Wildcats add seven players

Wilson adds seven for 2006 Wildcat roster

ABILENE -- ACU head softball coach Chantiel Wilson announced Monday that she has added seven players to the 2006 Wildcat roster as her team tries to make a repeat run to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament.

The Wildcats last season finished 31-22 and reached the regional tournament for the first time in program history.  However, ACU lost three key players off that team in all-America first baseman Katie Bryan, all-region third baseman Valerie Malkinson, all-conference second baseman Kristin Alvarado and all-conference catcher Ashley Whittenberg.

ACU will return several key components to next year's team, including all-conference pitcher Jennifer Leal (21 wins in 2005), all-conference outfielder Jade Wilson and shortstop Daisy Barcena.

Leal will be joined on the Wildcats' pitching staff by Sarah Vidalin (transfer from Vernon College) and Kristine Beristianos (transfer fro Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif.).  Samantha Borgeson is a junior college transfer from Vernon who could be the Wildcats' starting catcher in 2006, while Nicole Deel is a transfer from Cerritos College (Calif.) who could take Malkinson's place at third base.  Jenna Daugherty is a transfer from San Jose City College who could take Bryan's place at first base.  The other two additions are high school players Jessica Schwab of San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif., and Kimbery Partin from Deer Park.

Here's a brief look at each of the five transfers:

Samantha Borgeson (Rogers, TX / Vernon College) -- Two-time all-conference catcher. ... Two-time National Fastpitch Coaches' Association sscholar athlete and nominatd for NJCAA academic all-America team. ... In 2005, Borgeson hit .342 with four home runs and 28 RBI with a fielding percentage of .988.

Sarah Vidalin (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Vernon College) -- First team all-conference and conference Pitcher of the Year in 2005. ... Member of the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference academic all-conference team. ... Recorded a 21-9 record with 209 strikeouts and 2.24 ERA in 184 2/3 innings of work in 2005. ... 209 strikeouts is second in Vernon College history.

Nicole Deel (Bellflower, Calif. / Cerritos College) -- 1st team all-conference, 1st team all-Southern California and 2nd team al-state infielder. ... In 2005, Deel hit .365 with 13 doubles and a Cerritos College-record nine home runs. ... In 2004, she hit .264 with three home runs and 25 RBI.

Kristine Beristianos (Newark, Calif. / Ohlone College) -- Two-time first team all-state and two-time conference Pitcher of the Year. ... Beristianos won 51 games over two seasons, including going 28-5 with a 1.45 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 2005.

Jenna Daugherty (Gilroy, Calif. / San Jose City College) -- 1st team all-conference, Defensive Player of the Year, 3rd team all-state first baseman. ... In 2005, she hit .392 with 14 doubles. ... Including her senior season in high school and her two years at SJCC, Daugherty committed just one error.