Softball Ranked No. 13 In ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll
EUGENE ? The University of Oregon softball team is ranked No. 13 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason softball poll as announced by USA Softball in Oklahoma City, Okla., today. After finishing 37-19 overall, 10-11 Pacific-10 Conference in 2003, the Ducks ended the season with a No. 11 ranking and have dropped just two spots heading into the 2004 season despite the loss of five seniors.
Oregon does return starting pitcher Amy Harris, who set the single season strikeout record (180) as a freshman, senior catcher Jenn Poore, who was selected as the ninth overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch senior draft and defensive stalwarts Erin Goodell (2B) and Breanne Sabol (SS) along with eight other letterwinners who helped guide the Ducks to their highest conference finish since 1990 in head coach Kathy Arendsen’s first season with the program.
The Ducks returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2000 season last year and went 5-2, eventually falling in the title game at the Fullerton, Calif., regional. Four Oregon players were selected to the All-Regional team, including returning pitcher Anissa Meashintubby, who was second at regionals with a 0.84 ERA.
Oregon begins the 2004 season at the Florida International Tournament in Miami, Fla. and will face Georgia ? ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll ? in its season opener. The unranked Ducks defeated then-No. 12 Georgia 3-2 in 12 innings at the Seminole Classic last season.
2004 ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Top 25 Poll
1. UCLA (18)
2. California (1)
3. Arizona
4. Oklahoma
5. Washington
6. Alabama
7. Michigan
8. Nebraska
9. Louisiana-Lafayette
10. Georgia
11. Texas
12. Stanford
13. Oregon
14. DePaul
15. LSU
16. Cal State Fullerton
17. Texas A&M
18. Iowa
19. Arizona State
20. Florida State
21. Fresno State
22. Oklahoma State
23. Oregon State
24. Michigan State
25. Tennessee
Others receiving votes ? South Carolina (47), Florida (37), Southern Illinois (35), Pacific (26), Northwestern (16), Massachusetts (15), Ohio State (14), Minnesota (9), Texas State (8), Baylor (8), Marshall (8), Notre Dame (4), South Florida (2), and Florida Atlantic (1).
