouncing back from game one. Unfortunately the Cougars fell short losing to Delta 0-12.
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