Nov. 29, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara softball team has signed two players - one college transfer and one high school senior - to National Letters of Intent, head coach Kristy Schroeder announced Monday.

Tisha Duran (Ventura, Calif.) and Tiffany Wright (Corona, Calif.) will join the Gauchos for the 2006 campaign.

Duran, a 5'5" left-sided infielder, was the 2004 Freshman of the Year at Ventura College and named Western State Conference Player of the Year by the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches' Association. She hit .509 with 53 RBI, nine triples and four home runs while only striking out twice as a freshman. She led the Pirates to a 31-7 record and a fourth seed in the Southern California playoffs.

At Buena High School, Duran was a two-time All-Ventura County selection and named the Channel League Most Valuable Player her junior year, setting a Ventura County record with 26 doubles. Her .516 batting average, 32 RBI, six homers and five triples earned her Buena High Female Athlete of the Year honors her senior season. She was also a First Team All-Channel League point guard in basketball as a senior.

"Tisha may be the best all-around player coming into the Division I ranks next year," Schroeder said. "She can play great defense, has great a great arm, great speed and can hit for power and average. We feel extremely lucky that she has chosen UCSB. It is another step forward to keeping the top local players at home."

Wright will also add great versatility to the 2006 squad. She was a two-time All-Mountain View League selection and First Team All-CIF Southern Section Division II utility outfielder and shortstop at Santiago High School. Her junior year, she batted .469 batting average with 23 RBI, seven doubles, three home runs and an on-base percentage of .561. Wright was instrumental in elevating the Sharks to a state rank of No. 3 and national ranking of eighth. Wright also plays for the Sudden Impact 18 Gold Travel Team and hit .436 with 48 total hits, 24 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .588 in 2004.

"Tiffany is one of the best players coming out of the Inland Empire," Schroeder stated. "She hits for big power and also has speed to go along with her game. She is the ultimate utility player because she has size and quickness. She is capable of filling any spot on the field with the exception of pitcher."