Fullerton, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton's 2014 team hosted more than 40 returning alumnae to campus to celebrate the nearly 35-year history of the program. A seven inning slow pitch game pitted those who graduated after the year 2000 with those who graduated prior to that.
For many of the former players it was the first time they experienced the Anderson Family Field environment and were able to visit with former teammates or meet members of the coaching staff.
"This was an amazing event, one we plan to make an annual celebration, where we had a chance to have fun, let these women catch up with each other and meet members of our team," Titans head coach Kelly Ford said. "And, did you see how many of these former greats could still swing it?"
The game, which was won by the younger group but not by as large a margin as your best guess might've indicated, featured several standout moments. Fullerton's first All American, Pam Edde (selected in 1981), pitching to one of its most recent honorees, Julie Watson (selected in 2004). The Titans first three-time All American, Sue Lewis (who still holds career records for hits, doubles, triples and ranks second on the all-time list in home runs) driving a ball to the outfiled fence, but it being flagged down by one of Cal State Fullerton's most recent alumna members, Ashley Carter.
The first mother-daughter tandem, Teri Young Doucette and Jessica Doucette, in the history of the program on the field at the same time. And, the all-time leader in career home runs for the Titans, Yasmin Mossadeghi and former teammate Monica Lucatero blasting back-to-back roundtrippers on the afternoon as they did so often throughout their storied careers from 1999-2002. The final score after six innings was a 5-4 win by the younger alumnae, but many of them were heard commenting, "Whew," at the game's conclusion.
And, for many of the more than a hundred family and friends in attendance at the private event, the highlight of the competitive part of the afternoon may have been the seventh inning when several members of the Cal Poly Pomona alumnae joined those Titans who competed in the 80s and 90s on the field for a friendly "we got it all started in Orange County" rivalry inning. Hall of Fame coach (and player) Shirley Toppley joined the team on the field and caught the inning for the former Broncos. (The 1979-80 team, of which Edde and T. Doucette were members, co-hosted the first tournament that would become the Judi Garman Classic with the Pomona team of that era.)
"It was a time for everyone to come back to campus and reconnect with their alma mater and it was a great time for our team to meet the people behind all the stories that they've seen, heard and read about within the Titan tradition," Coach Ford said. "There are many people for me to thank who helped pull this off besides our staff and players. Alumna Chrissy (Hartman) Haines and Jenn Holt are two people I do want to single out for their help spreading the word. We would not have had this great a turn out without them," she added.
The event, which also featured a dinner and a tour of facilities, will become an annual one that may be open to the public in the future.