Daly, Minogue provide offensive spark

Yvon Minogue and Allie Daly may not have much experience playing at the college level, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deliver when they are out on the softball diamond.

The first-year and sophomore bat 3-4 in the line-up and have come up big for the Coyotes in several games.

Minogue grew up in Corona, Calif. and attended Santiago High School. There she put up impressive numbers all through her career, averaging .355 at the plate over her four seasons. Minogue was named to the prestigious Big VIII League First Team in 2010 and 2011.

The Big VIII League features some of the top softball players who went on to sign with schools from the Big Ten, ACC and the Big East. She was named Santiago’s offensive player of the year in 2011.

As for her first season as a Coyote, Minogue has a team leading batting average of .394 with 37 hits and 24 RBIs. She has also hit four home runs and has struck out only 14 times. Minogue said while she is happy she is doing so well personally, it all comes back to the team.

“It’s exciting that we’re doing so well,” Minogue said. “I know that I might do well, but I’m not the only one on the team. Our entire team does well.”

Coach Amy Klyse is also impressed with the first-year and said she has helped the team a great deal.

“People say that we’re a young team, but we have Yvon who has just stepped up, so that’s why I think people say we’re young,” Klyse said. “It’s great to see her do so well, and I really hope that continues over the next four years.”

Daly, in her second season of Coyote softball, continues to put up huge numbers for the team. The sophomore has hit eight home runs this season, and there are still plenty of games to be played. Last season, the catcher had five home runs and also threw out 10 base stealers. Daly said even though she may perform well at the plate, she could never do it without her teammates.

“I know that I could never do as well as I do without the support and constant push of my teammates,” Daly said. “I just want to keep improving every day. Whether that means extra time in the cages and out on the field, it doesn’t matter. I want to perform well for the team, so I don’t really recognize how well I’m doing.”

Their success doesn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the team, however. Senior pitcher Erica Denney said it is great to watch the players do so well with so little experience at the college level.

“It’s just really fun to watch them,” Denney said. “They might not be our whole team, but they do well and they are constantly stepping up when the team needs them.”

Junior infielder Lindsey Boyd said she recognizes how well the young talent has been doing this season.

“It’s awesome having Yvon as a three-hole hitter, and it’s great that Allie has been doing so well at the plate too,” Boyd said. “They do so well, and it really helps the team when we need it. And that’s something great to see from young players.”