Suard Sister Squad

Four siblings unite their talents to spark the so ball team

Pierce College is no stranger to siblings playing together on teams, but the softball team is packing an extra powerful punch in the form of a triple threat: the Suard sisters.

Twenty-year-old twins Susanna and Melissa Suard are returning to the team after playing last season, but this year their younger sister Amanda, 18, joins the team as well. They say that playing with each other brings out the best of their competitiveness and drives them to keep getting better.

“I think we have a better advantage because we’ve played together ever since we started,” Susanna said. “We know each other’s weaknesses, strengths, and know how to build each other up. I think it keeps us closer together.”

Sarah, their 16-year-old sister, is taking the softball class with her older siblings, but will not play on the team due to her age and status as a high school student. She is able to take classes at Pierce because she is homeschooled.

The four sisters come from a family of 10 children, ranging from 11 to 24 years old, all of whom were homeschooled. They liked the experience, and believe that in homeschooling, their parents raised them to want to succeed on their own.

“You can go at your own pace and you don’t have the slower people pull you down,” Melissa said. “If you have a question, it’s just you and the teacher instead of you and 50 other students.”

Susanna said that working at her own pace kept her from wasting a lot of time, and that she loved being able to stay at home and study with her best friends.

Since they weren’t involved in

Starting pitcher traditional schools, the Suards found softball through a Christian league, and joined teams at private schools.

“They allow you to participate,” Sarah said. “They have work that you have to do for each age like normal schools, but you can do it at home, and then you have to turn in the grades to the school.”

Susanna, Melissa and Amanda played softball for Faith Baptist High School, and each of their faces light up when they talk about their former coach JoAnn Quintero. They said that she has a way of coaching that inspires her players.

“When she helps you, she makes you want to push your hardest, no matter what,” Susanna said. “On the field, off the field: she makes you do your best.”

According to the Suard sisters, Quintero makes softball a competition, driving her players to want to be the best while simultaneously having fun.

“They’re very competitive,” Quintero said. “As sisters they all strive for the same goals, and that’s to win, and win as a team. If someone’s not doing their share, they’re very upbeat, positive: picking up the team. They always bring that to all the games.”

Quintero said she coached each of the girls for three years, and saw their maturity and level of play increase with each practice and every game. She doesn’t see how they can walk onto a field and not come away with a scholarship.

“They’re amazing girls. They just have so much life,” Quintero said. “All three of them have a little different personality, but when it comes to playing, they give you their heart.”

The sisters are looking forward to the upcoming season, and while it is still undecided because the team is going through tryouts, Susanna will likely reprise her starting pitcher and first base positions from last season, while Amanda may be the starting catcher. Melissa played shortstop last season, but she said she will

Men’s basketball raises the bar

2012-13 season:

Overall record : 19 - 9

Coming off a successful season, the men’s basketball team for Pierce College will try to build on the previous year and take its season even further.

Last season, Pierce finished with a 19-9 overall record and accomplished an 8-2 conference record, good enough to win a share of the Western State Conference Championship.

Pierce had not won a conference championship in more than 30 years. However, the team’s run ended in the first round of the playoffs, where Pierce held the fifth seed and lost a tough game to Palomar College.

With key players JR Williams, Rodney Walters, and Hasan Pressley, all returning from last season’s championship team, there is much to look forward to this year from Pierce.

“Our goal is definitely to win 20 or more games, our conference, and even make it to the Final Four,” said Pressley, sophomore point guard. “Coach Babayan really makes us play hard for each other. We can be really good this year.”

In addition to possessing many

Conference record: 8 - 2

Stat Leaders

Points per game:

D. Williams 16.4

Assists per game:

J. Williams 6.2

Rebounds per game:

C. Hatcher 10.1

Blocks per game:

C. Hatcher 3.5

Steals per game:

J. Williams 2.0 young and energetic players, more presses and higher intensity when it comes to its on-ball defense will play a key role in how many games Pierce will win this season. Though the Brahmas have lost some size inside with key big men leaving the team, the players believe that their quickness, experience and chemistry will propel them to win yet another conference championship. probably play center field this time around.

Melissa says she thinks the team will do well this year with all the new girls on the team.

“All the girls get along,” Amanda said. “And I think the coaches are stepping up from last year.”

Susanna hopes the team will do better than last year, when she said they had a lot of losses.

“I just want people to have a lot of heart and drive to really want the Ws,” she said. “Practice gives you a W. If you give 100 percent in practice, that’s how you’re going to do in the game.”

RU: What is your favorite color?

JH: Green.

RU: Three things you can’t live without?

JH: Soccer, food and family.

RU: What is one of your favorite movies?

JH: “The Dark Knight.”

RU: If we turn on your iPod what would be playing?

JH: Jay-Z.

RU: What is your favorite type of food to eat?

JH:Pizza. You can’t go wrong with pizza.

RU: Who is one of your favorite professors at Pierce?

JH: Angela Belden (instructor of psychology).

RU: Who is the one athlete that you admire the most?

JH: Alex Morgan (Olympic gold medalist and member of the US women’s soccer team).

RU: What are your plans for after Pierce?

JH: Play D2 soccer at Cal Poly Pomona.

RU: How long have you been playing soccer?

JH: 14 years.

RU: What got you started in soccer?

JH: My dad. He was my first coach.

“We have a really tight group and guys seem to get along a lot better on and off the court,” sophomore Center Jamel Morgan said. “Coach has really preached defense more than anything, and that’s going to be my job. Playing great interior defense and rebounding.”

Pierce has a very competitive schedule this season, where the team will face other colleges such as Cuesta, Moorpark and Hancock, but the key match-up – which the majority of players are looking forward to – is against Ventura College.

Last season, Pierce and Ventura split the two games that they played against each other, both of which were very fast, entertaining and hard-fought.

“Our men’s basketball team is on the radar this year because of last season, and they’re going to have to work very hard to have the same success as the previous year,” Pierce Athletic Director Bob Lofrano said. “I expect the style of play for this team to be fast, exciting and entertaining. This should also help recruiting and bring more top players in the future.”

The Brahmas are preparing for the new season and kick it off at the Miramar College Tournament starting Friday, Nov. 8.