Long Beach,California- The Long Beach City College softball team kicked off its fall ball season with a dominant performance on Sept. 25, routing Hope International University 18-1 in a special 10-inning preseason scrimmage.
While the lopsided scoreboard looked like a textbook blowout, both coaching staffs utilized the extended 10-inning format as an experimental training tool. With rosters featuring a high volume of fresh faces, the matchup served as a critical benchmark ahead of the official season.
For Hope International assistant coach Ashley Klopfenstein, the exhibition was less about the final score and more about evaluating future talent and getting players necessary repetitions.
“Our players need innings and repetitions, but it also helps us, as a program, and as a four-year, we are looking to see who we can recruit in as well. It helps both their program (LBCC) and our program (HIU) especially this year,” Klopfenstein said.
LBCC sophomore pitcher Ella Haugo echoed that sentiment, noting that fall scrimmages are essential for setting the program’s competitive tone. She emphasized that these early games allow incoming freshmen and transfer students to get their feet wet and understand the high expectations that come with being a member of the team.
“These scrimmages are important because they help set the tone for the season and it’s a good way for the freshman and transfers to get their feet wet in the way that LBCC softball plays and what the program expects from each player.” Haugo said.
Transitioning from high school or travel ball to the college level often brings a wave of natural nerves, especially as players adapt to faster game speeds.
“There has been a lot of adjustment, like skill-wise and mindset-wise,” LBCC freshman pitcher Marina Gonzalez said. “In high school, I wasn’t as nervous, but college is different. I try to not let it affect me because I have a good group of girls that will back me up.”
LBCC softball head coach Megan Martinez said Gonzalez was the player who surprised her the most during the contest, noting how impressively the freshman bounced back from early-preseason nerves.
Klopfenstein noted that the biggest hurdle for incoming college athletes is adjusting to the consistency of collegiate pitching. In travel ball, hitters can often afford to wait for a pitcher to miss badly. At this level, however, players must be highly aggressive and attack the first strike, as they rarely get a second chance.
To counter that collegiate consistency, Martinez expects her squad to maintain a “championship mindset” every day. The Vikings showcased that philosophy against the Royals, particularly in their high-quality at-bats.
“I would describe this team as scrappy,” Haugo said. “We find ways to get on and cause chaos on the bases. We are not a super big team physically, but I think that we have the ability to perform at a high level.”
Sophomore outfielder Jeneva Fletcher noted that the squad has clicked rapidly since summer workouts, building a strong internal connection.
“As a community college student athlete, I view these scrimmages as a stepping path for our in-season games and play. Right now these games on paper are not detrimental but they show us and everyone else what we are capable of moving forward, so I believe they are incredibly important for the upcoming season,” Fletcher said.
“We all have clicked very fast since summer and even though we have a long way to go, I have a good feeling about the connection between us players this year,” Fletcher said.
As the Vikings continue their fall progression, the decisive victory offers a promising preview of what is to come. Martinez expressed immense pride in how her returners stepped up to guide the newcomers through the high-scoring affair.
“Our girls are just as talented as the next,” Martinez said. “The only difference is we’re wearing different colors across our chest.”
LBCC softball will play its first regular season game against Saddleback College on Jan. 22.
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