Pioneers add eight players, three coaches for 2011
The Cal State East Bay softball team added eight players and three assistant coaches for the 2011 season. (Photo: Erica Patterson)
- August 21, 2010
HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay softball team and Head Coach Barbara Pierce announced the signing of eight players for the 2011 season on Friday. The Pioneers also announced the addition of assistant coaches Nicole Neuerburg, Kate Gentile and Rachelle Boone to their staff.
"I am thrilled to have a group of such qualified and experienced coaches on staff," Pierce said. "Their knowledge and incredible playing experience will help to take this program to the next level."
Neuerburg joins the staff after an impressive collegiate and professional career. A pitcher for Division I Texas State from 2001-04, Neuerburg was the 2002 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year after leading the Bobcats to the regular season title and a 23-4 record in league play. During her time at Texas State, Neuerburg was named All-Southland Conference four times and helped guide the Bobcats to two NCAA Tournament appearances, while amassing 1,018 strikeouts and 107 wins. The Lake Jackson, Texas, native is one of less than 60 pitchers in NCAA Division I history to reach 1,000 strikeouts or 100 wins.
Following her successful college career, Neuerburg went on to play for the Texas Thunder of the National Pro Fastpitch league for one season. While with the Thunder, Neuerburg posted a 2.73 ERA, striking out 37 in 59 innings pitched. Neuerburg also has coaching experience with all ages and levels in the camp, private and team settings.
A four-year member of the Italian National Team, Gentile comes to Cal State East Bay after playing professionally in The Netherlands and Italy for the last seven years. A 2004 Penn State graduate, Gentile anchored the Nittany Lions behind the plate after transferring from Indiana State. As a member of the Italian National Team, Gentile helped the team win the 2005 and 2007 European Championship. Serving as captain during Italy's 2006 World Championship campaign in Beijing, Gentile led the squad to a sixth-place finish, the best in Italian team history.
After beginning her collegiate career at Sonoma State, Boone transferred to Division I University of Vermont for her sophomore and junior seasons and served as team captain in 2008. After Vermont cut its softball program, Boone joined the Pioneers for her senior season. At East Bay, she started 46 games behind the plate, drove in a team-leading 21 runs and was named softball's Scholar-Athlete Award winner and Teammate of the Year.
The Pioneers also added eight players, who, along with earlier signee Cassidy Zeiner, make up the 2011 signing class. All told, the group includes seven community college transfers, one four-year transfer and one freshman.
Talia Ferrari comes to Cal State East Bay from Cal Lutheran, where she pitched for the Regals for the last two seasons. Ferrari ranks fifth all-time at Cal Lutheran in career strikeouts, and led the staff with eight wins, a 3.02 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 2010, while batting .286 with 11 RBI and 12 runs.
Sierra College transfer Mishka Hamor served as a team captain in 2010, guiding the Wolverines to the 2010 Super Regionals. The centerfielder from Ferndale helped Sierra to a 2009 California State Championship appearance and the best season in program history.
Heidi McAllister joins the Pioneers from Arizona Western College where she pitched and played second base. The Sutter native led the Matador pitching staff in 2010, throwing 152 innings and collecting 15 wins while helping the team to a regional playoff berth and hitting .344 on the year.
Joining CSUEB from Moorpark College, Taylor Neumann is a junior catcher and the 2010 Western State Conference Player of the Year. Neumann was also a two-time All-State and All-Conference selection with the Raiders.
Devin Salmones is a first baseman and outfielder out of Cerritos College. The Los Angeles native helped the Falcons take home back-to-back South Coast Conference titles and compile a combined record of 80-17-1 during her time there. Salmones earned first-team All-South Coast Conference honors, took home the Cerritos Coach's Award and batted .355 with five homeruns and 30 RBI as a sophomore.
Hailing from Los Altos, Sarah Velasquez joins the Pioneers from Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. A member of the 2009 State Championship team, Velasquez batted .372 and had a 1.000 fielding percentage at first and third base as a freshman. In 2010, she helped Mt. SAC to a state runner-up finish, batting .330 and hitting a grand slam in the state tournament.
Kassy Winger comes to Cal State East Bay from Ohlone College, where she played second and shortstop for the Renegades in 2007 and 2008. The Livermore native was an All-State selection as a sophomore after hitting .510 with 56 RBI and 15 stolen bases. In 2007, Winger batted .356 with 29 RBI and 18 steals and struck out just 13 times in her two-year career at Ohlone.
Jamie Yaller, a middle infielder out of Moorpark College, rounds out the new additions to the Pioneer roster. A 2010 Western State Conference Honorable Mention selection, Yaller batted .360 as a sophomore playing alongside fellow signee Taylor Neumann.
Cal State East Bay lost two seniors to graduation in 2010, while the Pioneers will welcome back 11 returners along with two redshirts from last year.