CHICO – With no less than 11 seniors on the current roster, the Chico State softball team will have more than a few holes to fill following the upcoming 2012 season. In the spirit of the holidays, Wildcat Head Coach Angel Shamblin has aggressively gone out shopping for new talent, and has wrapped up what she thinks are three winners, as high school standouts Cheyenne Sandoval, Allison Cook and Amanda Cordeiro have signed their National Letter of Intent to join Chico State in 2013.
“We look forward to the tremendous talent all three of these athletes bring to the program,” said Shamblin. “We’re really excited they decided to join the Wildcat family.”
Sandoval, a hard-throwing right-hander who also features an effective array of off-speed and breaking pitches, is about to enter her senior season at Moorpark High School. The southern California product was an All-Marmonte League First Team selection in 2011 thanks to a 13-5 record and 1.59 earned run average, striking out 80 batters in 97 innings of work. As a sophomore reliever, Sandoval posted a 0.67 ERA while striking out nearly a batter an inning. She has won 19 games for the Muskateers in her three varsity seasons.
Cook will provide Chico State with speed and outstanding glove work in the outfield along with a knack for getting on base. A versatile slap hitter who combines power with bunting and touch-slap skills, Cook batted .375 and stole 12 bases last season for Simi Valley High School, leading the Pioneers to their second straight Marmonte League title and earning First Team All-League honors. She was an All-League Second Team selection during her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Cordeiro, entering her senior year this spring at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, is another outfielder who gives the Wildcats speed and sure-handedness on defense. At the plate, the southern California native will be asked to provide Chico State with the type of power that helped lead the Vikings to the 2011 Sunset League championship.
