A BUMPY ROAD HOME PITCHER THRIVING NOW AT COC.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer VALENCIA - It's been a long road for Jennifer Zev. But finally it appears the journey has led to a happy place. After a tumultuous high school softball career that never really got off the ground, followed by a bizarre freshman season at Indiana Tech last year, Zev is pitching for College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. - and doing just fine. She's 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA, and if she keeps things going she just might land a major-college scholarship before she's finished. Zev started her prep career at Valencia but was caught in a numbers crunch, followed by problems with the coaching staff, and she transferred after failing to make varsity for two seasons. Her junior year at Saugus was ruined by academic problems, then a hand injury cost Zev her senior season. Zev graduated in 2003, and she thought she was good enough to play college softball College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is played by men. . The problem was that no one else did. So Zev taped a practice session, then sent copies to various colleges, eventually committing to Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, city (1990 pop. 173,072), seat of Allen co., NE Ind., where the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers join to form the Maumee River; inc. 1840. It is the second largest city in the state, a major railroad and shipping point, a wholesale and distribution hub, last year. She worked her way into the starting rotation and had a solid season, but she missed home so much. Plus, coach Indiana Tech Brenda James, who's no longer there this season, had some off-center tactics, such as forcing the players to clean snow off the field with their cleats. ``I got some good experience and got to play in a lot of games in Indiana, but the coach was crazy,'' Zev said. ``It was kind of scary when I realized 12 of the girls from the season before had quit the team. Plus, the big thing was, Indiana was just too far away and I was homesick home·sick adj. Acutely longing for one's family or home. home  sick . Let's just say Fort Wayne is a lot different than
Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, .''
Until landing at College of the Canyons, Zev's only solace was summer travel ball. At Valencia, she said she was singled out and yelled at by one of her coaches because her father, unbeknownst to her, had called the coach. She came home crying. At Saugus, her academic troubles proved a baffling baf·fle tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie. 2. To impede the force or movement of. n. 1. development for an honors student An honors student is a student in elementary, middle, or high school recognized for achieving high grades. Honors students are recognized on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as "honor rolls". who later made the dean's list dean's list n. pl. deans' lists A list of students in a high school, college, or university who have attained high academic rank. both semesters at Indiana Tech. Zev's passion for softball never waned. ``I just love the sport,'' she said. She's certainly acting like it at College of the Canyons. With key returning right-hander Jessica Bailey off to a slow start because of an injury, Zev has kept COC See chip on chip. above water, and she's rapidly emerging as one of the Western State Conference's brightest new standouts. Her father, Ronald, never could understand why Zev couldn't fit in high school. But he continues to support his daughter 100 percent. ``I guess there's a lot more politics in high school sports than people realize, and the whole thing at Valencia and Saugus was a big mess,'' he said. ``But Jennifer has really persevered, and I'm proud of her.'' Gerry Gittelson, (661) 257-5218 gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com |
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