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Amber Flores drives the ball over the fence during the Swinging For The Cure home run derby May 27, 2011, in Brawley. (July 23, 2012) |
After just one season as an assistant coach for the Stony Brook University softball team, Amber Flores will try her hand at being a head coach as she was named to lead the Seminole State College Trojans in Seminole, Okla.
“It’s been such a whirlwind lately and I didn’t expect all of this to happen so quickly, but in college sports things change and change quickly,” Southwest High graduate and former Oklahoma University star Flores said. “I’m extremely happy and excited about this new opportunity.”
Flores wasn’t looking for a new opportunity, but being a head coach was an option she was hoping for.
“I wasn’t looking for another school. I was excited about the situation I was in and was thinking (of) staying there until my college coach gave me a call and told me about the job. Then one thing led to another and now I’m here and I’m super grateful for my college coach who got my foot in the door.” Flores said. “Anytime it’s your first head coaching job, I think you’re going to be excited and I’m excited to be here with a great support system around me.
“At this point in my career, this is dream job for me and I’m looking forward to it.”
Flores will be taking over for former coach Kristina McSweeney immediately and is looking to take a strong program to the next level.
“I think it’s already a great program with a nice foundation and I’m looking to just come in and elevate this team to another level,” Flores said. “I’m not going to be building a program from scratch or cleaning house, just looking to continue winning.”
While at Stony Brook, Flores assisted in recruiting efforts and player evaluations as she passed the NCAA Recruiting Certification Test and assisted the university with NCAA compliance.
She is already tapping into a familiar area for talent as Imperial High graduate Erica Lopez has committed to joining Flores in Oklahoma.
“Looking for 2012 players, the Imperial Valley was the first place I wanted to hit for recruiting,” Flores said. “I’m excited about getting (Lopez) on board and there are a lot of talented girls from the Valley that I’m looking at.”
Lopez was a pitcher and first baseman at Imperial and was able to help her team to a 25-5-1 record, leading to a strong CIF-San Diego Section tournament run.
“When they offered me a scholarship I was a little surprised but I was excited and happy to be leaving the Valley to play softball in college,” the 18-year-old Lopez said. “I’ve wanted to play in college ever since I was a little girl and I want to thank my coaches, especially my travel team coaches Joel Olea, Ed Pierson and coach Jack, for always pushing me to do better they never gave up on me.”
On the rubber is where Lopez flourished in high school and she is looking forward to competing in college.
“I love pitching. It’s my favorite thing to do,” Lopez said. “I’m looking forward to seeing other teams and just different competition while traveling to other places I would have never got to see.”
Lopez’s relationship with Flores is just beginning, but she’s already happy to see what her new coach is doing.
“First off, I think it’s cool that my coach comes from the same place as me so I know we will have some things in common,” Lopez said. “But I’m happy that she’s recruiting from the Valley. There aren’t many expectations for softball here and we have some good talent to offer, so I’m glad that we are going to be getting noticed more.”
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