The last time East Union softball had three players sign letters of intent, big things happened for the Lancers.
Tuesday night in the East Union library, Shelby Cefalu and Danielle Ramos inked their letters of intent for Dominican University of San Rafael as did Danyella Godoy for Simpson of Redding.
Lancers coach Brian Goulart is looking for history to repeat itself.
“This is exciting,” Goulart said. “The last time we had three girls sign we won a league, section and state championship, and that was kind of exciting stuff. And how these girls go is how we are going to go.
“The good thing about it is they are hungry. They don’t feel they have had that great season of Lancers excellence they want to have. I don’t necessarily agree with them, but they don’t think they have and we are looking forward to having a great year.”
This will be the fourth year on the varsity for outfielder Godoy. She joins a Simpson program that finished 34-22 and claimed the Cal-Pac Conference championship in 2017 and advanced to the NAIA tournament.
“My teammates pump me up and make me believe in myself,” Godoy said. “So, without them I would not have been as comfortable at the varsity level all for the past three years.
“I am looking forward to this year. We have a lot of talent and we should be pretty good.”
Cefalu will spend her third year on the varsity in the circle.
“It’s been a pleasure to play for Coach G (Goulart) and Coach Randy (Friend),” Cefalu said. “We have had good seasons and we are all very excited for this season coming up.”
Also in her third year on the varsity, Ramos figures to be Cefalu’s batterymate part of the time, splitting her duties mainly between catcher and shortstop. They were All-VOL second-team selections as juniors.
Dominican went 17-33 last season and competes in the NCAA Division II PacWest Conference.
“I got pulled up to varsity my sophomore year and I started,” Ramos said. “That was a big accomplishment for me. This year coach Goulart does not know where he wants to put me which I take as a compliment because I am comfortable playing anywhere.
“I have worked really hard to get to where I am and I want to thank all the coaches, family and friends and I am excited to see what the future holds.”
East Union found itself out of the money in 2018, finishing third behind Sierra and Oakdale and not nabbing at least a piece of the Valley Oak League title for the first time in five years.
“I think what happened last year is going to change this year,” Goulart said. “With Shelby on the mound and Godoy and Ramos being seniors, I think we have a chance to win it again, I really do.
“We look to give Oakdale and Sierra a run for their money.”