Pioneer Valley’s baseball and softball teams each began their respective 2011-12 campaigns with a new coach.

Scott Goodman is Pioneer Valley’s new baseball coach. Mike Roberson is the Panthers’ new softball coach. Both are in their first year at Pioneer Valley.

Goodman said he was teaching in the Thousand Oaks-Simi Valley area before he came to Pioneer Valley. He said he was also an assistant coach at San Luis Obispo “seven or eight years ago.”

His new team was trying to improve on a 1-4 start at press time.

He does have some key returnees.

“Steven Orozco is a key returner,” said Goodman. “He was injured a lot of the year last year.”

Orozco is a senior whom Goodman said he is counting on to be his No. 1 pitcher. Pioneer Valley’s pitchers were struggling at press time.

Orozco’s earned run average was 5.25. Jaime Camarena’s was 5.73 and Angel Guillen’s was 10.50.

Goodman said he also has others who are available to pitch.

“Kyle Smith, Marc Lopez and Oscar Gill will be doing some pitching,” said Goodman. “They’re all returnees.”

The Panthers’ catcher is Chuy Esparza. “He’s a good catcher and I would say he’s a key returnee,” Goodman said

When Orozco is not pitching, Goodman said, he figures to be his team’s starting shortstop. Goodman said Guillen also figures to play shortstop when he isn’t pitching.

Besides Smith’s pitching duties, “He’s our starting center fielder,” said Goodman

“I think we have a good amount of pitchers,” Pioneer Valley’s new coach said. “Nobody’s going to dominate, but I think we have enough pitchers to stay in some games.

“I think we have some potential hitting. We have a few good hitters in the lineup, we have some speed.I definitely feel we have the capability of scoring runs.”

Rueben Perez was hitting. 500 for the Panthers at press time. Orozco was hitting .429. Camarena was at .375.

Softball

Roberson’s new team was 5-3 at press time. He inherited a squad that was in the thick of the PAC 7 League race most of last season but faded late in the campaign after winning its division in Righetti’s Best of the West Softball Tournament.

“Hitting should be a big strength of our team,” Roberson said.”Our defense is pretty strong, too.”

Roberson is counting a lot on a core of returnng players that includes center fielder Chelsea Baker, first baseman Amanda Orrell, shortstop Marisa Regalado and second baseman Ncole De La Guerra.

Catcher Monique Hoobery also returned for the start of the season.

“She played sparingly last year,” said Roberson.

Pitcher Serena Fernandez sported a 2.23 earned run average. Regalado was hitting .609.

Orrell was picking up where she left off last year, as one of the best hitters in the area. She was batting .520. Outfielder-catcher Sabrina Guardado was hitting .467.

Roberson said, “Our top two pitchers right now are Carissa Melena and Serena Fernandez.

“Daphna Leichner might also be in the rotation. She pitched for the junior varsity last year.”