Ducks Leaving For Las Vegas
EUGENE ? The top-25 ranked University of Oregon softball team returns to the desert for its second weekend of the season with five games at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Friday-Sunday, February 15-17.
On Saturday, UO looks forward to a rematch with South Carolina, the team it faced last year in the NCAA regional championship game. The Ducks held a 1-2 mark against the Gamecocks on their home field in Columbia, S.C., and a second win would have meant an Oregon trip to the Super Regional.
Last weekend near Palm Springs in the Cathedral City Kickoff, Oregon went 2-3, with four of its five foes returning NCAA qualifiers.
In Sunday's finale, senior Alicia Cook staked a 2-0 shutout against Cal State Northridge Sunday and forced the Matadors to strand 10 runners. On Saturday, in a 14-4 win vs. returning NCAA veteran Cal Poly, freshman Monique Fuiava hit a grand slam and added a two-run homer, while left-hander Brittany Rumfelt posted a 14-4 win in her collegiate debut.
In other games, UO fell to returning NCAA runner-up and No. 6 Tennessee, 5-0, Saturday, another NCAA veteran from ’07 Mississippi State, 3-0 Friday, and to Colorado State, 3-2, in a hard-fought season opener Friday.
Head Coach Kathy Arendsen is nearing a program milestone and her 185 wins is only seven shy of the all-time leader Teresa Wilson (192, 1990-96).
THIS WEEK’S GAME INFO
Tournament: Louisville Slugger Desert Classic
Stadium: Stephanie Lynn Craig Park (Fields 1-3)
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Dates: Friday-Sunday, February 15-17
Host School Website (UNLV): www.UNLVrebels.com
UO Opponents (2008 / 2007 Record) ? Team Notes
Friday, February, 15
9 a.m. ? Northwestern State (0-0 ’08, 29-29 ?07) ? Went 17-13 in the Southland Conference in ’07 but had its league-best string of 10 straight conference tourney appearances snapped (Website: www.nsudemons.com).
12 p.m. ? Kansas (5-1 ’08, 33-24-1 ’07) ? Off to its best start since 2003 when it started 4-0 (Website: www.kuathletics.com).
Saturday, February 16
2 p.m. ? Bradley (0-0 ’08, 26-23 ’07) ? In ’06 and ’07 had first consecutive winning seasons in more than 10 years (Website: www.BUbraves.com).
5:30 p.m. ? South Carolina (1-4 ’08, 28-26 ?07) ? The NCAA Super Regional qualifier in ’07 lost its opening four games last week, including two to returning NCAA qualifiers UMass (2-0) and Michigan (3-2) (Website: www.gamecocksonline.com).
Sunday, February 17
1:30 p.m. ? San Jose State (1-3 ’08, 23-28 ’07) ? Picked fifth in the Western Conference preseason poll, won opener vs. Cal State Bakersfield last week, then lost four to the Roadrunners the next two days. (Website: www.sjsuspoartans.com).
DUCK BATTING NOTES
- Three Ducks are batting .400 or better ? redshirt senior Kayleen Hudson (.417, 5-12), freshman Cortney Kivett (.412, 7-17, 2B) and junior Sari-Jane Jenkins (.400, 6-15), and two others are over .300 (sophomore Neena Bryant, .333, 5-15, 2 2B, 1 HR; senior Lovena Chaput, .333, 5-15, 2B).
- Oregon’s top two hitters in batting average in ’08 didn’t play for UO last season ? Hudson (redshirt) and Cortney Kivett (prep).
- Freshman Monique Fuiava (1B) hit two homers (including a grand slam) vs. Colorado State and her 6 RBIs is a team high in ’08, and only one off the school record (7) that four share. Others on the team with grand slams from prior seasons include seniors Joanna Gail (2) and Hudson (2).
- Cortney Kivett went 4-4 in her first collegiate game with a double and a stolen base, and came back with a 2-4 day the next morning vs. Cal Poly and had a RBI and stolen base in both games.
- Chaput's double vs. Colorado State was the 29th of her career - 10th-best for UO and one away from Laura Schmidt (ninth, 30).
- Bryant hit her first homer of the season and 11th of her career vs. Cal State Northridge and ranks third among current Ducks, behind redshirt Jenn Salling (14) and Hudson (12) and ahead of senior Joanna Gail (10) and Chaput (7).
- UO’s 15 hits vs. Colorado State tied a team record that has been matched many times, the most recent in a 6-5 win at Oregon State in 2007.
- Oregon’s 14 runs vs. Colorado State was the second-most under sixth-year head coach Kathy Arendsen (behind last year’s 15-8 win last year vs. College World Series qualifier and then-No. 8 Texas A&M). That 14-run tally was three shy of the school record (17 vs. Rutgers, 17, 1999).
DUCK PITCHING NOTES
- Senior pitcher Alicia Cook now ranks seventh all-time for UO in complete games (42) with two last weekend in Palm Springs.
- Her 16th career shutout vs. Northridge still ranks her fourth all-time for UO, and her two complete games over the weekend moved her into a tie for seventh with Amy Harris (42). Cook is also top-10 ranked for UO in several other categories ? see later in the release for a lengthier recap.
- Cook owns UO’s season high in strikeouts (6 vs. Colorado State), and also had five in her other two outings vs. Tennessee and Northridge, as did junior Melissa Rice vs. Mississippi State.
- Cook has UO’s longest scoreless inning streak (7), ahead of Rice (3.2)
- Freshman left-hander Brittany Rumfelt (1-0) won her collegiate debut and scattered 11 hits and four earned runs, struck out one and walked two in her five innings.
MISC. DUCK NOTES
- The Duck defense is fairly new look in '08, even for the returnees. Five players last weekend started multiple games in the same tournament that didn’t do so in UO tourneys in ’07 ? freshmen Monique Fuiava (1B-DP), Ashley (C) and Cortney Kivett (2B), sophomore Carlyn Re (1B) and redshirt senior Kayleen Hudson (RF-DP). Sophomore Blair Williamson (RF) started multiple games in a tournament only once last year, while three of UO’s players last weekend started at different positions than they did in the non-conference slate in ’07 ? Chaput (SS in ?08, LF in ?07), Jenkins (LF in ?08, CF in ’07) and Bryant (CF in ?08, RF in ’07).
- Six Ducks have started all five games this year ? Hudson (RF-DP), Jenkins (LF), Kivett (2B), Neena Bryant (CF) and Chaput (SS)
UO SEASON PREVIEW
In 2007, the Ducks seek their fifth postseason trip under sixth-year head coach Kathy Arendsen, buoyed by the memories from an often-magical ’07 season. UO racked up 44 victories ? second most in school history ? and a school record 18-game early season win streak that put the Ducks in the top 10 in the national polls in the opening months of the schedule.
TOP DUCK RETURNEES
The Ducks welcome back many of last year’s stars from one of its deepest teams ever. Junior outfielder Sari-Jane Jenkins (.396, 82 hits, 27 RBI, 38 SB) and senior third baseman Joanna Gail (.281, Defensive MVP .971) were All-Region Second Team picks. Jenkins’ sophomore season totals in hits (82), stolen bases (38) and doubles (16) ranked second most in school history and her hits and doubles totals ranked third and first in the Pac-10 last year.
In ’07, the Salem, Ore., product Jenkins was also a Pac-10 Second-Team pick, while Gail and sophomore outfielder Neena Bryant (.309, 14 doubles, 10 HR’s, 46 RBI) were honorable mention all-league selections. Bryant led the gold-medal winning U.S. junior national team in batting (,571) last summer in the World Junior Championships, and had several top-10 season all-time marks for UO (see end of release).
Senior shortstop Lovena Chaput was an All-Pac-10 Second Team pick in 2005 and an ASA All-America shortstop two summers ago. Redshirt senior Kayleen Hudson missed last year, and had a career high .293 average in ’06 and ranked second on the team in slugging (.455) and third in on-base (.362) and home runs (4).
Arendsen’s pitching staff returns both of last year’s 20-game winners - senior Alicia Cook (23-5, 10 shutouts, 125 strikeouts) and junior Melissa Rice (21-14, eight shutouts, 114 strikeouts) ? the first duo to notch the feat in school history.
STAT WATCH - UO ALL-TIME CHARTS
Lovena Chaput, Sr., Tualatin, Ore.
Career Doubles ? 10th, 29 ? needs one to tie for 9th (30)
Career Triples ? 11th, 7 ? needs 1 to tie for 8th (8)
Alicia Cook, Sr., Elmira, Ore.
Career Strikeouts ? 7th, 292 ? needs 24 to tie for 6th (16)
Melissa Rice
Career Shutouts ? 8th, 9 ? needs 1 to tie for 7th (10)
Career Innings ? 11th, 322.2 - needs 13.2 to tie for 9th (336.1)
IN THE POLLS
In the national preseason polls, UO held its place among the country’s elite programs with 20th and 23rd ?place rankings in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and USA Softball polls, respectively. Returning national champion Arizona led both rankings and was among seven Pac-10 teams spotted, and their rankings follow: Arizona (1st / 1st ), Arizona State (3rd / 2nd), UCLA (14th / 10th ), Washington (11th / 14th), Stanford (19th / 17th) and Oregon State (18th / 19th).
LAST WEEK’S GAME RECAPS
Cathedral City Kickoff
Big League Dreams Sports Park
Cathedral City, Calif. (Palm Springs)
Friday-Sunday, 2/8-10/08
2/10 ? No. 20 Oregon 2, Cal State Northridge. Senior Alicia Cook pitched a 2-0 shutout and struck out CSN’s clean-up hitter in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs ? three of the 10 runners they stranded on the day. Cook (1-2) notched 16th career shutout, fourth all-time for UO, while senior right fielder Kayleen Hudson knocked in the game-winner with a single in the first inning. Sophomore center fielder Neena Bryant connected off CSN senior and returning All-Big West honorable mention pick Mercedes Lovato for her her first homer of the season in the sixth inning.
2/9 ? No. 6 Tennessee 5, No. 20 Oregon 0. Volunteer freshman right-hander Ashton Ward (2-0) pitched a one-hitter in her second collegiate start and struck out eight and walked none. UO’s lone hit came from Hudson in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and two strikes ? a lined shot up the middle that glanced off the top of Ward’s glove. UT scored two runs off Cook in the first and fifth innings then added another in the sixth inning, before Melissa Rice came in and pitched a scoreless final 1 2/3 innings and allowed two hits, no runs and had one strikeout and no walks.
2/9 ? No. 20 Oregon 14, Cal Poly 4. UO freshman first baseman Monique Fuiava crushed a first-inning, two-out grand slam over the center field wall, then added another two-run homer to right in the third inning to propel UO to its first win of the year. Freshman left-handed pitcher Brittany Rumfelt staked a complete game win in her collegiate debut (five innings, 4 ER, 1 SO, 2 BB, 11 hits). At the plate, four other Ducks had multiple hits ? freshmen catcher Ashley and second baseman Cortney Kivett (Ashley 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI / Cortney 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI), Jenkins (2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, 1 walk) and Chaput (2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI).
2/8 ? Mississippi State 3, Oregon 0. The returning NCAA team qualifier Bulldogs scored two runs in the third inning and another in the fourth off Rice (0-1) to win its season opener. UO’s three hits off of starter MSU’s Kelsey Nurnberg (complete game, 5 SO, 0 BB) came from Chaput (1-3), Jenkins (1-3) and Bryant (1-3, ground rule double).
2/8 ? Colorado State 3, Oregon 2. The Rams scored the game winner on a two-run homer by designated player Ashley Munoz in the sixth inning off the UO starter Cook who threw a complete game (7 hits, 3 ER, 6 SO, 0 BB). UO went up 2-1 in the fifth inning when pinch runner Hannah Barril scored from third on an illegal pitch call. The Ducks battled back in the seventh inning, with two hits and runners on second and third with one out. Cortney Kivett appeared to score the tying run as she tagged on a soft liner to the second baseman on the edge of the outfield grass, but was called out for leaving early for the game’s final out. Kivett led the UO at the plate (4-4) and her first RBI stood as UO’s first run of the season, and came in the first inning. UO’s fifth and sixth hitters, Chaput and Hudson, both went 2-3, and junior outfielder and leadoff hitter Sari-Jane Jenkins went 2-4. Overall, the Ducks racked up 11 hits, and left eight runners on base.
A RIGOROUS SCHEDULE
The Ducks typically play one of the nation’s tougher schedules, and will again in ?08 with 37 games against returning NCAA qualifiers from last season. Not surprisingly, those opponents include five regional champions, three World Series participants and both championship participants. The Ducks will spend nearly the entire first six weeks of the season on the road at a pair of tournaments in both Palm Springs (Cathedral Kickoff 2/8-10, Palm Springs Classic 2/21-24) and Las Vegas (Louisville Slugger Classic, 2/15-17, Las Vegas Invitational 3/7-9) and another in San Diego (San Diego Classic, 2/28-3/2).
UO’s home opener at Howe Field is slated for Wednesday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. The following weeks, the Eugene-Springfield community will get plenty of face time with its favorite team with most of UO’s next 10 games in the cozy confines of Howe Field as part of the Cascade Clash, March 13-25. Afterwards the Ducks open the Pac-10 season on the road at Washington and UCLA (3/28-30), then have their first Civil War showdown vs. Oregon State, Wednesday, April 2, soon followed by games vs. Arizona State and Arizona (4/4-6). The Ducks warp up the season five weeks later at home vs. UCLA and Washington (5/8-10)
2007 DUCK SEASON REVIEW
The Ducks advanced to the regional final for the fourth time under Arendsen last May after opening round wins in the postseason vs. Penn State (4-0) and South Carolina (8-4), before losing twice afterwards to the host Gamecocks. UO soared through the non-conference stretch and climbed as high as 10th and 11th, respectively, in the national polls thanks to a 24-3 start that included a school record 18-game winning streak. Afterwards, UO continued to fly high en route to a 44-19 record and second-most wins in school history.
Individually, the Ducks amassed a school record seven All-Pac-10 honors, led by NFCA Player of the Year finalist and redshirt sophomore shortstop Jenn Salling. The first-year Duck also nabbed UO’s first Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year award after she ranked second nationally in batting (.481), and added school records in RBI (73), slugging (.873) and walks (46). A pair of then-seniors ? Suzie Barnes and Ann Marie Topps - were tabbed to the Pac-10 All-Second Team. Barnes handily broke season records for stolen bases (41) and runs (64) and Topps crushed 19 home runs, three more than the previous Duck all-time best.
SUMMER FUN
After last year’s record-breaking collegiate season, the Ducks continued to shine on the club, national and international stages. Last August, redshirt sophomore shortstop Jenn Salling started at shortstop and hit in the middle of the Canadian National Team’s lineup in the China Cup in Beijing, China. Afterwards, the Port Coquitlam, B.C. native was selected to Canada’s Olympic Team ? one of the top medal hopefuls this August. Senior Joanna Gail started at third base for the Greek National Team in their Europe-Africa Olympic qualifying tournament as the squad finished tied for fourth and celebrated wins over numerous countries, including the Czech Republic, England and Holland. The Poway, Calif., native made her Olympic debut back in ’04 in Athens before her freshman season. Sophomore Neena Bryant was one of the top hitters on the gold-medal U.S. team at the World Junior Championships last June. The U.S. team was unbeaten (10-0), and the outfielder from Placentia, Calif., led the team in batting (.571) in her nine games and her other offensive numbers follow: 7-12, 1 double, 1 triple, 8 RBI, .545 slugging. In the summer season, Gail and Jenkins started for the ASA national champion Brakettes team (Stratford, Conn.), and Jenkins was an All-America choice.
NEW FACES
The Ducks welcome six newcomers that have challenged for immediate duty ? junior transfer Shelley Deadmond (outfield) and freshmen Monique Fuiava (first base), twins Ashley and Cortney Kivett (catcher / second base), Brittany Rumfelt (pitcher) and Kaitlin Vitek (catcher). Cortney Kivett will likely start at second baseman and replace All-Pac-10 pick Suzie Barnes, and Rumfelt is expected to boost the team on the mound and at the plate. Monique Fuiava will likely share duties at first base with sophomore Carlyn Re, and Ashley Kivett and Vitek stabilize UO’s future behind the plate as they mentor under senior and two-year starter Aime Morris. Deadmond was an all-league honorable mention at Butte Junior College and could play any outfield position.
SISTER ACT
Freshman Kivett twins ? Ashley and Cortney ? aren’t the only Ducks with sibling connections. Senior pitcher Alicia Cook is the younger sister of former Duck great Jennie Cook. The elder Cook lettered from 1996-99 and ranks top 10 for UO in games (second, 140), wins (third, 59), complete games (third, 82), innings (fourth, 720). The younger Cook Alicia has already passed her sister in shutouts (Alicia, fourth, 16; Jennie, eighth, 9) and strikeouts (Alicia seventh, 276; Jennie eighth, 241), and for comparison here are her other career stats and UO all-time rankings: 86 games (#7), 393.1 innings (#8), 40 wins (#7), 42 complete games (#7), 16 shutouts (#4), 292 strikeouts (#7).
TOP DUCK
UO head coach Kathy Arendsen returns for her sixth season in Eugene and has directed Oregon to its most successful stretch in school history. She entered the 2008 season ranked first all-time among Duck softball mentors in winning percentage (.612, 183-116), followed by Nancy Plantz (.588, 20-14, 1980) and Teresa Wilson (.548, 126-104, 1986-89). The current Duck mentor’s 185 wins is only seven shy of the all-time leader Wilson (192-172, .527, 1990-96).
Arendsen’s first season in ’03 was one of UO’s greatest when the Ducks tied for third in the Pac-10 (37-19, 10-11) and had one more Pac-10 win than the previous three years combined. UO continued to shine with several other of its finest seasons in 2004 (42-21, 10-11) and 2005 (36-25, 7-14), then raised the stakes even higher in ’07 (44-19). UO sprinted out to a 24-3 start thanks to a school-record 18-game win streak and top-10 national ranking, and later reached the regional final for the fourth time in her five seasons.
Prior to her arrival to Eugene, she resurrected the Mississippi State program in 1997 after a 10-year hiatus, and her Bulldogs twice made the regional final. She spent four seasons prior as the head coach at Yale as its winningest coach (90-73), and two seasons at Eastern Illinois (46-36, 1990-91) and one at Western Connecticut (18-10, 1983). As a player, she initially staked her name as one of the greatest pitchers in collegiate and U.S. history in a career that included 4,038 strikeouts, three Broderick (National Player of the Year) Awards and national titles for Texas Women’s University in 1979 and ’80. Afterwards, she pitched for the Raybestos Brakettes (Stratford, Conn.) and went 338-26, and staked 79 no-hitters, 42 perfect games, 265 shutouts and a 0.15 ERA. After her retirement, the Deerland, Mich., native was elected to the International Softball Hall of Fame, ASA Hall of Fame, Softball Hall of Fame, Cal State Chico Hall of Fame, Texas Women’s University Hall of Fame, Michigan ASA Hall of Fame and Grand Rapids Hall of Fame.
MORE LOVE FOR THE DUCK STAFF
Oregon’s recent success can also be tied to the continuity of one of the nation’s top staffs that includes associate head coach J. Gaudreau, Arendsen’s top assistant the past 14 seasons, and assistant coach Mick Hokanson who returns for his third season in Eugene and 17th overall in the collegiate ranks. The squad also added former pro centerfielder and Nebraska All-American Kim Ogee as a volunteer coach just before the start of the season. A pair of All-Pac-10 picks from last year, Suzie Barnes and Ann Marie Topps, will serve as undergraduate coaches this year as they finish their degrees and help expedite the transition for a new class of Duck stars.
PRESEASON NATIONAL POLLS
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Preseason Poll
http://nfca.org/top25/index.php?cat_id=1
2007
Rank Team Record Pts Pvs
1 Arizona (27) 50-14-1 721 1
2 Texas A&M 46-14 581 7
3 Arizona State 54-17 575 8
4 Alabama 55-10 553 9
5 Oklahoma 55-8 522 11
6 Tennessee (1) 63-8 511 2
7 Northwestern 52-13 503 4
8 Baylor 51-16 486 5
9 LSU 55-12 463 10
10 DePaul 47-13 462 6
11 Washington 42-19 436 3
12 Michigan 47-12 400 13
13 Florida 50-22 386 14
14 UCLA (1) 37-18 381 18
15 Hawai'i 50-13 343 12
16 Virginia Tech 49-16 306 17
17 Georgia Tech 54-16 210 19
18 Oregon State 41-23 201 15
19 Stanford 35-21-1 197 20
20 Oregon 44-19 165 22
21 CS Fullerton 38-23 163 16
22 Texas 35-20 115 24
23 Ohio State 40-18 111 23
24 La.-Lafayette 46-18 84 NR
25 Missouri 40-24 76 25
Others receiving votes: Houston 75, South Carolina 74, Georgia 62, Fresno State 42, UMass 38, Creighton 23, Illinois State 23, Florida State 22, California 21, Mississippi State 16, NC State 12, Tennessee Tech 12, Loyola Marymount 8, Nebraska 7, Southern Illinois 7, BYU 7, Hofstra 5, North Carolina 5, Louisville 3, South Florida 3, UNLV 3, Texas Tech 2, Mississippi Valley State 1, Fordham 1, Florida Atlantic 1, Iowa 1
Note: The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches representing each conference. Final 2007 records are shown. First-place votes are in parentheses.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
http://admin.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=21
2007 Final
Rank Team Record Pts 2007 Ranking
1. Arizona (14) 50-14-1 487 1
2. Arizona St. (3) 54-17 468 7
3. Texas A&M (2) 46-14 465 8
4. Alabama 55-10 425 11
5. Oklahoma 55-8 410 9
6. Northwestern 52-13 346 4
7. LSU 55-12 325 10
8. DePaul 47-13 324 6
9. Baylor 51-16 319 5
10. UCLA (1) 37-18 304 18
11. Tennessee 63-8 285 2
12. Michigan 47-13 278 12
13. Florida 50-22 270 15
14. Washington 42-19 256 3
15. Virginia Tech 49-16 239 14
16. Hawaii 50-13 233 13
17. Stanford 35-21-1 162 21
18. Georgia Tech 54-16 135 16
19. Oregon State 41-23 127 17
20. La.-Lafayette 46-18 115 NR
21. Missouri 40-24 74 19
22. Ohio State 40-18 65 22
23. Oregon 44-19 63 23
T24. CS Fullerton 38-23 62 20
T24. Texas 35-20 62 NR
Parenthesis Denotes first place votes.
Others receiving votes: Massachusetts (21); South Carolina (18); California (17); Houston (16); Florida State (14); Fresno State (13); Creighton (13); Nebraska (13); Georgia (13); North Carolina (12); Louisville (7); Southern Illinois (6); Long Beach State (6); Loyola Marymount (6); BYU (6); South Florida (5); Illinois State (5); Mississippi State (4); NC State (2); UNLV (2); Cal Poly ? San Luis Obispo (2).
CLIMBING THE UO RECORD BOOKS
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Jr., LF, Salem, Ore.
Career Average - 3. .354 (138-390)
Season Average ? 7th, .396, 2007
Season Runs ? 5th, 48, 2007
Season Hits ? 2nd, 82, 2007
Season Doubles ? 2nd, 16, 2007
Season Stolen Bases ? 2nd, 38, 2007
Neena Bryant, So., CF, Placentia, Calif.
Season Doubles - 4th-t, 14, 2007
Season Home Runs ? 10th-t. 10, 2007
Season Runs Batted In ? 4th, 46, 2007
Season Extra Base Hits ? 5th, 25, 2007
Season Total Bases ? 9th-t, 104, 2007
Lovena Chaput, Sr., SS, Tualatin, Ore.
Career Doubles ? 10th, 29 (9th is 30)
Career Triples ? 11th, 7 (8th is 8)
Season Doubles - 10th-t, 12, 2006
Alicia Cook, Sr., P, Elmira, Ore.
Career Games ? 7th, 86 (6th is 114)
Career Complete Games ? 7thth, 42 (6th is 60)
Career Shutouts ? 4th, 16 (3rd is 21)
Career Innings ? 8th. Alicia Cook 393.1 (7th is 482)
Career Strikeouts ? 7th, 292 (6th is 316)
Career ERA (min. 200 IP) - 10. Alicia Cook 2.33 (131 ER, 393.1 innings)
Season Victories ? 4th, 23, 2007
Season Complete Games ? 10th-t. 23, 2007
Season Strikeouts ? 7th, 125, 2007
Melissa Rice, Jr., P, Colville, Wash.
Career Shutouts ? 8th, 9 (7th is 10)
Career Innings ? 11th, 322.2 (9th is 336.1)
Season Victories ? 6th, 21, 2007
Season Appearances ? 9th, 40, 2007
Starts ? 9th, 34, 2007
Season Complete Games ? 10th-t. 23, 2007
Season Strikeouts ? 9th, 114, 2007
OREGON SOFTBALL QUICK FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater): Kathy Arendsen (Chico State ?80)
Record at Oregon: 185-116, Sixth Season
Overall Record: 557-391, 18 years
Assistant Coaches: J. Gaudreau (6th year), Mick Hokanson (3rd year)
2007 Overall Record: 44-19 / 2007 7-14 (7th)
2007 Conference Record (place): 7-14 (7th)
2007 NCAA Record: 2-2 (Regional, Columbia, S.C.)
Final NFCA / USA Softball Rankings (Season High): 22nd (10th) / 20th (11th)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost (Starters Returning/Lost): 12/4 (7/3)
Position Players Returning/Lost (Pitchers Returning/Lost): 11/4 (2/1)
Top 2007 Returnees
Sari-Jane Jenkins (Jr., OF, .396, 82 hits, 27 RBI, 38 SB)
Neena Bryant (So.,OF, .309, 58 hits, 10 HR, 46 RBI)
Alicia Cook (Sr., P, 2.06 ERA, 23-5, 10 SHO, 197 IP, 125 K)
Melissa Rice (Jr., P, 2.87 ERA, 21-14, 8 SHO, 202.2 IP, 114 K)
Redshirt (Olympic-CANADA): Jenn Salling (So., SS, .481, 76 Hits, 14 HR, 73 RBI)
Key 2007 Losses
Ann Marie Topps (DP, .2727, 19 HR, 61 RBI)
Suzie Barnes (2B, .311, 61 Hits, 41 SB)
Kristi Leiter (1B, .278, 42 hits, .988 fielding)
Newcomers (6)
Brittany Rumfelt, Fr., LHP, Lakeport, Calif.
Monique Fuiava, Fr., 1B, Las Vegas, Nev.
Ashley Kivett, Fr., C-3B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Cortney Kivett, Fr., 2B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Kaitlin Vitek, Fr., C-3B, Valencia, Calif.
Shelley Deadmond, Jr., OF, Chico, Calif.
DUCK PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
COACHES: Kathy Arendsen (AIR-un-son), J. Gaudreau (GOD-row), Mick Hokanson (HOKE-an-son).
PLAYERS: Hannah Barril (bah-RILL), Lovena Chaput (Luh-VEE-nuh CHAP-it), Monique Fuiava (foo-EE-ah-vah), Sari-Jane (SARRY-Jane) Jenkins, Ashley & Courtney Kivett (KIHV-et), Kaitlin Vitek (VEE-tek)
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
BY CLASS
Seniors: 5
Juniors: 3
Sophomores: 5
Freshmen: 5
BY POSITION
Infielders/Outfielders: 7/6
Pitchers/Catchers: 3/3
BY STATE
California: 7
Oregon: 6
Washington: 1
Alaska: 1
Colorado: 1
Nevada: 1
British Columbia: 1
AT BAT
Right/Left: 13/5
LETTERWINNERS
Returning (# of letters): 12
Neena Bryant: 2
Lovena Chaput: 3
Alicia Cook: 3
Joanna Gail: 3
Kayleen Hudson: 3
Sari-Jane Jenkins: 2
Amie Morris: 3
Melissa Rice: 2
Hannah Barril: 1
Neena Bryant: 1
Carlyn Re: 1
Jenn Salling: 1
Blair Williamson: 1
Lost: 3
Suzie Barnes: 4
Kristi Leiter: 4
Ann Marie Topps: 4
- www.GoDucks.com -
