Andrea Duran has committed to play softball at Cal State Monterey Bay.
“I’ll be signing in the next few weeks,” the 2018 Ceres High School grad said. “It’s crazy. At one point, I was going to hang up my cleats. I got burned out senior year of high school. I had been playing softball (year-round) since I was nine. I was just going to focus on school in college. I’m glad I didn’t give up. I worked hard. I’m proud of myself.”
Duran gave her verbal commitment to the Otters in May.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t take an official trip (due to the coronavirus pandemic),” she said. “I’m familiar with the area. We scrimmaged against Monterey Bay. That’s how I made contact with their coach (Andrea Kenney). I really like her and how she works with her players. That’s the reason I wanted to go there.”
Duran was recruited to play second base for NCAA Division-II Monterey Bay, which finished 12-12 during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
“I love the school, program and area,” Duran said. “They have a good softball program. They usually always make it to playoffs. I’m going to work hard and try to win the starting position.”
Duran spent the past two years at Santa Cruz’s Cabrillo College, which is located just 30 minutes from Monterey Bay.
She started at second base both seasons.
“I didn’t plan on playing in college,” she said. “An opportunity came about when Cabrillo’s coach contacted me. I ended up loving it. It’s the best two years I’ve played.”
Duran earned South Coast Conference honors her freshman year as the Seahawks compiled a 24-15 record and advanced to the Northern California Playoffs.
“I proved myself right away,” said Duran, who hit .284 with 14 doubles, 29 runs, 17 RBIs and eight walks in 39 games.
Cabrillo College’s 2020 campaign was canceled because of COVID-19.
Duran batted .475 with one triple, six doubles, 15 RBIs, 12 runs and just three strikeouts in 20 games.
The Seahawks went 7-14 on the season.
“Unfortunately, this year got cut short,” Duran said. “I was doing pretty well. I was leading our conference in batting average.”
