The Long Beach State softball team begins the 2010 season at the Sportco Kick-Off Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., this weekend. The 49ers open the tournament with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 13, as they take on Loyola Marymount (9 a.m.) and Illinois (1:30 p.m.). LBSU then returns to action on Sunday with a twinbill against Kent State (10 a.m.) and Cal State Bakersfield (2 p.m.). All games will be played at Eller Media Stadium on the UNLV campus.

THE OPPONENTS
Loyola Marymount, which was picked to finish second in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, returns 14 letterwinners from a 2009 squad that posted a 24-30 overall record. The Lions welcome back All-PCSC peformers in Melissa Dykema, Amy Charpentier, Sam Fischer and Kelly Sarginson. Fischer is LMU’s top returning hitter, posting a .360 average and 26 RBI last year. Dykema, meanwhile, led the way in the circle with a team-best 3.38 earned run average to go along with 72 strikeouts and three shutouts.

Illinois returns 14 letterwinners and six starters from last year’s team that went 29-17 and finished fifth in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini welcome back their top three hitters in Danielle Zymkowitz (.401 batting average, 48 runs scored), Hollie Pinchback (.350 BA, 38 RBI) and Hope Howell (.324 BA, 31 RBI). Monica Perry will once again look to lead the pitching staff after posting a 24-15 record with 26 complete games, four shutouts and 223 strikeouts in 2009.

Kent State welcomes back 15 letterwinners and seven starters from its 2009 Mid-American Conference (East Division) championship team. Leah Archual is the Golden Flashes top returner as she hit for a .312 average with 23 runs scored and 11 RBI. Kylie Reynolds, meanwhile, is Kent State’s No. 1 returning pitcher, finishing last season with a 20-17 record while compiling a 2.14 ERA and 345 strikeouts.

Cal State Bakersfield returns 14 letterwinners and seven starters from a 2009 squad that finished with a 28-23 overall record. In 2010, the Roadrunners will be playing their third full NCAA Division I schedule and will be members of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC). Danielle Lyman is CSUB’s top returner with a .361 batting average, while Jaimey Kleinsmith posted a team-best 31 RBI in 2009. Brittany Johnson looks to lead the way on the mound after compiling a 2.79 ERA and 62 strikeouts last year.

TURNER NAMED TO PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Junior pitcher Brooke Turner was named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) announced Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Turner is coming off a solid sophomore season in which she earned second-team All-Big West Conference honors. The Buena Park, Calif., native finished the year with 18 wins, which included impressive victories over ranked foes UCLA (No. 3) and Fresno State (No. 12). She also compiled six shutouts, 157 strikeouts and a 2.35 earned run average. As a freshman, Turner garnered second-team All-America recognition, as well as first-team All-West Region and first-team all-conference accolades. She was also tabbed the 2008 Big West Pitcher of the Year.

49ERS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN THE BIG WEST
Long Beach State was picked to finish second in the 2010 Big West preseason poll as voted on by the league’s eight head coaches, the conference office announced Feb. 2.

In a tight race, the 49ers claimed one first-place vote and 51 total points, putting them just behind defending Big West champion Cal Poly, which received 56 points and four first-place nods. The Beach was followed by Cal State Fullerton, which earned 50 points (two first-place votes), while UC Santa Barbara (43 points) and Cal State Northridge (28 points, one first-place vote) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. UC Davis (25), Pacific (19) and UC Riverside (16) rounded out the poll.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Once again, The Beach has a tough non-conference schedule as it prepares for Big West play which begins in April. The 49ers will face 14 opponents that were either ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason polls. Thirteen of the teams on LBSU’s slate also advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

ON DECK
Long Beach State returns to Las Vegas next weekend for the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, Feb. 19-21.The 49ers will play five games in three days, beginning with a doubleheader against Boise State and Oregon. 

Reports From LBSU