2017 was good to the Cal State Fullerton softball program so before we turn the page for 2018, let's take a look back on some of the big things that happened to the Titans this past year.

• After being selected as the favorites to win the conference, the Titans lived up to the hype absolutely dominating the Big West and took home the championship. Thanks to a 12-game conference winning streak from late April into early May, Fullerton ran away with first place and ended up winning the title by five games. Winning the title made them back-to-back Big West champions for the first time in over a decade.
  
  
• Fullerton made their 27th NCAA Regional appearance as they headed to UCLA for the Los Angeles Regional. After beating Lehigh and San Jose State, the Titans played the host Bruins in the final game, but were defeated 9-1.
  
  
• The Titans showed that teamwork really does make the dream work this past year as Fullerton won the championship despite not having Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, nor Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
  
  
• The team took home nine BWC awards for the year including head coach Kelly Ford winning Coach of the Year. Delynn Rippy, Lexi Gonzalez, and Kelsey Kessler all earned First Team selections. Ariana Williams took home a Second Team selection. Shianne Brannan, Zoe Richard, and Carissa Rivera earned Honorable Mentions while Arianna Burns and Zoe Richard made the All-Freshman team.
  
  
• Feb 26: Fullerton takes down No. 17 Utah 1-0.
  
  
• March 5: Fullerton takes down No. 22 Baylor on a 1-0 walkoff win.
  
  
• March 9: Fullerton shuts out SDSU 2-0 giving coach Ford her 150th career win at CSF.
  
  
• March 15: Fullerton defeats UC Davis 9-5 marking the 1,500th win in the program's history.
  
  
• The Titans touched up the record books a little bit in 2017:
  • Delynn Rippy went on a 13-game hitting streak in the month of April tying her for ninth all-time for longest hit streak. She also finished her career seventh all-time for both career stolen bases and batting average.
  • Ariana Williams stole 27 bases for the season which is tied for the most all-time in a single-season for the Titans. She also moved into second most all-time for her career. Teammate Brooke Clemetson's 15 steals this past season puts her tied for tenth all-time in stolen bases.
  • Sammie Vandiver had another solid year for the Titans and she currently ranks fifth all-time in batting average and sixth all-time in on base percentage.
  • Shortstop Shianne Brannan had another fantastic defensive year and she moved into tenth all-time in career assists. She also ranks seventh all-time in hit by pitches.
    
    
• Cal State Fullerton softball saw five of their athletes graduate last spring and have two more that just graduated this winter.
  
  
• 2017 saw four Titan alum continue their playing careers in international ball as Missy Taukeiaho, Desiree Ybarra, Lexi Gonzalez, and Kelsey Kessler all played on international teams this year.
  
  
• Mikaela Francis did a lot of traveling thanks to the BOLD Women's Leadership Network. She went overseas to Laos to teach English to students as well as traveling to New York this past October.
  
  
• Nyah Rodman was selected to go to Argentina on a study abroad program beginning in January 2018.
  
  
• With the loss of eight athletes following the season, the Titans introduced their eight new recruits to fill the vacancies. While most times it might take some adjusting to the new program, these girls fit in perfectly from the start and helped the Titans go 7-1 in their fall schedule.
  
  
• Among those new recruits is arguably the most decorated player in Division I softball and that's the National Gatorade Player of the Year, right-handed pitcher Taylor Dockins. In her time at Norco HS she earned All-League honors all four years, All-League MVP twice, All-State honors four times, MaxPreps Player of the Year, as well as many All-Tournament selections and All-Tournament MVPs.
  
  
• Head coach Kelly Ford inked a new contract keeping her at the helm of the Titans through the 2020 season.
  
  
• Coach Ford was inducted into the CCCFCA Hall of Fame to honor her outstanding coaching tenure at Mt SAC.
  
  
• Associate Head Coach Jorge Araujo received the Rising Star Award from One Dream Zero Distraction Management.
  
  
• Fullerton welcomed new assistant coach, ASU pitching legend Dallas Escobedo to the coaching staff. Escobedo also signed a new pro contract to keep playing in the NPF with the reigning champion Scrap Yard Dawgs.
  
  
• Coach Escobedo received the Client of the Year award from the NFCA.
  
  
• Caitlin Grimes moved from Director of Ops to the Titans hitting coach and the offensive numbers are on the rise.
  
  
• The softball program announced the installation of a memorial bench in honor of the late Linda Shafor. Shafor was a volunteer coach for the inaugural team in the 1979-80 season and from 1986 through 1992.
  
  
• Softball legends Kathy Van Wyk and Tiffany Boyd were inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Hall of Fame.

Opening day is just 41 days away! The Titans will be hosting the Titan Classic Feb. 9-11 and opening up their season with a double-header against Rutgers and Utah State on Friday, Feb. 9.