Softball head coach Angel Shamblin earned her 200th career victory in a 4-1 win over the Academy of Art on Saturday, April 2, at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock.

Taking over as head coach in 2009, she has transformed a Wildcat softball team that finished near the bottom of the CCAA, to a consistent contender. She recorded at least 30 wins in her first three seasons at the helm, something that had not been done in the program’s 45-year history.

A 2001 Chico State graduate, Shamlbin is familiar with the city of Chico in more ways than one. She served as the Pleasant Valley High School varsity softball head coach for two years. She led the Vikings to a 64-9-1 record and CIF North Section Championships both years. Shamblin’s teams also only lost one home game during her stint.

Her 200th career win started off with excitement as the Wildcats scored four runs in the first inning to start the scoring. A RBI single by junior Cyrena Taylor would break it all open. From there, a fielder’s choice by first-year Lorren Sharp would increase the score to 2-0.

Sophomore and starting pitcher Haley Gilham completed the ‘Cats scoring with another single, this time driving in two runs. The score would remain 4-0 until the seventh inning when the Academy of Art would score one.

Gilham threw all seven innings, only allowing three hits and one run while striking out seven.

The win was the team’s fourth of the tournament and 24th of the year. The team sits at 26-10 overall and 17-9 in conference.

The team will face Cal State Dominguez Hills in its next series at home starting Friday, April 8.

Nick Martinez-Esquibel can be reached at [email protected] or @THENickMartinez on Twitter.