June 30, 2007

Saugus Softball Stays In-House

By Grant Marek
Signal Staff Writer

Julie Watson is an assistant no more.

After serving one year as an assistant under long-time Saugus softball head coach Rich Perez, who announced his retirement 11 days ago, Watson was announced Friday as the new skipper for the Centurion softball team.

A 2000 Saugus graduate, Watson takes over a Cents program that went 15-17 in 2007 and fell in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section Division I postseason.

"I've always wanted to be a head coach at a program and I think being a head coach at the program I played at, not that many people get that kind of opportunity," said Watson, 24.

A two-time All-Foothill League honoree, Watson played NCAA Division I softball for Cal State Fullerton and professionally with the Texas Thunder of the National Professional Fast Pitch Softball League in 2005 and '06.

"She might be young but she knows a lot about the ball game," said Perez, who was part of a committee that interviewed and later hired Watson. "There's a bright future for her here at the high school level."

Perez coached Watson in an assistant capacity for four years at Saugus, before bringing the former Centurion back into the fold in 2007 as his lone assistant coach.

"He taught me a lot through this year," she said. "He's already shown me the ropes. Being an assistant coach, I was able to see all that."

Watson, who is also a resource teacher at the high school, was a leadoff hitter in high school, college and on the professional level and plans to coach like one.

"I'm a fan of getting it done in the short game," she said.

"Putting the ball in play is her main subject," Perez added. "She was a leadoff hitter on all three levels."

The youngest softball head coach in the valley, Watson takes over a team that graduates nine seniors, including standout seniors Victoria Kemp, Alexandra Cueva, Melisa Koutz, and Claire Donyanavard.

"We probably will have a young team, but there's a lot of young talent I'm really looking forward to," Watson said. "I definitely see us improving over the years."

Watson will join the coaching ranks of a league that boasted two top-25 teams in the nation, according to CalHiSports.com, including the 2007 national champion - Valencia.

"I definitely think in the Santa Clarita Valley there's a lot of talent overall," Watson said. "It's kind of a privilege to jump into that - that we're competing with the best teams.

"I'm just excited."

Watson beat out a handful of potential head coaching candidates, including 1998 Hart graduate Anna McAgee, Courtney Sherlock and Crystal Raimondo.

All three have softball experience - McAgee and Sherlock both played on the same Hart softball team.

Additionally, all four of the initial candidates are currently teachers at Saugus High.