CHICO – When fans come out to watch the Chico State softball team next season, they’ll definitely need a program to identify the plethora of new players that will sport the Wildcat colors. The ’Cats will feature no less than a dozen additions to the roster, with the latest quartet of recruits – prep stars Brynn Lesovsky and Caitlyn Seymour, and junior college standouts Alex Molina and Desirea Gil – officially signing on to play for Chico State in 2013.
“Every single one of these ladies adds depth to our team on every level,” Head Coach Angel Shamblin said. “We are looking forward to the experience, strength and power all four of these future Cats will add to our team. We’re very excited about the recruits we have signed this year and know they will bring continued success to our program.”
Of the four, Molina could provide the Wildcats with the most immediate impact. The junior righthander from Atwater, who pitched at Division I San Jose State as a freshman, just completed a dominating sophomore season at Southwestern Oregon Community College, posting a 29-4 record and leading the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) with a 1.71 earned run average. Molina tossed 21 games and struck out a conference-high 292 batters in just 201 innings of work. An outstanding hitter as well, Molina batted .386 for the Lakers in 2012 with eight home runs and 43 runs batted in. The former Buhach Colony High School star was 2-0 in 21 games with San Jose State in 2011.
A catcher, Lesovsky comes to Chico after four varsity seasons at nationally-ranked Royal High School in Simi Valley. The southern California native hit .364 as a senior with two home runs and 12 RBI, and provided the Highlanders with solid defense behind the plate. Lesovsky hit .338 her junior year with two homers and 22 RBI. She is the younger sister of UC San Diego All-America standout Kris Lesovsky.
Seymour is an infielder that should contribute heavily to the Wildcats offense in 2013. A four-year varsity player, Seymour wrapped up her prep career this spring for Sacramento’s Kennedy High School by batting .525 in 2012, knocking in 23 runs and stealing 14 bases. As a junior, Seymour hit an eye-popping .607 with four home runs, 25 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
Gil will be asked to provide with some power in the middle of the Chico State lineup. Playing for 2012 National Junior College Athletics Association Division II champion Phoenix Community College, the catcher/infielder batted .398 with 26 home runs and 66 RBI during the regular season, leading the nation in big flies for most of the year and winning all-conference and all-regional honors. Gil played a year of Division II ball at Fort Lewis College (Colo.), and was a prep standout at Santa Cruz High School.
