Candace Abrams joins the Barry coaching this season, after spending two seasons teaching physical education in Tucson, Ariz.

 

She works primarily with the Buccaneer outfielders and catchers defensively and also helps tutor the hitters.

 

She also coached the varsity softball team at Catalina Foothills High to an 18-15 mark and second place in the Sonoran Division at 6-2. Both of her graduating seniors went on to play in college, one at the University of Delaware and one at Pima CC.

 

Prior to CFHS, she was an assistant coach at Pima CC for two seasons, where she helped the Aztecs to the NJCAA National title in 2005.

 

She played in 132 games for coach Mike Candrea at the University of Arizona from 2001-05, where she was part of four straight Pac-10 titles and one national championship in 2001. The Wildcats were invited to the White House after winning the title, where she was introduced to President Bush. She hit .462 as a junior off the bench, setting a career-high with three homers.

 

In the classroom, she earned honorable mention scholar all-america as a senior. She graduated from Arizona in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.

 

She has worked Mike Candrea’s Southwest Softball Camps since 2000, teaching fundamentals to campers from 8-17.

 

She earned 11 letters at Flowing Wells Highs, four each in soccer and softball and three in golf. The Caballeros claimed the 4A softball title in 1999, then became the first school in the state to move up in divisions and repeat winning the 2000 5A championship.