Gliddon has ironman campaign on mound

Porterville College pitcher Jennifer Gliddon can finally rest easy... for now.

After the school year ended in May, Gliddon returned home to Las Vegas where she has managed to stay far away from softball — coach’s orders.

As a freshman last year, Gliddon pitched in all 40 of PC’s games — starting 39 of them — en route to a state-best 258.1 innings, 55 more innings than the Central Valley Conference’s second-most prolific pitcher, Fresno City College’s Nicole Reed.

“My arm got as strong as it’s ever been,” Gliddon said by phone from Vegas. “I’m just resting this summer and getting ready for volleyball in two weeks.”

Gliddon played middle blocker for the Pirates’ volleyball squad last fall and will return for double duty again this season. But it was the freshman’s prowess on the mound that earned her the No. 5 spot on The Recorder’s Orange Belt Top 10 Athletes of the Year.

Teammates Kelly Dotzler and Rachel Morris each suffered injuries to deplete the pitching staff to just one, and the Pirates rode Gliddon’s arm to an even 19-19 record — an impressive feat considering the freshman pitched 37 complete games.

While most teams have the luxury of throwing in relievers to give opponents a different look, Gliddon says staying in the game for all seven innings only proved beneficial.

“I learned how to pitch late in the games when most teams can figure out what you’re doing by

then,” Gliddon said. “It helped me a lot (as far as) building strength and endurance.”

Though Gliddon recounts beating a strong Fresno City squad that went 16-2 in league (PC and Reedley were the only two to beat them) as well as the Pirates’ victory over archrival College of the Sequoias as the season’s highlights, the right-handed hurler felt the team fell below preseason expectations.

“I think we could’ve done better,” she said. “I’ll always wonder what more I could’ve done for the team, but we were hit with some injuries and stuff.”

Gliddon contributed her part by striking out a second-best 162 batters in the conference while maintaining a remarkable 1.46 ERA despite carrying the extra load.

On the flip side of logging so much action, Gliddon also led the conference in some of the more ignominious categories. She was first in hits allowed (250) and second in runs allowed (116) and walks (86).

Those numbers are expected to improve next season, however, when Dotzler returns as well as another young pitcher from Alaska to back her up.

Gliddon’s also excited about the prospects of the upcoming season because a familiar face will be joining the team — shortstop Tiffany Anderson — from Las Vegas.

“I played in recreational leagues with her when we were like, 10,” Gliddon said. “We played against each other a lot in high school and she’s good. I’m glad she’s on our team.

“I think we’ll do a lot better,” she added regarding the team’s record. “We’re gonna be older, with more leadership and the freshmen seem to have a lot of potential.”

Though she admits Vegas is a nice break, Gliddon said she’s grown accustomed to the small-town life of Porterville after her first season.

“I’m (in Porterville) just for school and softball,” she said after rooming with Dotzler and Gabby Pino last year. “I didn’t know anyone in Porterville before coming and the girls on the team are basically my only family out there.

“That’s what I’ll take most from the season,” she included. “Just bonding with the girls.”

No. 5: Jennifer Gliddon

Pirate pitcher led state ininnings pitched

- Pitched 258.1 innings in 40 games for the Pirates this year, 32 more than the next-highest hurler in California (JUCO)

- Had a 1.46 ERA (2nd in CVC) in 45 more IP than leader (Nicole Reed, Fresno City)

- 162/88 K/BB ratio, 37 complete games

- First-Team All-CVC performer

- Pitched nine shutouts