Fresno State Athletics
Softball Picks Up Six in Early Signing Period
12/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Dec. 11, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State softball has signed a group of six incoming freshmen for the 2002 season as announced by head softball coach Margie Wright this afternoon.
The Bulldogs, whose 2001 season begins Feb. 10 at Cal Poly before hosting Long Beach State the next afternoon at Bulldog Diamond, welcome three out-of-state players and three in-state players. Suiting up in the Bulldog Red and Blue in 2002 are Daisy Gaynor (Sun Valley, Nev.), Laura Ibarra (Alpine, Calif.), Leticia Pacheco (Bloomington, Calif.), Kendra Palmer (Tucson, Ariz.), Julie Selbicky (Pacific Grove, Calif.) and Amanda Wolf (Elgin, Texas).
Out of Edward C. Reed High School, Gaynor has been a three-time team defensive player and Most Valuable Player for RHS. A projected shortstop, she has helped her prep team to the state championship last season.
One of two pitchers inked by the Bulldogs, Ibarra is a 5-9 right-handed pitcher and third baseman from the University of San Diego High School. Guiding USDHS to the San Diego Section CIF Championship as a junior, she has picked up all-state and all-county honors since her freshman season as a varsity starter. In command of five pitches (fastball, rise, change-up, curve and screwball), Ibarra has led USDHS to three consecutive CIF finals. Last season she guided her prep team to the Western League Championship and the CIF title. Nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award, the two-time all-Western League Conference and all- CIF selection was honored as the Western League's Player of the Year and CIF's Division III Player of the Year as a junior.
A left-handed run and slap hitter, Palmer is a 5-8 outfielder out of Salpointe Catholic High School. Palmer has led her prep team to three consecutive Class 5A state championship games -- their third state title appearance in the 1990's.
A right-handed slapper, Pacheco is another versatile player in the infield for the Bulldogs. At 5-2, she has captured first team all-county and all-league honors.
A 5-5 power hitting shortstop that can play second or third base at Notre Dame High School, Selbicky gives Fresno State its third formidable player in the infield. A varsity player since her freshman season, she was recently named 2000 National Fastpitch Coaches Association/Louisville Slugger All-American and picked up first team all-West Region honors. Ranked as one of the Top 32 high school players in the nation, Selbicky is the Notre Dame's first softball All-American and the only player in the Central Coast Section to be honored by the NFCA.
The three-time all-Monterey Bay League pick has led NDHS to three CCS Division III titles. Ranked No. 1 in the state in 1998 in Division III and No. 7 in the state for all divisions, Selbicky also garnered Mercury News Softball Player of the Year and The Californian's All-County Softball Player of the Year last season. She totaled 49 hits, 30 of which were extra base hits, and batted .435 in the No. 3 spot in the line up. Helping NDHS tie the single-season school record in wins (31), Selbicky also scored 35 runs, had 34 RBI and tallied 114 doubles, eight triples and eight home runs to go along with eight stolen bases. Starting at second base her rookie season before moving over to shortstop the last two, she hit .408 as a freshman and .457 as a sophomore.
A 6-2 right-handed pitcher out of Elgin High School, Wolf has command of speed (65 mph) and a variety of pitches (drop, screwball, curve, change, off-speed and rise ball) as a prepster. A four-year varsity starter, Wolf garnered 1998 Newcomer of the Year in 19 AAA District and followed that up with 1999 District AAA MVP honors. As a sophomore she also picked up All-Centex Pitcher of the State in Texas accolades and was team MVP.
