CSUMB softball

 When you've won 46 or more games three of the last four years -- including a school record 48 in 2014 -- the program sells itself.
 Yet, what has eluded the Otters and coach Andrea Kenney is the vision of a Division II national championship.
 Conference titles and national rankings aside, that's a realistic goal.
 The core of last year's California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament title team that reached the NCAA Division II West Regionals is back, although replacing Cori Reinhardt won't be easy.
 A three-time All-American shortstop/pitcher, Reinhardt hit ..408 last year for the Otters and won a school record 30 games in the circle.
 Still, the cupboard is for from bare.
 Pitcher Lindsey Clarkson is coming off a 16 win campaign with 135 strikeouts in 141 innings. Two years ago, the senior was 24-2.
 There are no shortage of sluggers at the plate, starting with Madison Casto, who led the Otters with a .440 average, hitting eight homers and driving in 51 runs.
 Bianca Noriega and her team leading 52 runs batted in are back for CSUMB, along with Courtney Varela and Anneliese Lopez, both of which hit over .335 last season.
 While four starters graduated, the Otters brought in some reinforcements, including former Salinas High and MPC outfielder Sam Luna.
 While Clarkson will be the ace, Kenney has four new arms looking to eat innings, three of which are freshman. It won't hurt having former Stanford pitcher Tori Nyberg as a pitching coach.