The word that best describes the California University of Pennsylvania softball team is young.

"This is clearly the youngest team I've coached in my 15 years at California," Vulcans coach Rick Bertagnolli said. "We usually have a good balance between the four classes. This year's squad is loaded with sophomores and freshman."

Just take a look at the Vulcans infield and it's easy to see how young they are.

"We have freshmen starting at third base and shortstop, and sophomores at first and second base," said Bertagnolli. "We also have a sophomore catching [after an injury to a returning starter] and a sophomore and a freshman as two of our top three pitchers."

But youth has not kept California out of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division playoff race. The Vulcans entered the weekend in third place in the Western Division with a 10-6 record, only one game behind IUP and two games ahead of Slippery Rock. They are 24-12 overall.

"The top three teams in each division qualify for the PSAC tournament," said Bertagnolli, who has led the Vulcans to 14 consecutive PSAC playoff appearances since taking over as head coach in 1994. "We've qualified every year I've been here and our goal every year is to keep that streak alive."

California may be loaded with sophomores and freshman, but the Vulcans do have four seniors who have provided great leadership. Deanna Valentino and Katie Francart are four-year starters, while Nicole Bellavance and Brianna Smith are four-year letter-winners.

Valentino, a West Allegheny High School graduate, started her California career at shortstop, but moved to center field midway through her sophomore year. She was voted to the first team of the PSAC Western Division all-star team as a freshman, and was a second-team selection last year. Valentino is hitting .286 with 23 runs scored and has been successful on nine of nine stolen base attempts.

"Deanna was our leadoff hitter for three years and is batting second or third this year," said Bertagnolli. "Katie has been one of our starting pitchers since her freshman year."

Francart, a Valley High School graduate, has a 7-5 record this season with seven complete games and 94 strikeouts in 78¹/₃ innings pitched. In four years, Francart has compiled a 27-29 record, completed 38 games, and recorded five shutouts and 368 strikeouts in 379¹/₃ innings pitched.

Bellavance, who is from New Market, Ontario, Canada, has been the Vulcans designated player this year and leads the team with a .382 average. Smith, a a Hanover, Pa., resident, is a platoon right fielder.

Francart is joined on the mound by Sonia Petrosoniak, a sophomore from Mississaugua, Ontario, and Maria Greco, a freshman from Pickering, Ontario. Petrosoniak has a 10-6 record, a 1.32 earned run average, and 15 complete games. Greco has a 5-1 record and a 1.07 ERA.

"All three pitchers have something different to offer," said Bertagnolli. "Katie is more of a power pitcher. Sonia is a lefty who has different movements on her pitches. Maria can be both a power pitcher and has a good off-speed pitch. The combo has worked very well for us."

Trinity High School graduate Heather Bihler is a two-year starter who moved from third base to catcher this year, but an injury has put her on the disabled list.

"Heather has a bruised kneecap and a slight fracture of the tibia," Bertagnolli said. "She's been out for just over weeks and is still on crutches. It may be another two weeks before she returns."

Bihler, a junior who was voted to the second team All-PSAC last year, is hitting .309 with three triples and 15 RBIs. Her replacement is Renee Gmiter, a sophomore from Laurel Highlands who is hitting .298.

The infield comprises first baseman Julia Mueller, second baseman Julie Mackenzie, shortstop Merissa Daley and third baseman Danielle Easton.

Mueller, a sophomore from Deer Lakes, is hitting .250 with 15 runs scored. Mackenzie, a sophomore from Mississaugua, Ontario who has been hitting cleanup, is batting .356 and leads the team with 22 RBIs. Daley, a freshman from Whitby, Ontario, is hitting .135. Easton, a freshman from Hanover, is hitting .228.

"Julie sprained her ankle two games after Bihler was injured," said Bertagnolli. "Fortunately, her injury wasn't as serious and didn't keep her out of the lineup very long."

That was not the case with Amanda Wallace, a freshman from Penn Hills who missed a month with an ankle injury. Wallace has been platooning in right field.

Kayleigh Braim, a sophomore from Emmaus, Pa., is playing left field and batting leadoff. Braim is hitting .347 and leads the team with 25 runs scored. Trinity graduate Lauren Yaquinto, a junior, is the third member of the right field platoon.