COC NOTEBOOK: COC TRACK TEAM CAPS HISTORICAL SEASON.

Byline: Erik Boal Special of the Daily News

The College of the Canyons women's track and field team added the final piece to its most successful season in the program's 11-year history with an eighth-place finish at the California Community College State Championships last week at American River College in Sacramento.

The Cougars capped an impressive five-week run to end the season, which included a runner-up finish at the Western State Conference finals April 23 in Bakersfield and a sixth-place showing May 5-6 at the Southern California Championships at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

Six Canyons athletes combined to score 28 points in the women's competition, which was won by Sacramento City College, 88-84 over Cerritos. Ryan Davis earned six points for the Cougars' men's team with a third-place finish in the shot put (52 feet, 3 inches).

Freshman Dana Rattler was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.01 seconds) and heptathlon (4,137 points), accounting for 10 points. Rattler also contributed to a third-place finish in the 400 relay and a sixth in the 1,600 relay, which produced another nine points.

Along with Cat Asaije, Danielle Stinnette and Sara Soltani, Rattler helped Canyons set a program record of 3:57.03 in the 1,600 relay. Rattler teamed with Danielle Stinnette, Michelle Stinnette and Asaije to run 47.91 in the 400 relay.

Danielle Stinnette ran a personal-best 56.74 in the 400 to finish third and score six points. She also took ninth in the 200 in 25.76. Michelle Stinnette contributed the remaining three points to Canyons' total with a sixth-place finish in the long jump (17-4). Linda Cohn, a 52-year-old freshman, concluded her impressive season with a 10th-place finish in the javelin (106-11).

--Abundance of awards: Canyons' softball and baseball teams each had nine players selected all-WSC, highlighted by sophomore shortstop Erica Duhart earning softball Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with a .567 batting average, with 31 runs scored, 24 RBI, 11 doubles and three home runs.

Joining Duhart on the first team was freshman pitcher Ashley Kirk, who was 8-0 with a 0.58 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 48 innings. Other first-team picks included second baseman Hannah Lau, who hit .536 with 32 runs and 18 RBI, and third baseman Kirsten Lindgreen, who hit .500 with 33 runs, 28 RBI and five home runs.

Duhart and Lau were also two of the 18 players from Southern California selected to the all-state team, which was voted on by the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The Cougars - who earned a share of their fourth consecutive conference title - had two players each on the second team and honorable mention. Freshmen Janette Galindo and Val Rico, former Burroughs of Burbank teammates, were second-team selections, and sophomores Megan Allen and Jennifer Zev were named honorable mention.

Galindo led the Cougars - who were eliminated from the postseason by the host team in the championship game of the Cypress regional - with seven home runs, and Zev was 8-2 with 42 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA in 59 innings.

The Cougars' baseball team, which missed the postseason after winning the past two conference titles, had three players selected to the each of the first, second and honorable mention teams.

Sophomore first baseman Mike Alvarado (.316, 14 RBI), freshman infielder Brian Chavez (.301, 3 HR) and freshman outfielder Matt Stevens (.429, 19 RBI) were named to the first team.

Sophomores Max Hibbs (3-0, 1.50 ERA, 50 strikeouts), Chris Palma (3-2, 2.58 ERA, 41 strikeouts) and freshman third baseman Nick Petrucci (.341, 16 runs) were named to the second team. The three honorable mention picks were outfielders Kyle Boggio (16 RBI) - a sophomore - and freshmen Trevor Davidson (.339, 15 runs) and Jeff Knosp (.308).

Erik Boal, [phone]

erik.boal(at)dailynews.com