SAN DIEGO – On a postcard, chamber of commerce, January morning, a day when the wind-chill in Minnesota reached -66 degrees, San Diego softball coach Melissa McElvain sat at the USD pool deck while swimmers logged laps and she smiled. Smiled often.
 
McElvain is about to begin her 18th season as the Toreros' head coach and she doesn't hide her excitement about the upcoming season that begins Friday with the USD Tournament. The Toreros will play host to Marshall, Portland State, UC Riverside and Cal Poly.
 
"I think we're more competitive minded," said McElvain. "We're more physical, and I think we're tougher than we have been the last couple of years."
 
So McElvain has set some lofty expectations: 30 wins and a West Coast Conference title. The last time USD won 30 games in a season was 2000. The WCC has played softball for since 2014 and the Toreros are looking for their first conference championship.
 
Yet it's easy to understand McElvain's optimism.
 
Three pitchers - Delaney Heller, Halle Kyler and Hannah Boos - return, all of whom logged more than 100 innings. Under the tutelage of pitching coach Danielle O'Toole, who will compete to make the United States 2020 Olympic team, USD's staff lowered its ERA from 4.56 in 2017 to 3.31 last year.
 
Added to that staff is promising freshman Madison Earnshaw.
 
"I think we're going to be better in the pitching circle," said McElvain.
 
Multiple position players are back, led by two-time All-WCC center fielder Taylor Spence. Infielder Sara Silveyra is back, but will shift to second base. Catcher Madison Casiano, an honorable mention WCC pick last year, will share time behind the plate again with Shelbi Evans.
 
Lindsay Clare started last season at third base, but boasts a rocket for an arm and will be shifted to right field.
 
Mix in Hailey Freeman, a Grand Canyon transfer who's expected to play third base, plus promising freshmen Rion Simms (shortstop) and Kelli Klufta (first base) and McElvain likes her team.
 
"We don't have a weakest link," said McElvain, whose 336 wins are a school record. "Any one of our pitchers can start or close a game. We're more versatile. We have more options and more players who can contribute this year than I've probably ever had."
 
A starter since her freshman season and two-time selection to the NFCA Division One All-West Region team, Spence has a chance to set history in 2019. From her lead-off spot, Spence has racked up 183 career hits. (And how's this for consistency? Her hit totals since her freshman season: 60, 60 and 63).
 
USD's career record for hits is 232, set by Shaunna Collo from 1997-2000.
 
"Not to take anything away from my previous (slap hitters), but she is the best slap hitter we've ever had in this program," said McElvain. "She sets the table for us. She's a pretty quiet person, but even in practice her actions speak volumes.
 
"She comes early to practice, wanting to get in her extra hitting. She's special that way, not just from what she's going to do with the record book, but she's quite a leader. She's an amazing student (Spence is majoring in psychology) and a great person. I couldn't ask more from her for what she's done for our program."
 
Like her head coach, Spence senses this could be a memorable season.
 
"We have a lot of talent returning," said Spence. "And a lot of talent coming in. We mesh well together. We're all motivated to prove ourselves."
 
McElvain gives a lot of credit for the pitching staff's improvement last year to O'Toole, who pitched for the U.S. national team last year.
 
"She's wise beyond her years in coaching," said McElvain. "She's elevated the pitching staff, created this team environment with them."
 
As if she's carrying a baton, O'Toole passes the credit to the players.
 
"I call the pitches, but they have to throw them," said O'Toole. "They're the ones who have to execute. At the end of the day, it's their numbers, their stats. It's not me. I'm just telling them what to do."