TAFT, CA – First year Softball Head Coach Amand Clark of Taft College got her first commitment to the 2024-2025 season. Though it's her first, it's a very good one. In a much-needed position for any softball program, Coach Clark landed a 4-year varsity starter from the Pacific Northwest.

Ava Heitman, from Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, Washington, recently made her commitment to suit up as a Lady Cougar for Taft College. Ava accumulated many accolades throughout her high school career, including Honorable Mention her freshman year, All-Conference her sophomore year, and 3A All-League Pitcher of the Year in 2023.

Ava produced a .286 hitting average, along with 38 strikeouts and a 5.174 era as a pitcher in high school. During club ball playing for the Washington Acers, she hit an average of .415 and pitched a 5.104 era and had 42 strikeouts.

Coach Clark commented, "Ava is a great athlete and powerful pitcher. We are very excited to have her join our roster for next season; she is going to make a huge impact in this program."

Ava added her remarks as well, "I want to come to Taft because I've heard that they have a very intense dental hygiene program and that intrigued me! I'm super excited about being in the warm weather after being in a state that has such bipolar weather my whole life. I am looking forward to building strong friendships and starting college classes. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to play college softball at Taft and the experience it will give me! I've been playing softball since I was 3 years old, starting with tee ball and I have loved it ever since! I play for the close bonds you create with your teammates and the field is my safe space, to not think of anything outside of softball and to just let loose."