RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Just a month after California Baptist completed its fifth straight appearance at the NAIA National Softball Championship with its fourth consecutive top four finish, the Lancers still continue to grab accolades. For the third time in his stint at California Baptist, CBU head coach Mike Smith and his team was named the NFCA/NAIA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

California Baptist set a school record with 60 wins in the 2008 season as it captured a Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) record fifth straight conference title. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association honor is just another piece of hardware CBU can add to the already banner year.

“While this award goes to the coaching staff, it is definitely a team award in our eyes,” said Smith. “It’s a credit to the success of the how hard the team and my staff worked. I can’t ask for a better staff especially with Bill (Baber) and Candice (Thomas). Bill is just an amazing coach and that shows in how the girls played this year. Candice was definitely a blessing this year and I know it had to be tough going from playing with this team to coaching and especially coaching her sister.”

Smith along with Baber, who was also part of the 2005 National Coaching Staff of the Year and the 2006 West Region honor, and Candice Thomas were one of six coaching staffs to receive this regional award. Bethel (Ind.) in the Great Lakes Region, Central Methodist (Mo.) in the Midwest Region, Dickinson State (N.D.) and Houston-Victoria both out of the Southwest Region along with Mobile (Ala.), who received the East Region and National Coaching Staff of the Year awards, were all recognized as staff’s of the year in their respective regions.

“This award is really just the icing on the cake for this season,” said Smith. “Even though we didn’t get our ultimate goal of winning a national title, this award is a special honor because it is voted on by other coaches from around the country."