Ciria Triplett is in her fifth year as assistant softball coach atUSC Upstate. Ochoa assists in a phases of the softball program.
Under Triplett's guidance, the Upstate pitching unit has turnedin record-breaking performances in the circle. She has beeninstrumental in the development of the staff since coming toUpstate in the summer of 2006. The 2007 Spartans broke three schoolteam records, including 47 wins. In 2008, Morgan Childers was namedthe A-Sun Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year whilebreaking the school's single-season strikeout record. In 2009,Childers again broke the single-season school strikeout recordwhile becoming the program's career leader. Childers topped herselfagain as a junior in 2010. She broke Upstate's career records forwins, shutouts, innings pitched and opponent batting average. UnderTriplett's leadership, she also shattered her own single-seasonschool record with 428 strikeouts, the second highest season totalin A-Sun history, and ranked among the top five in the nation inseveral statistical categories.
Triplett came to USC Upstate after serving as assistant coach atLander University in 2005-06. Primarily the pitching coach atLander, she also assisted with the outfielders and hitters andhelped implement the strength and conditioning program for theBearcats.
Prior to her time at Lander, Triplett was the assistant coach atYakima Valley Community College in Yakima, Wash., from 2004-05. Shewas the pitching coach and worked with the outfielders and hitters.In the spring of 2004, she served as the pitching coach at SelahHigh School in Selah, Wash. In addition to her coaching duties, shehas been an instructor at summer youth softball camps since2000.
Ochoa was a four-year letterwinner on the softball team atCentral Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. After beginningher career as a starting pitcher, a series of injuries relegatedher to relief appearances. She holds the school's all-times savesand games finished records, is eighth in appearances, and 14th inwins. She owns the school's single-season record for saves withfive in 2001 and ranks fourth on the single-season list with 25appearances in 2001. In addition to her career on the field, shewas a standout student, graduating with a 3.6 GPA and a bachelor'sdegree in elementary education. She was a member of the school'sDean's List and earned Academic All-District honors. She earned amaster's degree in Instructional Technology from Grand CanyonUniversity in 2008.
A native of Othello, Wash., Triplett was a standout pitcher andoutfielder at Othello High School. A four-year letterwinner, shewas an All-State, All-Area, and All-League selection. She earnedseveral team awards, including Most Valuable Player and the Coach'sAward as well as serving as Team Captain. She was a solid studentas well, earning membership into the National Honor Society andbeing selected Who's Who Among American High School Students.
Triplett, formerly Ciria Ochoa, married her husband, Russell, onJuly 31, 2010 in her native Washington. Russell is a formerassistant baseball coach at Upstate and is currently the head coachat Newberry College.
