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Softball Season Begins

Canadian freshman hurler Tina Andreana has jumped off to a dominating start to the 2010 softball season.

Through 21 innings pitched, Andreana is fifth in the nation in individual pitching, allowing just one earned run over that span while striking out 35 – tops in the country.

She has allowed just seven hits and boasts an ERA of 0.33.

The team is tops in the nation in fielding percentage, and 12th in batting to start the season, with Andreana leading the way in on-base percentage with a mark of .600. She plays first base when not on the mound.

Outfielder Monica Jaramillo is 20th in fielding percentage, with shortstop Haley Deshazo following in 21st place.  Catcher Krissie Fountain is ranked 46th in OBP.

Several other Lady Westerners are ranked in the Top 50 in the nation in various categories, including Trista Hutchins and A’Lex Koonce, who are ranked 39th and 49th, respectively, in strike outs and 44th and 46 in the overall pitching category. The team is 12th in batting average, collecting 41 hits in 133 innings for a .308 team mark.

Canadian Student Finds Home in Texas Town

Tina Andreana is a long way from home in one respect, but right at home at Western Texas College in another.

Andreana, a freshman right-hander who also will play first base, came to Snyder from her home in Oakville, Canada across Lake Ontario from Buffalo.

“I’ve always wanted to come down to the state for softball, and WTC gave me the opportunity to do that,” she said.

Tina chose the community college route so that she could get more playing time to prepare for a career in Division I.

“WTC is a smaller school so it allows me to get more one-on-one help when I need it which helps me get better grades. At a big university, services and help like that are harder to find,” she said. “The staff here really makes you feel welcome and will help you with everything you need.”

Andreana not only had to transition from her native Canada to the U.S., she also had to adapt to a much smaller community than her hometown, which has a population of about 165,000.

“I’m from a bigger city, so it has been hard getting used to the small town life, but I like going to college in a small town atmosphere,” she said. “Without family close by, I really have to depend on my friends to get me through the homesickness.”

However, Tina said the softball team is a nice substitute.

“Being so far away from home is a challenge, but it has made me grow and mature, but the softball team is so close it is like having a family away from home.”

The softball team opens the season at 1 p.m. Friday at home, taking on Temple College in a doubleheader at United Field.

WTC Softball Coach Honored at Convention

Western Texas College head softball coach Steve Kissel received the Easton Victory Club award at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Convention last Thursday in honor of his 500th career win.

Kissel is in his second year at the helm of the Lady Westerners, and the 22nd season of his softball coaching career.

Kissel, who hails from Limon, Colo., began his softball coaching career at Dana College in 1987, where his teams won six conference championships in eight years, qualified for district tournaments all eight years and won one district championship and qualified for the NAIA national tournament in 1994. 

At Dana, Kissel was named conference coach of the year six times and district coach of the year twice. 

He also has coached at Minot State University, Pittsburg State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and University of Central Arkansas, where he spent three years and helped UCA move from NCAA D-II to NCAA D-I.

Western Texas College will begin the spring season at home against Temple College on Jan. 29.

Tori Acheson, Tennessee Tech Head Coach - 700 wins Steve Kissel, WTC Head Coach - 500 wins Ralph Weekly, Tennessee Heach Coach - 900 wins	Steve Kissel, WTC Head Coach Sue Enquist , former UCLA Head Coach Claudia Berumen, WTC Assistant Coach

WTC Softball Coach to be Honored at Convention

Western Texas College head softball coach Steve Kissel will receive the Easton Victory Club award at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Convention next month.

Kissel is in his second year at the helm of the Lady Westerners, and the 22nd season of his softball coaching career.

Kissel, who hails from Limon, Colo., began his softball coaching career at Dana College in 1987, where his teams won six conference championships in eight years, qualified for district tournaments all eight years and won one district championship and qualified for the NAIA national tournament in 1994. 

At Dana, Kissel was named conference coach of the year six times and district coach of the year twice. 

He also has coached at Minot State University, Pittsburg State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and University of Central Arkansas, where he spent three years and helped UCA move from NCAA D-II to NCAA D-I.

Western Texas College will begin the spring season at home against Temple College on Jan. 29.

The NFCA convention will be held Dec. 10 in Nashville.