’07-’09 Softball

After talking with Head Coach Mike Bosch, her batting coach, and good friend Camiel Salcedo, Stephanie knew that Iowa Lakes would be a good fit for her. She saw it as a great opportunity for her to get where she is at now. 

Stephanie made quite the name for herself immediately in her freshman year. She helped lead her team to the NJCAA national tournament with a 56-13 record. The team eventually placed fifth at nationals. In her freshman season, Stephanie batted .498 with 30 doubles, 63 RBIs, and 72 run scored. She shattered the school’s single-season hits record with 101 hits in a season. She was named to the First Team NFCA and Second Team NJCAA. In her sophomore season, Stephanie led the Lakers to a Region XI runner up finish with an overall record of 56-9. She batted .509 with 25 doubles, 66 RBIs and 63 runs scored. She was named offensive player of the year and was selected to the First Team NFCA and First Team NJCAA. Stephanie finished her career at Iowa Lakes with a .492 batting average, is the career leader in runs (135) and doubles (56), and is ranked second in hits (192). 

Her best memory while at Iowa Lakes was beating No. 4 Iowa Central, Kirkwood, and No. 2 Muscatine to advance to Nationals in 2008. That was the first time for Iowa Lakes softball to win a regional title. Being a part of that with her teammates by her side is something that Stephanie will never forget. 

Danny Acosta and Mike Bosch were the most influential employees at Iowa Lakes for Stephanie. She considered Danny Acosta, who was the assistant baseball coach, as a great mentor. Mike Bosh was not only her softball coach, but he was a tremendous supporter and believed in her ability to succeed in her education as well as her softball career. 

Coach Mike Bosch said this about Stephanie, “Steph was a tremendous player and she has her name all over the Iowa Lakes record book. She took a chance to attend a small junior college in Northwest Iowa and through hard work and natural ability she went on to be the only Iowa Lakes player to ever compete in the Big Ten at the University of Iowa. Her giggle and smile were her personal trademarks and her smashing line drives were her softball gift. She is one of the all time greats at Iowa Lakes and her induction into the Hall of Fame is well deserved.”

Stephanie was also greatly impacted by many people in the community. Even after continuing her career elsewhere, she still considers some of those people family. However, her teammates are the people who have had the greatest impact on her while at Iowa Lakes. 

After graduating from Iowa Lakes with her Associate’s Degree, Stephanie continued both her academic and athletic careers at the University of Iowa. She had the 10th ranked batting average in the Big Ten, had the second most hits on the team (51), and a 14 game hitting streak, the second longest streak on the team. With all of these accomplishments, she earned Big Ten Player of the week honors. 

Stephanie is currently living and working in Estherville, Iowa at the hospital. 

Stephanie would like to thank her mom, Tina Ochoa. Throughout her entire softball career, Tina has sacrificed her time continuously and relentlessly to take her daughter to practices, games, and every other activity in between. Tina was always there supporting Stephanie. She would like to thank the rest of her family members as well for supporting her. She would also like to give a big thanks to all of her coaches Rob Weil, Gayle Blevins, and Mike Bosch for giving her the opportunity to play the game that she loves so much. 

Congratulations Stephanie Ochoa on being inducted into the Laker Hall of Fame.