June 11, 2007

Erb has a dream season at Arizona

Former Camarillo star experiences World Series title as a freshman

By Rhiannon Potkey

Lauren Erb (Camarillo) could have accepted the scholarship at another school and been an immediate starter.

But her dream was to play softball for Arizona. So Erb sacrificed her ego for a spot on the bench, and was rewarded last week with a national title.

Although only a bit player this season as the bullpen catcher, the freshman felt just as much satisfaction as her teammates after Arizona defeated Tennessee in the championship of the College World Series.

“It was unbelievable,” Erb said. “I have never experienced anything like that in my life. It was just insane. I can’t even describe how amazing it was.”

Erb turned down offers from schools like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal State Fullerton to attend Arizona. As a recruited walk-on, she wasn’t even guaranteed a spot on the traveling roster.

But after working hard in the fall, Arizona coach Mike Candrea named Erb the bullpen catcher — a position she never even played before this season.

“I was scared about what would happen if I came here and it didn’t work out for me,” Erb said. “But I would have never forgiven myself for not trying to do what I really wanted.”

She would also have felt like a hyprocrite.

During her senior year at Camarillo, Erb advised her best friend Katelyn Miller to “shoot for the stars” by attending Oregon State to play softball.

“She looked at me and said, ‘Why the hell aren’t you?’ ” Erb said. “We both got out of the truck and said we were going to follow our hearts and went for it.”

Erb fell in love with the Arizona program when her father, George, took her to the College World Series in Oklahoma City to watch the Wildcats play in 2003.

“I am very fortunate I have parents who can help me out and pay for school,” Erb said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have the opportunity to live my dream. I am a lucky little girl.”

Arizona pitcher Taryne Mowatt threw all 60 innings and more than 1,000 pitches for the Wildcats in Oklahoma City. Before she outdueled Tennessee’s ace Monica Abbott in the clinching game, Mowatt confided in Erb during their bullpen session.

“She didn’t think she could lift her arm again because she was so tired,” Erb said. “But I knew she could do it. She had worked too hard, and pitched her heart out for us all year. There was no way we were going to let her down.”

“It was killing me not to be there,” Lauren Erb said. “My mom kept texting me every five minutes, and I was crying when she told me how they lost. But he was so supportive after we won.”

Erb’s goal is to earn more playing time next year as a designated or pinch hitter and compete for the starting catcher spot by her junior year.

“I feel like I have improved so much since I have been here,” she said. “Coach Candrea has helped me tremendously and I have worked my butt off to get better and stronger.”

As Erb joined her teammates in celebrating Arizona’s second consecutive national title, she received a text message from Miller at Oregon State.

It read, “Yeah baby, dreams do come true.”

News and notes: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo senior outfielder Lisa Modglin (Simi Valley) was named a first-team Easton Sports All-American. The Big West Conference Player of the Year recently signed to play in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the reigning champion New England Riptide. … Oregon State junior utility player Cambria Miranda (Camarillo) was named a second-team Easton Sports All-American. Miranda was a first-team honoree in 2006. Miranda led Oregon State in nine statistical categories and became the first player in program history to score 50 or more runs in back-to-back seasons. … Western Carolina sophomore Drew Saberhagen (Calabasas) was an all-region selection during the opening rounds of the NCAA Baseball Playoffs. … Cal Poly San Luis Obispo distance runner Phillip Reid (Rio Mesa) failed to qualify for the 1,500-meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Reid finished 11th in his heat of 13 and was 19th overall with a time of 3 minutes, 46.81 seconds.