Darrell Moody: Former Carson High School star Jennifer Purcell named to preseason All-American team

Former Carson High softball standout Jennifer Purcell has been named to the 2017 Preseason Division I All-American team, according to Fastpitch News.

“Jennifer has worked extremely hard to receive this honor,” Nevada first-year head coach Josh Taylor said. “I believe that the best is still in front of her.”

Purcell earned herself a spot on the second team All-Mountain West squad a year ago when she posted a .412 average to go along with her 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.

The Pack opens up its season on Feb. 10, where the team will travel to Hammond, La., to compete in the Southeastern Louisiana Classic.

•••

The decision by the San Diego Chargers has trickled down to the college bowl scene.

Because Qualcomm Stadium might be torn down by 2018 since the Chargers are leaving for Los Angeles, the Poinsettia Bowl will cease operations, according to the San Diego Bowl Game Association.

The Poinsettia, which began 12 years ago, started as a way to fill hotel rooms during the holiday season.

San Diego’s second bowl game, the Holiday Bowl, could move to Petco Park on a short-term basis. According to San Diego city officials, a private San Diego group announced plans for a smaller stadium if Qualcomm is indeed torn down. If that happens, the Holiday Bowl would go there along with the SDSU football program.

It certainly doesn’t make any sense to keep Qualcomm going for less than 10 events per season unless a lot of concerts started booking there.

•••

And, while we are on the subject of football, what are the 49ers going to do with he No. 2 overall draft pick?

Mel Kiper of ESPN has the team taking North Carolina quarterback Mitch Tribusky, who threw for 3,468 yards and 28 scores in leading UNC to an 8-5 record this season.

If the Niners are going to spend the money on a No. 2 on a quarterback, which I don’t really agree with, why not Clemson’s Deshaun Watson?

Watson has had a great two seasons for the Tigers, leading the team to a runner-up national finish in the 2015-16 season and the national title in the 2016-17 season.

Much depends on what the team is going to do with Colin Kaepernick, the former Nevada star. If the team is keeping him, there is no need to spend a ton of money and draft a quarterback early. The team has too many other needs. I don’t have enough fingers to count the needs of the 49ers. They are a wreck, and Kyle Shanahan really doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into.

•••

I like the fact that the NCAA is going to unveil the top 16 teams in each region in early February, a month before selection Sunday. It’s never been done before, and certainly it will give all the teams a barometer for how they are being thought of, and what they need to do to stay in the top 64.

The Mountain West is still only a one bid league in the mind of ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, and as of Wednesday he had the Pack as a No. 12 seed playing Wisconsin in Orlando, Fla.

That ranking will stay status quo unless the Pack loses to BSU.