Northridge Adds Alves to Sturdy Pitching Staff

Cal State Northridge added to its already loaded stable of pitchers Tuesday when Christy Alves of Burroughs High signed a letter of intent to play softball.

Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said he considers Alves, a right-hander, one of the top five pitchers in Southern California. CSUN, which has a 45-11 record and is ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II, also has All-American Debbie Dickmann and sophomore Tracy Fox returning next season.

Alves, who has a 10-1 record and is averaging two strikeouts per inning this season, is considered a power pitcher. Torgeson said she will be needed to replace senior Lisa Martin, a hard-throwing right-hander who is 15-2 this season.

“She’s of the quality that could come in and help us immediately,” Torgeson said of Alves. “We have Tracy, a left-hander, and Debbie, who keeps getting better and better, but we have to look to the future, especially if we’re going to make the jump.”

Torgeson was referring to the possibility of Northridge moving to Division I status in two years. “It’s a big jump,” he said, “and it might take our young pitchers two years to get ready.”

Alves had banner seasons as a freshman and sophomore at Burroughs but struggled with her control last season. Torgeson, however, is confident that any problems have been ironed out. “Don Sarno, her pitching coach, speaks very highly of her and he’s one of the best in the business,” Torgeson said.

Alves, who selected CSUN over San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has an earned-run average of 0.26 this season, four no-hitters and four one-hitters. She is also batting .415.

In her high school career, Alves is 55-13 and she has 742 strikeouts in 488 innings, 12 no-hitters and an ERA of 0.43.

Northridge also has signed Patty Pearson of Fallbrook High, a utility player who is the leading hitter in San Diego County.