By Diana Ly, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State's Softball and Baseball programs are making their mark on the diamond this season with some great local talent. The softball team is garnering national attention with its top-10 ranking, while the Sun Devil Baseball team is making waves with its young talent, including local freshman phenom, Gage Workman. Along with Workman, both teams have local products that have made an immediate impact this season.
Sophomore Giselle Juarez, known as "G," is a Glendale native whose humble attitude and strong work ethic proves that hard work does pay off. A left-handed pitcher, Juarez, has been garnering the national spotlight, while also picking up many weekly honors. Recently, Juarez was tabbed as one of the 25 finalists for 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Throughout the season, Juarez earned two of the most prestigious NCAA weekly awards, earning both NFCA and USA Softball Division I National Pitcher of the Week honors. The recognition is the first for Juarez and marks the first time an Arizona State pitcher has received the honor since Sun Devil legend and former graduate manager Dallas Escobedo received the award in 2014.
For conference honors, Juarez became the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors for the fourth consecutive week. At the time, this was due to her 70-innings pitched and maintaining a pristine 0.10 ERA, while chalking up 122 strikeouts. The honor ties her with Washington All-America Danielle Lawrie who won the same award for four straight weeks in 2010. The recognition marks the 85th Sun Devil to earn the Pac-12 Player of the Week honors and the last Sun Devil to win four weekly honors since Sun Devil Katelyn Boyd earned Player of the Week honors during the 2012 season.
On the season, Juarez has held opposing hitters to a miniscule .139 batting average while amassing 250 strikeouts, good enough to rank first in the Pac-12, seventh nationally, and ninth all-time in Sun Devil softball history. Juarez's ninth place finish in the record books surpasses Sun Devil Legends, Melannie Kyler from the 1978 season and most recently Dallas Escobedo during the 2014 season. Juarez has also maintained the nation's eighth-best ERA this season with a 0.94, while ranking second in the Pac-12. In her 2018 campaign, Juarez was brilliant in her 15th start of the season by pitching the 30th no-hitter in school history against BYU (7-0) on Friday, March 30. She also helped Arizona State win the series over No. 1 and previously undefeated Washington from March 17-19.
After working her way into all 52 games last season, redshirt senior infielder and Gilbert native, Marisa Stankiewicz, is making her mark on the Sun Devil softball team. Stankiewicz notched her first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor, putting her 88th all-time selection for the Sun Devils. Against North Dakota State and BYU, Stankiewicz led ASU at the plate, blasting three home runs and recording seven RBI leading to an astronomical 2.333 slugging percentage. She ended both series going five for eight at the plate, leading the team to a .625 batting average. During the second game of the Utah series, Stankiewicz added her eighth home run of the season, pulling the score to 7-1 heading to the final half inning. On the season, Stankiewicz earned a .438 on-base percentage due to her 27 walks, ranking first in the Pac-12.
A senior from Mesa, right handed pitcher Breanna Macha provides leadership and experience to the Sun Devil softball team. Macha made an immediate impact her freshman year by notching a Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honor in 2015. Macha had a stellar year last season allowing a career-low 56 runs en route to a 2.22 season ERA. Her performance led to earning NFCA All-Region and All-Pac-12 Third Team honors. Macha is part of the Sun Devil pitching team that earned the ninth lowest ERA in the country for this season. She made her 10th start of the season against North Dakota State where she striked out six Bison players en route to ASU's 10th win of the season. In the second game of the Utah series, Macha held the Utes to just two runs on seven hits while striking out five in her 11th win of the season.
Junior Outfielder and Peoria native, Skylar McCarty, made her presence known last season as one of four players (including Stankiewicz) that started in all 53 games during the 2017 season. She tied for first on the team with the most hits with 53, while also setting a season-high of three hits against Nebraska on March 12, 2017. For Pac-12 play this season, McCarty, launched a grand-slam in the Sun Devil's 4-0 win to sweep the series against California on Sunday, March 25. Rounding out the softball team's local products are a pair of Freshman infielders, Denae Chatman from Goodyear and Bella Loomis from Chandler.
Paving his own path as a Sun Devil, Queens Creek native, Gage Workman, came in as a dynamic shortstop high school prospect with tremendous offensive potential. Workman's father, Widd, played for the Sun Devil Baseball program in the 90's. On the field, Infielder Workman garnered 37 hits including 11 doubles, eight triples, and three-home runs on 104 plate appearances during his high school career. In the classroom, Workman was an excellent student earning a 4.1 GPA. As a Sun Devil, Workman has worked his way into a role as the team's starting third baseman and has come on strong as the season progresses. Workman drove in the game-winning run in ASU's 4-0 victory over No. 16 UCLA. The highlight of his freshman campaign came when he scored the first home run of his career against USC on Sunday, April 8. At Stanford, Workman hit a two-run home run for his second long ball of the year in the top of the ninth during the last game of the series. During the second game of the Utah series, Workman gave ASU the lead by earning his sixth double of the season. On the season, Workman has earned .291 batting average and .347 on-base percentage. Currently sixth nationally and second in the Pac-12 with six triples this season.
Chandler native Drew Swift came in from high school as one of the premium defensive middle infielders in the country. Starting off the preseason, Swift earned the Perfect Game's preseason Pac-12 Freshman of the Year based on Swift's impressive four-year varsity career which included posting a .355 batting average with 118 hits and 107 runs in 102 varsity games. Donning the maroon and gold in the season opener, the local freshman tied third nationally with a .667 season average and was 10th in the Pac-12 with 10 defensive assists after the first week of the season. During the third game of the Stanford series, the Chandler native notched the first extra base hit of his career. Swift is tied for first in the Pac-12 with 125 defensive assists and is second in the Pac-12 as the frosh contributed to fielding 26 double plays this season and helping the Sun Devils rank second in the Pac-12 with 33 total double plays this season.
After spending two seasons under Kevin Kimball at Phoenix college, junior-transfer and right-handed pitcher Sam Romero has made an immediate impact for the maroon and gold this season. In his first career Friday-night start against Oklahoma State, the Phoenix native helped the Sun Devil baseball team earn the victory by going 6.0 innings with just one run allowed while striking out seven batters. During the second game of the Stanford series, Romero had a career-best 7.1 innings pitched with just two hits and two runs allowed. The junior also struck out a career-high eight batters to two walks for his third quality start of the season. Currently, Romero has earned 49 innings pitched with 47 strikeouts and seven quality starts.
Touted as a highly sought-after local high school recruit, Freshman Boyd Vander Kooi was the No. 1 pitching prospect in the state and No. 94 ranked player nationally. The Mesa native and right-hand pitcher has had an impressive start to his freshman campaign, logging a 3-2 record early with a 3.25 ERA. After playing on March 17, 2018 vs. Oregon, his ERA of 1.07 put him 25th nationally and third in the Pac-12. At the time, it was also the third-best ERA for any freshman pitcher in the country.
As a freshman last season, southpaw pitcher Chaz Montoya started off as the team's closer, but moved his way into the Sunday starter lineup after injuries hit the rotation. The Glendale native capped off his freshman campaign with a 5.31 ERA in 20 appearances totaling 59.1 innings and placed second on the Devils in strikeouts with 49. Montoya has made great strides this season by posting an impressive 4.97 ERA, while also striking out 29 in the process. Exceptional in relief this season, Montoya posted five saves in 20 appearances to date, tied for seventh in the Pac-12.
After redshirting for the Sun Devils last season, Left-handed pitcher and Cave Creek native, Dellan Raish, has been one of the most exciting surprises of the 2018 season. The redshirt freshman has been ASU's most reliable player out of the bullpen this season and earned a team-low 2.57 ERA. Raish has struck out 37 batters in 35 innings pitched, easily the most among the team's relief pitchers. Opponents are batting just .190 against Raish this season, a total that would be good for second in the Pac-12 with just a couple more innings to his credit. In the last eight days, Raish has allowed no runs in his last three appearances, going 11.1 innings in that span with nine strikeouts, no walks, and just seven hits allowed.
Below rounds out the baseball program's young, local products.
Arizona State has a long history of attracting local prospects due to its fertile ground of talent on the "diamond." This year is no exception. From veteran MLB outfielder Andre Either to ASU Sports Hall of Fame honoree, Ann Pierson (formerly Rowan), this year's local products join an illustrious line of Sun Devil greats within the baseball and softball programs.
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State's Softball and Baseball programs are making their mark on the diamond this season with some great local talent. The softball team is garnering national attention with its top-10 ranking, while the Sun Devil Baseball team is making waves with its young talent, including local freshman phenom, Gage Workman. Along with Workman, both teams have local products that have made an immediate impact this season.
Sophomore Giselle Juarez, known as "G," is a Glendale native whose humble attitude and strong work ethic proves that hard work does pay off. A left-handed pitcher, Juarez, has been garnering the national spotlight, while also picking up many weekly honors. Recently, Juarez was tabbed as one of the 25 finalists for 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Throughout the season, Juarez earned two of the most prestigious NCAA weekly awards, earning both NFCA and USA Softball Division I National Pitcher of the Week honors. The recognition is the first for Juarez and marks the first time an Arizona State pitcher has received the honor since Sun Devil legend and former graduate manager Dallas Escobedo received the award in 2014.
For conference honors, Juarez became the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors for the fourth consecutive week. At the time, this was due to her 70-innings pitched and maintaining a pristine 0.10 ERA, while chalking up 122 strikeouts. The honor ties her with Washington All-America Danielle Lawrie who won the same award for four straight weeks in 2010. The recognition marks the 85th Sun Devil to earn the Pac-12 Player of the Week honors and the last Sun Devil to win four weekly honors since Sun Devil Katelyn Boyd earned Player of the Week honors during the 2012 season.
On the season, Juarez has held opposing hitters to a miniscule .139 batting average while amassing 250 strikeouts, good enough to rank first in the Pac-12, seventh nationally, and ninth all-time in Sun Devil softball history. Juarez's ninth place finish in the record books surpasses Sun Devil Legends, Melannie Kyler from the 1978 season and most recently Dallas Escobedo during the 2014 season. Juarez has also maintained the nation's eighth-best ERA this season with a 0.94, while ranking second in the Pac-12. In her 2018 campaign, Juarez was brilliant in her 15th start of the season by pitching the 30th no-hitter in school history against BYU (7-0) on Friday, March 30. She also helped Arizona State win the series over No. 1 and previously undefeated Washington from March 17-19.
After working her way into all 52 games last season, redshirt senior infielder and Gilbert native, Marisa Stankiewicz, is making her mark on the Sun Devil softball team. Stankiewicz notched her first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor, putting her 88th all-time selection for the Sun Devils. Against North Dakota State and BYU, Stankiewicz led ASU at the plate, blasting three home runs and recording seven RBI leading to an astronomical 2.333 slugging percentage. She ended both series going five for eight at the plate, leading the team to a .625 batting average. During the second game of the Utah series, Stankiewicz added her eighth home run of the season, pulling the score to 7-1 heading to the final half inning. On the season, Stankiewicz earned a .438 on-base percentage due to her 27 walks, ranking first in the Pac-12.
A senior from Mesa, right handed pitcher Breanna Macha provides leadership and experience to the Sun Devil softball team. Macha made an immediate impact her freshman year by notching a Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honor in 2015. Macha had a stellar year last season allowing a career-low 56 runs en route to a 2.22 season ERA. Her performance led to earning NFCA All-Region and All-Pac-12 Third Team honors. Macha is part of the Sun Devil pitching team that earned the ninth lowest ERA in the country for this season. She made her 10th start of the season against North Dakota State where she striked out six Bison players en route to ASU's 10th win of the season. In the second game of the Utah series, Macha held the Utes to just two runs on seven hits while striking out five in her 11th win of the season.
Junior Outfielder and Peoria native, Skylar McCarty, made her presence known last season as one of four players (including Stankiewicz) that started in all 53 games during the 2017 season. She tied for first on the team with the most hits with 53, while also setting a season-high of three hits against Nebraska on March 12, 2017. For Pac-12 play this season, McCarty, launched a grand-slam in the Sun Devil's 4-0 win to sweep the series against California on Sunday, March 25. Rounding out the softball team's local products are a pair of Freshman infielders, Denae Chatman from Goodyear and Bella Loomis from Chandler.
Paving his own path as a Sun Devil, Queens Creek native, Gage Workman, came in as a dynamic shortstop high school prospect with tremendous offensive potential. Workman's father, Widd, played for the Sun Devil Baseball program in the 90's. On the field, Infielder Workman garnered 37 hits including 11 doubles, eight triples, and three-home runs on 104 plate appearances during his high school career. In the classroom, Workman was an excellent student earning a 4.1 GPA. As a Sun Devil, Workman has worked his way into a role as the team's starting third baseman and has come on strong as the season progresses. Workman drove in the game-winning run in ASU's 4-0 victory over No. 16 UCLA. The highlight of his freshman campaign came when he scored the first home run of his career against USC on Sunday, April 8. At Stanford, Workman hit a two-run home run for his second long ball of the year in the top of the ninth during the last game of the series. During the second game of the Utah series, Workman gave ASU the lead by earning his sixth double of the season. On the season, Workman has earned .291 batting average and .347 on-base percentage. Currently sixth nationally and second in the Pac-12 with six triples this season.
Chandler native Drew Swift came in from high school as one of the premium defensive middle infielders in the country. Starting off the preseason, Swift earned the Perfect Game's preseason Pac-12 Freshman of the Year based on Swift's impressive four-year varsity career which included posting a .355 batting average with 118 hits and 107 runs in 102 varsity games. Donning the maroon and gold in the season opener, the local freshman tied third nationally with a .667 season average and was 10th in the Pac-12 with 10 defensive assists after the first week of the season. During the third game of the Stanford series, the Chandler native notched the first extra base hit of his career. Swift is tied for first in the Pac-12 with 125 defensive assists and is second in the Pac-12 as the frosh contributed to fielding 26 double plays this season and helping the Sun Devils rank second in the Pac-12 with 33 total double plays this season.
After spending two seasons under Kevin Kimball at Phoenix college, junior-transfer and right-handed pitcher Sam Romero has made an immediate impact for the maroon and gold this season. In his first career Friday-night start against Oklahoma State, the Phoenix native helped the Sun Devil baseball team earn the victory by going 6.0 innings with just one run allowed while striking out seven batters. During the second game of the Stanford series, Romero had a career-best 7.1 innings pitched with just two hits and two runs allowed. The junior also struck out a career-high eight batters to two walks for his third quality start of the season. Currently, Romero has earned 49 innings pitched with 47 strikeouts and seven quality starts.
Touted as a highly sought-after local high school recruit, Freshman Boyd Vander Kooi was the No. 1 pitching prospect in the state and No. 94 ranked player nationally. The Mesa native and right-hand pitcher has had an impressive start to his freshman campaign, logging a 3-2 record early with a 3.25 ERA. After playing on March 17, 2018 vs. Oregon, his ERA of 1.07 put him 25th nationally and third in the Pac-12. At the time, it was also the third-best ERA for any freshman pitcher in the country.
As a freshman last season, southpaw pitcher Chaz Montoya started off as the team's closer, but moved his way into the Sunday starter lineup after injuries hit the rotation. The Glendale native capped off his freshman campaign with a 5.31 ERA in 20 appearances totaling 59.1 innings and placed second on the Devils in strikeouts with 49. Montoya has made great strides this season by posting an impressive 4.97 ERA, while also striking out 29 in the process. Exceptional in relief this season, Montoya posted five saves in 20 appearances to date, tied for seventh in the Pac-12.
After redshirting for the Sun Devils last season, Left-handed pitcher and Cave Creek native, Dellan Raish, has been one of the most exciting surprises of the 2018 season. The redshirt freshman has been ASU's most reliable player out of the bullpen this season and earned a team-low 2.57 ERA. Raish has struck out 37 batters in 35 innings pitched, easily the most among the team's relief pitchers. Opponents are batting just .190 against Raish this season, a total that would be good for second in the Pac-12 with just a couple more innings to his credit. In the last eight days, Raish has allowed no runs in his last three appearances, going 11.1 innings in that span with nine strikeouts, no walks, and just seven hits allowed.
Below rounds out the baseball program's young, local products.
| Name | Position | Grade | Hometown |
| Colby Davis | Right-Handed Pitcher | Freshman | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Trevor Hauver | Infielder | Freshman | Chandler, Ariz. |
| Jeremy McCuin | Infielder | Junior | Gilbert, Ariz. |
| Scott Mehan | Outfielder | Freshman | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Zane Strand | Right-Handed Pitcher | Redshirt Freshman | Chandler, Ariz. |
Arizona State has a long history of attracting local prospects due to its fertile ground of talent on the "diamond." This year is no exception. From veteran MLB outfielder Andre Either to ASU Sports Hall of Fame honoree, Ann Pierson (formerly Rowan), this year's local products join an illustrious line of Sun Devil greats within the baseball and softball programs.