Vanessa Alvarez Class: Freshman Hometown: San Jose, Calif. High School: Archbishop Mitty HS Height: 5-2 Position: OF/RHP Experience: HS B/T: L/R

As a Freshman (2013):

Plays mostly at right field but can also pitch...Opened the season as one of the three freshman who composed Cal's entire outfield against Kentucky...Hit an RBI double against Hawaii hurler Kaia Parnaby to drive in Cal's only run against the ranked Rainbow Wahine...Went 2-for-2 and hit her first collegiate home run on April 28 vs. Arizona State; the first freshman to hit a home run in 2013...Earned first collegiate start in the circle vs. Stanford on May 5, pitching 5.1 innings with two strikeouts, three walks, nine hits and seven runs...Started 45 games in the regular season, batting .230 with 13 RBI, five doubles and a homer

High School:

As a senior, was named the Ms. Softball State Player of the Year and named to the All-State First-Team...Led Archbishop Mitty High School to the 2012 Central Coast Section Division II Championship with a 28-3 record...Also in 2012, Alvarez posted a 25-1 record with an 0.86 ERA with14 shutouts and 197 strikeouts...Closed her prep years by hitting .450 and scoring 27 runs as Mitty earned its second straight section title and 10th since 1990...Was the pitcher and player of the year as well as MVP of her prep team as a junior...Named sophomore of the year and first-team all-league in 2010...Was second-team all-league and freshman of the year...Led the team to finish first in league play all three years and first in the CSS as a freshman and junior...The Mitty squad was ranked first in the nation her freshman year...Mentored students at junior high and elementary schools...Manager for the boy's varsity basketball team at Mitty - kept stats, ran drills, organized tournaments

Club Ball:

Played with the Lady Sharks from 12U-14U...Spent a year with the Sorcerers...Played with San Jose Sting

Personal:

Interested in pursuing a career in sport medicine ...Is passionate about art, music and dance...Parents are Jorge Alvarez and Lisa Rodriguez...Mother Lisa attended Evergreen Valley College

Why I have my number:

No. 9 was my size and was actually my club ball coach's (Haley Woods) number when she attended Cal. I'm proud to wear the same number as a Hall of Famer.

Pre-game Ritual:

I write one word that keeps me focused on my left wrist, and a name of someone who inspires me to play harder during the game. This year, the word is "relax," and the person is my brother.

Walk-up Songs:

"Goodbye" by Wiz Khalifa - it gets me pumped up and gives me that extra drive and passion when I go up to the plate..."Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison - this song just makes me smile and loosen up.