CHICO – With the recent addition of three junior college transfers, Chico State softball Head Coach Angel Shamblin continues to stockpile some very promising talent for the 2011 season. Fullerton College infielders Diana Payan and Jackie Munoz, along with Grossmont College outfielder Britt Wright, have each signed their National Letter of Intent to play for the Wildcats next season.

“We are so excited about Diana, Jackie and Britt,” Shamblin said. “We feel that each of them will be able to make big contributions to the Wildcats’ 2011 season. Diana brings solid defense and strength to our lineup; Jackie brings speed and athleticism; Britt will also provide speed and is a true triple threat at the plate. All three are great additions to our Wildcat family.”

Payan, a 5’2” middle infielder, hit .414 lifetime at Fullerton College and is a two-time All-Orange Empire Conference first team selection. Last season Payan hit .409 (eighth best in the OEC) with three home runs and 22 runs batted in, earning California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) All-SoCal first team honors while helping the Hornets reach the CCCAA State Championship Super Regionals. A 2008 graduate of South El Monte High School, Payan led the Eagles to two straight Mission Valley League titles, batting .538 her senior season and being named to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s All-Valley first team.

Munoz, who played third base during her two years at Fullerton College, really came into her own this past spring, batting .328 her sophomore season with a team-high six home runs and 30 RBI. In addition to pounding out 16 extra base hits, Munoz stole nine bases en route to earning an OEC first team All-Conference selection and contributing to the Hornets 2010 postseason run. A southern California native, the 5’6” Munoz starred at Anaheim’s Esperanza High School, hitting .406 with six homers and 35 RBI her senior year.

Wright, a 5’4” lefthander, was one of the top hitters in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) in 2010, batting .440 with two home runs and 22 RBI, leading the conference in triples (10) and stolen bases (25). She helped the Griffins capture the PCAC crown and reach the CCCAA State Championship Super Regionals, earning All-PCAC first team honors for her efforts. In 2009, Wright attended Chabot College in her hometown of Hayward and batted .353 with two homers, 18 RBI and 17 stolen bases, which ranked fourth in the Coast Conference-North. Wright played prep ball at Castro Valley High School.