Former Beaver joins softball coaching staff
Head softball coach Teri Mariani has announced a change in her coaching staff. As of this fall, 25-year-old Tarrah Beyster will replace Jessica Guerroro as assistant coach.
Guerroro leaves the team after a successful career as a Viking player and with three years of coaching experience under her belt. Beyster, a native of San Diego, Calif., has established Northwest roots of her own. She was a standout pitcher at OSU before graduating with a psychology degree in 2000.
Beyster’s list of achievements at her alma mater is impressive. Not only is she one of only two female athletes ever to have her number retired by the Beavers, she has the distinction of standing as OSU’s record-holder in 24 categories, including runs, RBI, wins, strikeouts and innings pitched. She was named NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Oregon in 2000. Currently, the future assistant coach is touring the country as a promoter for the National Professional Fastpitch League (NPFL), formerly known as the Women’s Pro Softball League. Beyster was drafted by the Florida Wahoos in the sixth round of the NPFL draft in 1999.
“We have had our eye on Tarrah for a long time,” said Mariani in a recent press release. “Her success and legacy as a player at Oregon State is well documented. She is going to be a great addition to our team as we try to contend for a conference championship.”
Mariani’s optimism is warranted and the outlook for PSU softball in 2004 is bright. Last season, despite heavy rainfall that allowed only 12 of the Viking’s 48 games to be played at home, the team finished third in the fledgling Pacific Coast Softball Conference – a league which counts tough teams such as Sacramento State, Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount among its competitors.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, the team has since lost five graduating seniors, including starting pitcher Morgan Seibert. However, talented sophomore outfielders Maggie DeWall and Tiffany McHenry, and pitcher Michelle Hext seem poised to step up to the plate come February.
