Wizard's Whispers (Hot!)
Arioto Makes U.S.A. National Team - and Other Collegiate Wizardry
Three graduates of the Sorcerer program, all of whom in recent years have been selected for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, continued to make headlines.
Cal junior Valerie Arioto, a former academy student, star Sorcerer club player and former academy pitching instructor, has been selected as an alternate on the 2010 United States National Team. Her selection follows her playing last summer on the National Team that captured the Japan Cup.
Arioto, an infielder/pitcher for the Bears, helped lead the USA team to the Japan Cup gold medal with an RBI against Japan and homer against Taipei. At Cal, Val capped her sophomore campaign by being an NFCA and Easton All-American and All-Pac 10 and All Pacific Region selection.
Val was also named recently to the 50-athlete national collegiate Player of the Year Watch List for the 2010 season.
Amber Smith, the former Sorcerer first baseman/pitcher, concluded her collegiate career as the Missouri Valley Conference's all-time career home run leader with 47. Smith, who was an all-conference selection in each of her four seasons at Illinois State, was selected for the National Player of the Year Watch list in 2006, when she was named to the All-American team.
Former Sorcerer slugger Samantha Camuso, who led UCLA in hitting as a freshman in 2008 to become a top 25 finalist for that year's Player of the Year award, wasn't as fortunate this past season. Camuso suffered season-ending shoulder surgery last January, a major setback to the Bruins' hopes for a national title. Sammy has since been granted a medical redshirt and will enter the 2010 campaign as a sophomore.
As a frosh Camuso hit .366, with a slugging percentage of .549, earning her second team All-Pac 10 and All-Pacific Region honors.
During the 2010 collegiate season, 57 former Sorcerer students and/or players are competing for Division I colleges across America. And, watch out collegiate softball world - more great players are on the way!