CHICO – When you have 11 players leaving your program at once, you’re almost forced to undergo an immediate youth movement. Such is the case with the Chico State softball team, which will lose nearly two-thirds of its roster following the 2012 season. Head Coach Angel Shamblin has already infused the Wildcats with some outstanding young talent for the 2013 season and beyond, with high school standouts Desiree' Gonzalez, Brittanie LaMotte,
Devyn Quevedo and Brooke Langeloh the latest batch of recruits to sign their National Letter of Intent to play at Chico State.
The four players will join Amanda Cordeiro, Cheyenne Sandoval and Ali Cook as the Chico State softball team’s largest incoming freshman class since the 2009 season.
Gonzalez, a right-hand power-hitting first baseman, is currently in her senior year at Etiwanda High School. A two-time All-Baseline League Honorable Mention, Gonzalez batted .328 last season with two home runs and 17 runs batted in,
helping lead the Eagles to their second straight league title. She hit .293 and knocked in 12 runs as a sophomore.
LaMotte, a senior at Carson High School, has anchored the Colts’ outfield for the last three seasons with solid glove work and has been part of two Marine League title teams and helped lead Carson to the 2011 Los Angeles City Section CIF championship. A slap hitter with plenty of speed, LaMotte batted .354 last season with three homers and 14 RBI, and was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts. LaMotte was named All-Marine League and Second Team All-City in 2011, and was an All-Marine League Second Team selection as a sophomore.
Quevedo is primarily an outfielder, but can play a variety of positions. Athletic with good bat speed, she batted .341 and drove in 21 runs last season playing for Leland High School in San Jose. Quevedo also notched 13 victories and a 2.84 earned run average in the pitcher’s circle. A three-year varsity starter, she was named the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Junior of the Year while winning First Team All-League and All-County First Team honors in 2011.
Langeloh is a power pitcher who also features a devastating changeup. The right-hander won three games and struck out 44 batters as a junior pitching for Escondido’s San Pasqual High School.
