Ducks Welcome Softball Alumni Back for OSU/ASU/Arizona Homestand
This Week’s Duck Softball Action
- Wednesday, April 2 ? Oregon State (22-16), 4 p.m. ? www.OSUbeavers.com
- Friday, April 4 ? No. 1 Arizona State (37-2), 4 p.m. ? www.thesundevils.com ? Comcast Cable TV (Channel 37)
- Saturday, April 5 ? No. 8 Arizona (25-9), 1 p.m. ? www.thesundevils.com
- Sunday, April 6 ? No. 8 Arizona (25-9), Noon ? www.ArizonaAthletics.com ? Comcast Cable TV (Channel 37)
(* All Pac-10 games are broadcast online live to O-Zone subscribers on the www.GoDucks.com website.)
WHAT'S ON TAP
EUGENE ? The University of Oregon softball team (25-13, 0-2) looks forward to its first week of home conference action with four games spread out over a five-day window, including appearances by two of the nation’s top teams.
In the softball version of the Civil War Sponsored by Your Northwest Dodge Dealers, the Ducks renew their rivalry with Oregon State on Wednesday in their 153rd meeting. UO sports a 77-74-1 advantage in the series that dates back to 1974 and won the season series last year with a pair of 6-5 wins and a 9-7 loss.
UO’s other opponents this weekend include No. 1 Arizona State and No. 8 Arizona, and the latter has claimed eight national championships, including last year’s crown.
Not surprisingly, four other teams in the ?Conference of Champions’ rank top 25 nationally this week ? No. 1 UCLA, No. 7 Stanford, No. 21 California and No. 24 Washington.
Oregon looks to get back on the winning track after it won its last eight games at Howe Field in the Cascade Clash in late March. Those doubleheader sweeps over UC Davis, Idaho State, Northern Illinois, and NCAA qualifier Mississippi Valley State added to an 11-game win streak that started the weekend before in Las Vegas.
Fans at this week’s games can look for some of UO’s greatest players in the crowd with a reunion planned for Saturday night.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Sunday’s games will be televised by the Oregon Sports Network on Oregon Comcast Cable systems on Channel 37. A broadcast of every home game for the remainder for the season will be also streamed online at the www.GoDucks.com website for O-Zone members. Oregon’s season finale vs. Washington, Saturday, May 10 at noon will be broadcast by Fox Sports Northwest.
PROMOTIONS ON TAP
Wednesday’s contest vs. Oregon State is a $2 Day. Pick up a “Bi-Mart $2 Day” coupon at any area Bi-Mart location and receive admission for only $2.
DUCK TRACKS
Before her 2-0 loss at UCLA, junior pitcher Melissa Rice (11-5) had won nine games in a row, and senior Alicia Cook (10-8) also had a five-game win streak snapped in Westwood to the top-ranked Bruins.
At the plate, sophomore centerfielder Neena Bryant went 2-for-6 vs. UCLA to continue her spring surge. In the Cascade Clash tournament’s eight games the two weeks prior, she also led the Ducks in average (.652), home runs (5), RBI (14), runs (9), hits (15) and doubles (4). On the season, she sports a team-best .407 batting average, and also paces the squad in home runs (8), RBI’s (32), slugging (.678), hits (48) and doubles (8), and had a team-high 11-game hitting streak snapped in L.A.
Freshman second baseman Cortney Kivett continues to shine in the lead-off spot, and her two stolen bases last week give her a team-leading 29 this year that ranks her fourth all-time in a season for UO. She also debuted on the UO career stolen base list and is now tied for ninth, and is only five away from eighth. She’s also tied for the team lead in hits this year with Bryant (48), and her .375 batting average stands second for UO.
IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
Head Coach Kathy Arendsen became the first Duck skipper to stake 200 wins at the end of February in Las Vegas. The week before, the sixth-year head coach became the all-time wins leader among Duck softball coaches after she passed Tami Brown (192-172, 1990-96). Arendsen’s career winning percentage (.623, 208-126) is also a school best, ahead of Teresa Wilson’s mark (.548, 126-104, 1986-89). The 18th-year collegiate coach Arendsen sports a 580-401 overall record after prior stops at Mississippi State, Yale, Eastern Illinois and Western Connecticut.
ONCE A DUCK
This weekend’s games will mark a special reunion for multiple generations of Oregon softball, including a special banquet Saturday night. Among the nearly 150 softball alumni expected to return include over half of the 1976 squad that made UO’s first national softball tourney appearance in the AIAW College World Series. Also keep an eye out for former All-Americans Katie Wiese, Kim Manning Strahm and Julie Cavanaugh, and former greats such as Lori Sweet Gerig, Marnie McCall Fisk and Amy Harris. Various players will be introduced to the crowd between innings at Saturday’s game vs. Arizona.
A PEAK AT THE PAC-10 SLATE
After this week’s games vs. Oregon State, Arizona State and Arizona, UO has three away weekends to close April, although that middle weekend includes nearby games at Portland State (Wednesday, April 16) and Corvallis (Friday-Saturday, April 18-19). The Ducks return home for the final two weekends of the season to host Stanford (Friday, May 2, 4 p.m.), California (Saturday, May 3, 1 p.m.; Sunday, May 4, Noon), UCLA (Thursday, May 8, 4 p.m.) and Washington (Friday, May 9, 1:30 and 4 p.m.; Saturday, May 10, 1:30 p.m.). UO’s original game vs. Washington on March 28 that was postponed because of snow and rain will be made up on Friday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader.
DUCK BATTING NOTES
- Six Ducks that have played all 38 games are batting .285 or better:
Neena Bryant, So., CF - .407, 48-for-118, 8 home runs, 32 RBI, 16 stolen bases, .678 slugging
Cortney Kivett, Fr., 2B - .375, 48-for-128, 29 stolen bases
Joanna Gail, Sr., 3B - .302, 32-for-106, 9 doubles, 7 home runs, 25 RBI
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Jr., LF - .298, 34-for-114, 16 walks, 20 stolen bases
Lovena Chaput, Sr., SS - .291, 32-for-110, 4 home runs, 5 doubles, 17 RBI
Monique Fuiava, Fr., DP/1B - .286, 26-for-91, 4 home runs, 15 RBI, 13 walks
- Altogether, six Ducks have homered this year and five of them have four or more. The power parade includes four returnees ? Bryant (8), Gail (7), Chaput (4) and Hudson (4) ? and two freshmen ? first baseman Monique Fuiava (4, including a grand slam) and catcher Ashley Kivett (1). Round-trippers from the Cascade Clash went to Bryant (5), Gail (3), Chaput (1), and Hudson (1). UO’s 10th-best home run season mark is 10 ? a mark that Bryant achieved last year as a freshman.
- This season, Fuiava, Gail and Bryant are the first Ducks to hit multiple homers in a game. Bryant was the most recent honoree with a pair of solo home runs in her 3-for-3 day vs. UC Davis in UO’s 7-2 Cascade Clash win in late March. Gail cleared the fence twice in her 3-for-3 afternoon vs. Cal State Bakersfield earlier in the month at San Diego State. Fuiava’s effort vs. Colorado State the opening weekend included a grand slam, 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 Gail (2) and Hudson (2).
- Among current Ducks the career home run leader is Chaput (20) who now ranks 10th all-time and moved past recent Duck star Beth Boskovich (19). Other Ducks with +10 career homers include Bryant (18), Gail (17), Hudson (16), and redshirt Jenn Salling (14).
- On the UO all-time career charts two weeks ago, Lovena Chaput's double moved her to sixth all-time in doubles (33), and is one away from fifth place (34). Freshman and season stolen base leader Cortney Kivett is seven away from third all-time in a season (36).
- Besides Bryant’s offensive antics in the Cascade Clash, senior Joanna Gail also hit at a +.500 clip in the tourney (.500, 12-for-24, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 9 RBI), and four others topped .280 ? freshman Monique Fuiava (.333, 7-for-21, 3 doubles, 4 RBI), senior Kayleen Hudson (.394, 5-for-17, 1 double, 1 homer, 3 RBI, 4 walks), senior Lovena Chaput (.286, 6-for-21, 1 double, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 4 walks), and freshman Cortney Kivett (.280, 7-for-25, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 7 steals).
- Sophomore first baseman Carlyn Re batted .333 in the Las Vegas Invitational a month ago (4-for-12), including a 3-for-3 career-best day with 2 RBIs vs. Southern Utah. The following week in the first four games of the Cascade Clash, she had another RBI double and had four RBIs and four walks and started all four games.
- In late February in Palm Springs, freshman first baseman Monique Fuiava homered for Oregon it its 1-0 win vs. No. 6 Oklahoma. The Las Vegas native led the team in the tourney in batting (.333), hits (5), doubles (1), homers (1), runs (3), on-base pct. (.444), slugging (.600) and total bases (9), and ranked second in walks (3). Fuiava also went 2-3 in UO’s 2-1 win vs. NCAA qualifier Long Island with a double. Other Ducks with notable stat lines in their second trip to Palm Springs - Joanna Gail (.313, 5-16, 1 double) and the Kivett twins Cortney (.278, 5-18, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases) and Ashley (.250, 3-12, 1 stolen base).
- 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. The Yucaipa, Calif., native had a 15-game hitting streak ended three weeks ago in the Cascade Clash opener, then proceeded to go 7-for-21 the next three games and has hit in eight of her last nine games. The left-handed leadoff hitter leads the team in hits (48) and stolen bases this year (29-for-31) and ranks third in runs (18), on-base percentage (.389) and total bases (47).
- 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.
- Lovena Chaput’s four runs in a 13-2 win vs. Northwestern State tied a team record shared by four others.
- Ashley Kivett’s two doubles vs. Cal Poly ranks second all-time for UO, as did sister Cortney Kivett’s four hits in her debut vs. Colorado State.
- 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
- The past month, junior right-hander Melissa Rice won nine straight games and also has a save. Her 2-0 shutout of UC Davis two weeks ago was the 12th of her career and ranks her sixth all-time for UO. Two more complete game blankings will put her in a tie for fifth.
- Cook's two Cascade Clash wins two weeks ago moved her up two spots to fourth all-time in career victories (49), and she's now 10 behind her sister Alicia Cook (third, 59). She continues to climb several other career and season charts, so see the RECORD BOOK section later for more details.
- This season, Rice leads the squad in wins (11), ERA (2.08) and opposing batting average (.199), and ranks second in innings (99.2), strikeouts (74), starts (16), shutouts (3) and appearances (21). Cooks owns top team honors in shutouts (4), saves (4), strikeouts (101) and innings (116) and ranks second in wins (10) and ERA (2.79).
- Cook owns UO’s season high in strikeouts (8) vs. returning NCAA Super Regional qualifiers Baylor and South Carolina, and also had six vs. Colorado State, Pacific, Northern Illinois, Mississippi Valley State, Idaho State and UC Davis, and five in her outings vs. Tennessee and Northridge. In the Cascade Clash tourney, Rice had a season high six in four no-hit innings vs. Idaho State and five each vs. Mississippi State and Northern Illinois.
- In the span of 30 hours in late February in the Palm Springs, senior right-hander Alicia Cook logged shutouts over No. 6 Oklahoma, 1-0, and Pacific, 10-0, and had a save in the 3-1 win vs. Michigan State.
- Freshman Brittany Rumfelt (4-0) won her first four collegiate starts. After a stress fracture in her pitching hand index finger, she made two relief appearances two weeks ago ? her first action in nearly a month. She pitched three innings, and gave up no hits, struck out two and walked none. A month ago in her last action in Palm Springs, she won starts over returning NCAA qualifier Long Island, 2-1, and Michigan State, 3-1. In previous weekends, she posted a 13-2 win over Northwestern State (5 innings, 2 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk) and a 14-4 win in her collegiate debut vs. returning NCAA qualifier Cal Poly (4 innings, 11 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2 walks).
MISC. DUCK NOTES
- The Duck defense is fairly new look in '08, even for the returnees. Five players started multiple games the first weekend in the same tournament that didn’t do so 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 starters have done so than 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 38 games this year ? Bryant (CF), Chaput (SS), Gail (3B), Hudson (RF-DP), Jenkins (LF) and Cortney Kivett (2B) ? and Fuiava (DP-1B) has started 36 and played all 38.
STAT WATCH ? UO ALL-TIME CHARTS
Lovena Chaput, Sr., SS, Tualatin, Ore.
Career Doubles ? 7th, 32 ? needs one to tie for 6th (33); (4 in 2008, 28 in 2005, ’06, ?07)
Career Triples ? 11th, 6 ? needs 1 to tie for 8th (7); (0 in 2008, 6 in 2005, ’06, ?07)
Career Home Runs ? 10th, 20 ? needs 1 to tie for 9th (21); (4 in 2008, 16 in 2005, ’06, ?07)
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Jr., LF, Salem, Ore
Career Stolen Bases ? 67, 3rd ? needs 4 to tie for 2nd (71); (20 in 2008, 47 in 2006, ?07)
Neena Bryant, So., CF, Placentia, Calif.
Career Home Runs ? 18 ? needs 2 to tie teammate Lovena Chaput for 10th (20); (8 in 2008, 10 in 2007)
Season Home Runs ? 8 ? needs 2 to tie for 10th (10)
Season RBIs ? 32 ? needs 10 to tie for 10th (42)
Season Stolen Bases ? 16 ? needs 5 to tie for 10th (21)
Joanna Gail, Sr., 3B, Poway, Calif.
Career Home Runs ? 17 ? needs 3 to tie teammate Lovena Chaput for 10th (20); (7 in 2008, 10 in 2005, ’06, ’07)
Season Home Runs ? 7 ? needs 3 to tie for 10th (10)
Season Doubles ? 9 ? needs 3 to tie teammate Lovena Chaput for 10th (12)
Cortney Kivett, Fr., 2B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Season Stolen Bases ? 29, 4th ? needs 7 to tie for 3rd (36)
Career Stolen Bases ? 29 ? needs 5 to tie for 8th (34)
Alicia Cook, Sr., P, Elmira, Ore.
Career Strikeouts ? 4th, 377 ? needs 68 to tie for 3rd (445); (101 in 2008, 276 in 2005, ’06, ?07)
Season Strikeouts ? 101 ? needs 12 to tie for 10th (113)
Career Innings ? 7th, 491 ? needs 140 to tie for 6th (631.0); (116 in 2008, 375 in 2005, ’06, ?07)
Career Shutouts ? 4th, 19 ? needs 2 to tie for 3rd (21); (4 in 2008, 15 in 2005, ’06, ?07)
Melissa Rice, Jr., P, Colville, Wash.
Career Shutouts ? 6th, 12 ? needs 2 to tie for 5th (14); (3 in 2008, 9 in 2006, ?07)
Career Innings ? 8th, 415.1 - needs 66.2 to tie for 7th (482); (99.2 in 2008, 315.2 in 2006, ?07)
A SLATE VS. A WHO’S WHO OF COLLEGE SOFTBALL
With all eight members of the ?Conference of Champions’ NCAA qualifiers last year, a challenging weekend is nothing new. Including the non-conference slate this year, the Ducks have 37 games against 21 NCAA qualifiers from ’07, including five regional champions, three World Series participants and both NCAA championship participants.
LAST WEEK’S GAME RECAPS (at UCLA)
Easton Stadium, Los Angeles (Westwood)
Saturday-Sunday, March 29-30, 2008
3/29 ? No. 1 UCLA 2, Oregon 0
Junior Melissa Rice gave up only two hits and one earned run in UO's Pac-10 Conference softball opener. Rice (11-5) struck out one, walked two, and gave up two hits ? both in the first inning. The loss ended her streak of nine straight wins and was her first loss since a 4-1 defeat at then-No. 20 San Diego State, February 29. The Bruins (30-3, 2-0) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, before Rice ended the inning with an unassisted grounder to first base - the first of 14 straight batters she retired on ground balls. At the plate, UO loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning, but came up empty. Freshman Kaitlin Vitek, a native of nearby Valencia, Calif., looped a pinch hit single up the middle for UO’s fourth hit of the game in the seventh inning ? her second collegiate hit. Other Ducks that hit safely included Cortney Kivett (1-for-3), Ashley Kivett (1-for-3) and Sari-Jane Jenkins (1-for-3).
3/30 ? UCLA 12, Oregon 0
The Bruins (31-3, 3-0) put up five runs in both the first and second innings, and added two more in the bottom of the third as starter Anjelica Selden (15-2), a two-time Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week already this year, penned four shutout innings. Oregon threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning with the bases loaded in the fourth inning with two outs, and also had runners on second and third in the first inning but failed to score both times. Bryant went 2-for-3 the day after the Bruins ended her 11-game hitting streak Saturday.
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.
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).
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.
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 spent 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).
After UO’s home opener vs. Portland State (3/5), 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 wrap up the season five weeks later at home vs. UCLA and Washington (5/8-10).
So far this year, the Ducks have a 9-8 record against those returning NCAA qualifiers with victories over Cal Poly (14-4), South Carolina (3-0), Long Island (2-1), then-No. 6 Oklahoma (1-0), Harvard (6-0), Southern Utah (10-6, 4-2) and Mississippi Valley State (10-0, 6-1). Their losses have come to returning national runner-up and then-No. 6 Tennessee (5-0), Mississippi State (3-0), then-No. 2 Northwestern (7-0), returning World Series qualifier and then-No. 10 Baylor (8-4), then-No. 22 Fresno State (4-1), then-No. 20 Ohio State (7-0) and returning Super Regional qualifier UCLA (2-0, 12-0).
NEW FACES
The Ducks have welcomed six newcomers who have challenged for immediate duty ? freshmen Monique Fuiava (first base), twins Ashley and Cortney Kivett (catcher / second base), Brittany Rumfelt (pitcher) and Kaitlin Vitek (catcher) and junior transfer Shelley Deadmond (outfield). Cortney Kivett has started every game and has replaced All-Pac-10 second baseman Suzie Barnes, and Rumfelt won all four of her starts this year. Fuiava has shared duties at first base with sophomore Carlyn Re, and Ashley Kivett and Vitek have stabilized UO’s future behind the plate and have rotated with senior and two-year starter Aime Morris. Deadmond was an all-league honorable mention at Butte Junior College and is one of the team’s top pinch runners 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, 19; Jennie, eighth, 9) and strikeouts (Alicia fourth, 377; Jennie eighth, 241), and for comparison here are Alicia’s other career stats and UO all-time rankings: 104 games (#7), 491 innings (#7), 49 wins (#4), 51 complete games (#7), 19 shutouts (#4) and 377 strikeouts (#4).
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.
TOP DUCK
Sixth-year UO head coach Kathy Arendsen 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 now has 208 wins and moved her past former all-time leader Brown in early March (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) Harris 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).
IN THE DUCK RECORD BOOKS
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Jr., LF, Salem, Ore.
Career Average ? 3rd, .337 (165-489; 34-114 in 2008, 132-375 in 2006-07)
Career Stolen Bases - 3rd, 68 (2nd is 71) - (20 in 2008, 48 in 2006-07)
Career Hits (10th is 182) ? 166 (34 in 2008, 132 in 2006-07)
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
Season Stolen Bases ? 20, 2008 (10th is 21, 5th is 22)
Neena Bryant, So., CF, Placentia, Calif.
Season Doubles ? 8th, 2008 (10th is 12)
Season Doubles - 4th-t, 14, 2007
Season Home Runs ? 8, 2008 (10th is 10)
Season Home Runs ? 10th-t, 10, 2007
Season Runs Batted In ? 32, 2008 (10th is 42)
Season Runs Batted In ? 4th, 46, 2007
Season Extra Base Hits ? 5th, 25, 2007
Season Extra Base Hits ? 16, 2008 (9th is 22)
Season Total Bases ? 9th-t, 104, 2007
Lovena Chaput, Sr., SS, Tualatin, Ore.
Career Doubles ? 6th, 33 (5th is 34) ? (5 in ’08, 28 in 2005-07)
Career Triples ? 11th, 6 (8th is 7) ? (0 in ’08, 6 in 2005-07)
Career Home Runs ? 10th, 20 (9th is 21) ? (4 in ’08, 16 in 2005-07)
Season Doubles - 10th-t, 12, 2006
Cortney Kivett, Fr., 2B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Season Stolen Bases ? 29, 4th (3rd is 36)
Alicia Cook, Sr., P, Elmira, Ore.
Career Games ? 7th, 104(6th is 114) ? (21in 2008, 83 in 2005-07)
Career Wins ? 4th, 49 (3rd is 59) ? (10 in 2008, 39 in 2005-07)
Career Complete Games ? 7th, 51 (6th is 60) ? (11 in 2008, 40 in 2005-07)
Career Shutouts ? 4th, 19 (3rd is 21) ? (4 in 2008, 15 in 2005-07)
Career Innings ? 7th, Alicia Cook 491 (6th is 631) ? (116in 2008, 375 in 2005-07)
Career Strikeouts ? 4th, 377 (3rd is 445) ? (101 in 2008, 276 in 2005-07)
Career ERA (min. 200 IP) - 10. Alicia Cook 2.32 (163 ER, 491 innings) ? (36 ER in 2008, 127 in 2005-07)
Season Victories ? 4th, 23, 2007
Season Complete Games ? 10th-t. 23, 2007
Season Strikeouts ? 101, 2008 (10th is 113)
Season Strikeouts ? 7th, 125, 2007
Melissa Rice, Jr., P, Colville, Wash.
Career Shutouts ? 6th, 12 (5th is 14) ? (3 in 2008, 9 in 2006-07)
Career Innings ? 8th, 416.1 (7th is 482.0) ? (99.2 in 2008, 315.2 in 2006-07)
Season Victories ? 6th, 21, 2007
Season Appearances ? 9th, 40, 2007
Season 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: 208-126, Sixth Season
Overall Record: 580-401, 18 years
Associate Head Coach: J. Gaudreau (Sixth year)
Assistant Head Coach: Mick Hokanson (Third year)
Volunteer Coach: Kim (Ogee) Harris
Undergraduate Assistant Coaches: Suzie Barnes, Ann Marie Topps
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)
Shelley Deadmond, Jr., OF, Chico, Calif.
Monique Fuiava, Fr., 1B, Las Vegas, Nev.
Ashley Kivett, Fr., C-3B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Cortney Kivett, Fr., 2B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Brittany Rumfelt, Fr., LHP, Lakeport, Calif.
Kaitlin Vitek, Fr., C-3B, Valencia, Calif.
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
2008 DUCK NUMERICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Yr.
1 Cortney Kivett 2B L/R Fr.
2 Sari-Jane Jenkins OF L/R Jr.
4 Blair Williamson OF L/R So.
5 Lovena Chaput OF L/R Sr.
6 Neena Bryant OF R/R So.
7 Alicia Cook RHP R/R Sr.
8 Amie Morris C R/R Sr.
9 Joanna Gail 3B R/R Sr.
10 Hannah Barril UT L/R So.
11 Ashley Kivett C R/R Fr.
13 Kaitlin Vitek C/3B R/R Fr.
15 Monique Fuiava 1B R/R Fr.
16 Melissa Rice RHP R/R Jr.
20 Kayleen Hudson OF R/R Sr.
24 Carlyn Re 1B L/R So.
25 Shelley Deadmond OF L/R Jr.
27 Jenn Salling SS R/R So.
35 Brittany Rumfelt LHP L/L Fr.
Head Coach: Kathy Arendsen, 6th Year
Asst. Coaches: J. Gaudreau (6th year), Mick Hokanson (3rd year)
Volunteer Coach: Kim (Ogee) Harris, 1st Year
Undergraduate Assistant Coaches: Suzie Barnes, Ann Marie Topps, 1st Year
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)
Carlyn Re (CAR-lin RAY)
Kaitlin Vitek (VEE-tek)
POTENTIAL STARTERS (’08 Starts)
C: Amie Morris (14) / A. Kivett (25)
1B: M. Fuiava (36) / Carlyn Re (31)
2B: Cortney Kivett (38)
SS: Lovena Chaput (38)
3B: Joanna Gail (38)
RF: Kayleen Hudson (38)
CF: Neena Bryant (38)
LF: Sari-Jane Jenkins (38)
DP: Monique Fuiava (36), Kayleen Hudson (38), A. Kivett (25)
DUCK ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Ht. Yr. Hometown (High School/College)
10 Hannah Barril UT L/R 5-1 So. Juneau, Alaska (Juneau Douglas)
6 Neena Bryant OF R/R 5-6 So. Placentia, Calif. (El Dorado)
5 Lovena Chaput OF L/R 5-9 Sr. Tualatin, Ore. (Tualatin)
7 Alicia Cook RHP R/R 5-10 Sr. Elmira, Ore. (Elmira)
25 Shelley Deadmond OF L/R 5-6 Jr. Chico, Calif. (Butte/Chico)
15 Monique Fuiava 1B R/R 5-8 Fr. Las Vegas, Nev (Mojave)
9 Joanna Gail 3B R/R 5-9 Sr. Poway, Calif. (Poway)
20 Kayleen Hudson OF R/R 5-8 Sr. Northglenn, Colo. (Northglenn)
2 Sari-Jane Jenkins OF L/R 5-6 Jr. Salem, Ore. (South Salem)
11 Ashley Kivett C R/R 5-4 Fr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
1 Cortney Kivett 2B L/R 5-3 Fr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
8 Amie Morris C R/R 5-7 Sr. Salem, Ore. (Sprague)
24 Carlyn Re 1B L/R 5-6 So. Tualatin, Ore. (Tualatin)
16 Melissa Rice RHP R/R 5-8 Jr. Colville, Wash. (Colville High School)
35 Brittany Rumfelt LHP L/L 5-8 Fr. Lakeport, Calif. (Clear Lake)
27 Jenn Salling SS R/R 5-5 So. Port Coquitlam, BC (Terry Fox)
13 Kaitlin Vitek C/3B R/R 5-8 Fr. Valencia, Calif. (William S. Hart)
4 Blair Williamson OF L/R 5-8 So. Salem, Ore. (Sprague)
BY CLASS
Seniors: 5
Juniors: 3
Sophomores: 5
Freshmen: 5
AT BAT / BY POSITION
Right/Left: 11/7
Infielders/Outfielders: 7/6
Pitchers/Catchers: 3/3
BY STATE
California: 7
Oregon: 6
Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, British Columbia: 1
- www.GoDucks.com -
