CSU Monterey Bay Athletics

2014 – CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY
Although she enjoyed her best offensive season at the collegiate level, Nicole Pires was perhaps CSUMB’s  most valuable player in 2014 thanks to her leadership and defensive abilities…hit a career–high .298 while starting 59 of 60 games behind the plate…added career highs of 23 RBIs and 12 extra base hits…was at her best against the best, hitting .300 (18–for–60) against teams with winning records… posted a season–best 8–game hitting streak from Apr. 2–18…had the first 4–hit and 4–RBI game of her career in an NCAA West Regional win over Cal Baptist (May 9)…posted a career best .990 fielding percentage…led the CCAA once again by throwing out 14 would–be base stealers at  CCAA–leading 33 percent (14 of 29).

2013 – CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY
Pires continued to develop into one of the top defensive catchers in the CCAA as a sophomore…led the conference by throwing out 17 would–be base stealers…started 47 games and hit .246 with a .331 OBP…had four multi–hit games…matched her career high with three hits in a win at Cal State San Bernardino (Mar. 16)…hit her first collegiate triple in a win at Cal State East Bay (Feb. 22).

2012 – CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY
Pires performed yeoman’s work as an Otter freshman, starting all 60 games at catcher…showed good pop, finishing third on the team with six home runs…first collegiate hit came against Humboldt State (Feb. 4)…the following day she belted her first collegiate home runs, capping a 3–for–3 performance in a win over Dominican University (Feb. 5)…finished the season with a team–high three four–RBI games (all three led to Otter victories)…threw out 11 would–be base stealers…made just four errors in 298 chances.

HIGH SCHOOL
Pires twice earned All–Mt. Baldy League honors at Colony High School…also earned best defensive and most inspirational recognition at Colony…hit .338 as a senior in 2011 with a team–best 22 RBIs…notched her only prep home run in a win over Pomona’s Garey High School (Apr. 1, 2011)…hit .284 as a junior while leading the Titans to a share of the Colony League title…played her travel ball with team, Smith Softball, leading her 18 Gold team to the 2011 Louisville Tournament title.

PERSONAL
Pires is majoring in kinesiology with a minor in psychology…her career goals is to become a physical therapist treating patients with spinal cord injuries…also hopes to continue coaching softball…a member of the CCAA All–Academic team in 2014…answers to the nickname Bubbles…parents are Jerry and Chris Pires.