By Bill Sheehan
For Cal State Fullerton's softball program, it was a day to honor its past, savor its present and look toward its future.
This month, the school unveiled its newly renovated 6,500 square-foot softball clubhouse. Scores of Titans supporters, including some members of Fullerton's 1986 NCAA championship team, were on hand for the ribbon cutting. The '86 team was inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Hall of Fame a few hours later.
Judi Garman, Fullerton's legendary softball head coach, recalled struggling with limited resources when launching the sport in the 1980 season. "I started the softball program with basically nothing. To see this beautiful facility now --- I'm so proud of Cal State Fullerton for stepping up and doing this. It's awesome," said Garman, who guided the Titans for 20 years.
Titans Director of Athletics Jim Donovan served as master of ceremonies for the festivities, which began with speeches at Anderson Family Field. He paid tribute to Garman and her successor, Michelle Gromacki. Garman led the school to eight consecutive 50-win seasons and five Women's College World Series appearances, including the 1986 championship. Gromacki won five Big West Conference titles during her 13-year tenure as head coach.
Donovan thanked many people and entities for helping make the renovation a reality, including Steve Di Tolla, the retiring senior associate athletics director. Di Tolla spearheaded the six-year, $15.1-million effort to upgrade the softball clubhouse and build a new baseball clubhouse.
Fullerton president praises softball's legacy
University President Fram Verjee, the first of five speakers, said supporters could feel the Titans softball legacy at the event. "It's a legacy of commitment, of inclusion, with a welcoming nature. And it's fearless in the face of better funded programs. These women fight and win against those odds."
Next up, representing former Titans players, was alumna Monica Longcrier, who played first base from 1999 to 2002.
She recalled walking across the northern part of campus in the dark after returning from road games and the team crowding into a 400-square-foot locker room. "To have this state-of-the-art facility is amazing," she said.
"It's always been about Titans pride – pride for the players that came before us, and pride for the players that continue to pave the way," said Longcrier, who is a fourth-grade teacher for the Anaheim Elementary School District.
Giving advice to the current players, Longcrier quoted the late Cal State Fullerton sports psychologist Ken Ravizza: "Be where you need to be, when you need to be there. Be in the moment, whatever you are doing."
Raci Miranda, a freshman righthanded pitcher from Strawberry, Arizona, spoke for the current student-athletes. She thanked the donors and expressed gratitude to President Virjee and his wife Julie, administrators, coaches, alumni, construction workers and everyone who supports the Titans.
"The new clubhouse addition to Titan softball is historic, and it is going to improve our program tremendously. We hope to see you this season and especially when we win the Big West championship, said Miranda, to cheers from her teammates and fans.
Balcony renamed 'The Cervantes Family Terrace'
Joe Cervantes then spoke for donors, supporters and players' families. Cervantes, senior executive vice president of operations at R.D. Olson Construction in Irvine, and his wife Paula pledged a substantial funding gift to the softball program. For their donation, the renovated clubhouse's patio deck will be renamed "The Cervantes Family Terrance."
"It's always exciting to come here and see their degree of competitiveness, The skills they are developing will be so instrumental in their success later in life," said Cervantes, who daughter Ari" is a Fullerton grad and was a standout Titans pitcher from 2008-2011.
"As a builder, I'm really happy the girls have their own locker room and showers. The clubhouse has all the things you need for keeping Southern California talent at home. I know it's in them to bring back a college championship to Cal State Fullerton."
Fullerton head coach Kelly Ford, whose teams have won four Big West titles in the last five seasons, was the final speaker. She called it "a historic day for Titan softball" and promised this year's team would compete on every pitch, adapt and be resilient.
She mentioned that the team had a special guest last week. Pitcher Taylor Dockins, who played during the 2018-19 seasons before liver cancer put her on the inactive list, visited the field this month for the first time since her liver transplant in October. "She is healthy and doing fantastic. Taylor is with us every single step we take," she said.
Ford, who is in her 10th year as head coach, also took time to name off the career paths for her current student-athletes, with the team members taking turns standing as occupations such as "social worker," "police officer," "lawyer" and "mayor of Oxnard" were called out.
The crowd then stepped over to the renovated clubhouse, which is located near the softball diamond's left field. The building previously had been shared with the baseball team.
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, supporters were given tours of the two-story complex which features brand new locker rooms, coaches' offices, a game room, athletic training and video analysis rooms as well as fully covered batting cages. The team went without a locker room for the last two years during construction.
Afterward, lunch was served outside the clubhouse.
Judi Garman funds honors wall, interactive screen of former players
Garman made a $50,000 donation to the softball program. Her contribution will fund a tradition and honors wall on the second floor. The display includes an interactive screen that will provide photos and statistics of every student-athlete who has suited up for Fullerton.
"It's a chance to honor the Titans who have made such a significant contribution over the years," said Garman. "We started out as 'Cal State Who," but we have made a real mark in the softball world."
Gromacki, Fullerton's second softball coach and a Titans player from 1985-87, said the facility upgrades will make a huge difference. "It reminds me of something baseball has in the professional leagues," said Gromacki, who was a catcher on the Titans national championship team.
JoAnn Ferrieri and Connie Clark, two other members of the 1986 champions, cheered the improvements.
"It's gorgeous. They did an amazing job. It's what the kids deserve," said Ferrieri, who traveled from West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a softball assistant coach at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce and owns and operates Rhino Softball, an instructional and consulting company in Lake Worth
"Many schools are upping their recruiting game, and this facility is upping our game. Nothing but up from here," said Ferrieri, who was an All-American at third base for the Titans. Before that, she was featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of Sports Illustrated as a New Jersey prep pitching ace.
Former Titans pitching star says it's all about family
Clark, who was named the nation's top softball player in 1987 in addition to earning All-American honors, applauded the upgrades and said she was extremely proud of the softball program.
"The sense of pride and family, I know it sounds like a cliché, but you feel that. Brick and mortar are great, but it is all about family," said Clark, who like Garman, was inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Hall of Fame in the aught years.
She was the inaugural softball head coach at the University of Texas, where she was 873-401-3 with five Women's College World Series appearances in a 22-year career. Clark also coached the Netherlands national softball team. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Megan Delgadillo, a sophomore center fielder from Riverside, called the new complex phenomenal. "It's freaking awesome. It's so cool to have a space to be in before and after practice. Our seniors started crying because they were so excited when we first entered the locker room.
"With the technology room, we can do scouting there instead of us all crammed in the press box. It's going to bring our program to the next level," said Delgadillo, who is the team's leadoff hitter and was named to the All-Big West Second Team last season.
Maria Cowles, a fan wearing an orange Titans visor, drove from Seal Beach to be part of the celebration. "It's about time the women got something," said Cowles, whose son is a Fullerton graduate.
Longcrier, the Fullerton alum and former player, perhaps summed up the day best. She credited the "Big 3" of Garman, Gromacki and Ford for Fullerton softball's success over the decades. "The one thing they have in common throughout the years – they truly want the absolute best for this Titan program."