Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 2002 California Golden Bears

Photo courtesy California Athletics

Fall practice has wrapped up around the country in Division I, which allows us to set our sights on the 2024 season that lies ahead.

Early focus will be centered on the University of Oklahoma as they begin the quest to become the first team in Division I history to win four consecutive national championships.

The Sooners tied UCLA (1988, 1989, 1990) as the only teams to ever win three consecutive titles when they defeated Florida State to claim the 2023 title.

Extra Inning Softball will be reviewing the 41 national champions that have previously hoisted the trophy.

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2002 California Golden Bears

The Venue: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Head Coach: Diane Ninemire

The Players (Women’s College World Series Roster): Chelsea Spencer, Courtney Scott, Cassie Bobrow, Jocelyn Forest, Kaleo Eldredge, Kristen Bayless, Candace Harper, LeAnna Hoglen, Mikella Pedretti, Kelly Anderson, Veronia Nelson, Roni Rodrigues, Eryn Manahan, Jennifer Reichhoff, Kristen Morley, Jessica Pamanian, Jennifer Deering, Jessica Vernaglia

The Regular Season: California began the 2002 season seeking it’s fourth consecutive Women’s College World Series appearance. The Bears finished the regular season with a 48-19 overall record and finished fourth in the Pac-10 standings with a 12-9 conference record. California began the season with a 4-4 record before reeling off an 11-game winning streak. The Bears went 4-5 over their final nine games of the regular season, but regrouped to post a remarkable run through the postseason. California was led offensively by Candace Harper, Veronica Nelson and Kaleo Eldredge. Harper hit .316 for the season and led the team with 77 hits and 18 doubles, while Nelson topped the Bears with a .329 average and nine home runs. Eldredge hit .299 for the season and tied for the team lead with 47 runs scored. But California was built around pitching and defense which featured Jocelyn Forest. She finished the season with 29 wins, a 1.11 ERA and 379 strikeouts to anchor the staff. The Bears also finished the season ranked second in the nation with a .977 fielding percentage. Forest, Eldredge, Nelson, Courtney Scott and Harper were each selected to the All-Pac-10 Conference team and Forest (2nd team) and Harper (3rd team) were selected to the All-America team.

The Regional/Super Regional: California hit the road for the NCAA Regional as it ventured to Fresno, Calif., and joined Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, Evansville, Stanford and Pacific. The Bears opened the regional against Fresno State and topped the Bulldogs 2-1 in 10 innings when Veronica Nelson hit a walk-off single scoring Kristen Morley with the winning run. California would meet Stanford in its second game of the regional and notched a 1-0 victory behind an RBI double from Courtney Scott and a complete-game shutout from Jocelyn Forest. The Bears earned a spot in the regional final with a 4-2 victory over top seed Cal State Fullerton as Forest struck out 13 batters in the win. With Forest recording her fourth consecutive start, the Bears topped Cal State Fullerton 1-0 to earn a spot in the Women’s College World Series. Forest was named the regional most outstanding player after allowing three runs over four starts.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, UCLA

The Bears at the Women’s College World Series: California opened WCWS play against Oklahoma and the Bears took advantage of four Sooner errors and the pitching of Jocelyn Forest to record a 4-2 win. Oklahoma committed three errors in the third inning which led the Bears to scoring three runs. The Bears increased the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Chelsea Spencer. Forest allowed five hits and struck out 14 in the win. Forest shined again in the Bears next game as she allowed only two hits and struck out seven in a 1-0 victory over Florida State. Spencer accounted for the Bears run when she homered leading off the fifth inning. Forest continued to improve as the WCWS went along as she threw a one-hit shutout leading California to a 3-0 victory over Arizona State in the Bears third game of the WCWS. The Bears scored all three of their runs in the first inning when a bases-loaded throwing error permitted all three runners to cross the plate. With the victory, California secured its spot in the championship game for the first time in school history.

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