Ducks Welcome Vikings in Home Opener
* Updated season statistics are available via the link above.
UPCOMING DUCK SOFTBALL ACTION (2009 / 2008 Record)
Wednesday, March 11, 5 p.m. ? Portland State (11-12 / 2008: 31-27, Pacific Coast Softball Conference: 13-7, 2nd)
Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m. ? Oregon State (13-13 / 2008: 28-31, Pac-10: 6-15, 7th)
WHAT'S UP
EUGENE ? After five straight weekends away at various West Coast non-conference tourneys, the UO softball team (8-15) looks forward to its home opener against Portland State, Wednesday, March 11. The 5 p.m. contest will also be UO’s first under its new lighting system that was installed in the off-season.
Fans attending the game are reminded that the OSAA State High School Boy's Basketball Tournament starts Wednesday afternoon at adjacent McArthur Court, so parking in the area will be at a premium (and area parking meters are in effect till 6 p.m.)
Afterwards, the Ducks take a week off from game action to focus on winter quarter final exams, then kick off the conference slate at Oregon State, Saturday, March 21. The 2 p.m. game is the first installment of 2009 in the Civil War Sponsored by Your Northwest Dodge Dealers. (Note: the time is one hour later than the originally published Pac-10 schedule that had the game at 1 p.m.).
In the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno, Nev., last weekend, three Ducks hit .300 or better ? junior center fielder and all-tourney team pick Neena Bryant (.500, 5-for-10, 3 doubles, 3 RBI), sophomore Ashley Kivett (.500, 2-for-4, 1 run) and sophomore designated player Monique Fuiava (.300, 3-for-10, 1 run, 1 double).
Among other Ducks to watch this weekend, sophomore second baseman Cortney Kivett ranks second for UO in batting (.329) and stolen bases (8). Recent NPF pro league draftee and senior shortstop Sari-Jane Jenkins is hitting .321 this year ? third-best on the team ? and her eight stolen bases gives her a school record 88.
A host of fresh faces are continuing the Duck power surge in 2009 that is led by Fuiava and her seven round-trippers (and only three away from UO's 10th-best mark all-time in a season).
Last weekend, junior first baseman Carlyn Re crushed her first career home run to center field vs. Southern Utah to draw UO within 2-1 in the seventh inning. The next day, freshman twins Kelsey and Lindsey Chambers also went ?yard’ back-to-back vs. Nevada, and the latter’s round-tripper was her first as a collegian. Among others with homers, sophomore catcher Kaitlin Vitek hit her first career bomb vs. Kentucky the second week of the season in Las Vegas, while Ashley Kivett celebrated her first grand slam against Wichita State the opening week in Tempe.
Others with homers this season include Bryant, who is tied for second for UO this season with Kelsey Chambers (2), and Jenkins (1) who socked her first homer since her freshman season in 2006.
On the mound, freshman Mikayla Endicott (2-2) has allowed only two earned runs and struck out 32 in her last 29 2/3 innings, and leads the team in ERA (1.70), while freshman Samantha Skillingstad (6-5) paces the squad in wins (6) and strikeouts (79).
RECENT STARTERS (?09/’08 Starts)
C: Ashley Kivett (12/41), Kaitlin Vitek (11/3)
1B: Carlyn Re (18/45), Monique Fuiava(5/19)
2B: Cortney Kivett (23/62)
SS: Sari-Jane Jenkins (23/64-LF)
3B: Lindsey Chambers (16/0), Ashley Kivett (5/1), Kaitlin Vitek (2/0)
RF: Kelsey Chambers (22/0)
CF: Neena Bryant (23/64)
LF: Blair Williamson (13/13-RF), Shelley Deadmond (10/0)
DP: Monique Fuiava (18/43), Carlyn Re (5/3)
TOP DUCK HITTERS (’09 Stats)
Neena Bryant, Jr.,CF-.397, 29-73, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 16 SB
Cortney Kivett, So., 2B - .329, 24-73, 8 SB
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Sr., SS - .321, 25-78, 1 HR, 8 SB
Carlyn Re, Jr., 1B - .286, 18-63, 6 RBI, 5 BB
Monique Fuiava, So., DP - .279, 7 HR, 14 RBI, .676 SLG
Kaitlin Vitek, So., C-3B - .27, 9-38, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Kelsey Chambers, Fr., RF - .230, 14-61, 2 HR, 15 RBI
TOP DUCK PITCHERS (’09 Stats)
Sam Skillingstad, Fr., 6-5,1.89,79SO, 22BB, 6CG, 1SHO
Mikayla Endicott, Fr., 2-2, 1.70, 34 SO, 9 BB, 2CG,1SHO
Brittany Rumfelt, So., 0-4, 4.20, 44 SO, 11 BB, 38.1 IP
PSU GAME TICKET PROMOTION
"Opening Night" 2 for 1 ? Against Portland State, fans can pick up a coupon at a Eugene/Springfield area Bi-Mart good for 2 for 1 admission to the game. In honor of the first game under the lights and all the work that went in to securing the lighting at Howe Field, Senior Associate Athletic Director Gary Gray will be throwing out the first pitch at the game.
CATCH THE ACTION LIVE
Duck softball fans can track action this season several ways. For home games, O-Zone subscribers will be able to listen to and watch games online, and three home games will also be broadcast live locally on radio by KUGN (590 AM) and KSCR (1320 AM) - Sun., April 5th vs. Stanford; Sat., April 11th vs. Oregon State; Sat., Sat., 9th vs. ASU. A monthly subscription for O-Zone access is only $9.95 per month, and a link to signing up is available here. For all games, live stats for all home and away contests are available for free via the softball schedule page by clicking on the page icon with the '1" in the far right media column.
UPCOMING OPPONENT INFO
PORTLAND STATE (11-12)
Web site: www.GoViks.com
2009 Season Statistics: http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/19300/stats/softball/teamstat.htm
Nickname: Vikings
Colors: Green, White, Silver
Conference: Big Sky/PCSC
Head Coach: Tobin Echo-Hawk
Career Record: 11-12 (First Year)
Record at School: Same
Assistants: Nicole Trimboli, Kellie
Wilkerson
2008 Overall Record: 31-27
2008 Conference Record: 13-7, 2nd
2008 Postseason: DNQ
Ret. Letterwinners/Starters/Pitchers:12/8/2
Series Record: UO leads 100-59
OREGON STATE BEAVERS (13-13)
Web site: www.OSUbeavers.com
2009 Season Statistics: http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/w-softbl/stats/2008-2009/teamstat.html
Nickname: Beavers
Colors: Orange, Black
Conference: Pacific-10
Head Coach: Kirk Walker
Career Record (Years): 503-391-3 (15th)
Record at School: Same
Assistants: Crissy Buck, Shawn Feldt
2008 Overall Record: 28-31
2008 Conference Record: 6-15, 7th
2008 Postseason: DNQ
Ret. Letterwinners/Starters/Pitchers:13/9/1
Series Record: UO leads, 78-76-1
SERIES HISTORY
Under seventh-year head coach Kathy Arendsen, UO is 17-3 vs. the Vikings, and have won the season series in five of her first six years (and the scorecards follow): 2008 (3-1), 2007 (1-0), 2006 (2-2), 2005 (3-0), 2004 (4-0) and 2003 (4-0).
Scores of the Duck victories over PSU (and winning pitchers) follow:
- 2008: 3-1, W-Brittany Rumfelt; 7-1, W-Alicia Cook; 8-4, W-Rumfelt
- 2007: 11-1, W-Melissa Rice
- 2006: 6-5, W-Melissa Rice; 2-0, W-Alicia Cook
- 2005: 4-1, W-Alicia Cook; 6-2, W-Lindsey Kontra; 4-0, W-Alicia Cook
- 2004: 5-2, W-Anissa Meashintubby; 1-0; W-Any Nyhus; 1-0, W-Amy Harris; 3-2, W-Anissa Meashintubby
- 2003: 7-2, W-Amy Harris; 3-2, W-Andrea Vidlund; 4-0, W-Harris; 5-0, W-Harris
Looking ahead to the OSU match-up, UO took the three-game series in 2007 (2-1), 2004 (2-1) and 2003 (2-1), while OSU held the upper hand in 2008 (2-1), ’06 (0-3) and ’05 (0-3).
UO’s Civil War wins under its all-time winningest mentor follow:
- 2008: 2-1, W-Alicia Cook
- 2007: 6-5, W-Melissa Rice; 4-3 (8)-Alicia Cook
- 2004: 9-8, W-Any Nyhus; 2-0, W-Nyhus
- 2003: 2-1, W-Amy Harris; 10-2, W-Harris
IN THE POLLS
The Ducks received votes in the first two editions of the NFCA and USA Softball polls in ?09, and this week’s Pac-10 teams' rankings follow: Washington (2/3), UCLA (5/4), Stanford (4/5), Arizona State (6/11), California (11/9) and Arizona (12/13). In both preseason polls all eight of the teams from the nation’s top softball conference, the Pacific-10, were sighted, and their rankings follow: Arizona State (2/3), UCLA (4/4), Arizona (7/7), Stanford (11/9), California (17/14), Washington (21/15), Oregon (votes) and Oregon State (votes).
GETTING THE CALL
In mid-February, senior Sari-Jane Jenkins was the 19th player picked overall in the 2009 National Professional Fastpich (NPF) senior draft. Taken as one of eight picks by the Akron Racers, she was the fourth of six Pac-10 players selected in the draft ? the most of any conference, followed by the SEC (4). The league features five teams that play three-month 20-game pro season from June 10-August 16, and more information on the team is available at their www.AkronRacers.org website. Going back in history, Jenkins is the second Duck chosen in the draft after former All-America catcher Jenn Poore was chosen by the same team and played three seasons. Jenkins’ bloodlines have various elite athletics ties with her brother Andy in major league baseball spring training as a fourth-year catcher in the Marlins organization after he played on Oregon State’s College World Series team in 2003. Another older brother Riley was a running back for Linfield and was named the MVP of the 2004 national football championship game, and her younger brother Riley was on the Oregon State football roster last fall.
RETURNING DUCK STARTER PRESEASON NOTES
- Junior centerfielder Neena Bryant is a 2009 preseason USA Softball Player of the Year candidate after one of UO’s greatest opening two-year stretches at the plate. Oregon’s Offensive MVP and Player of the Year in 2008 led the team in batting (.330), slugging (.536), hits (64), home runs (10) and multi-hit games (16) en route to All-Pac-10 Second Team honors.
- Senior and team captain Sari-Jane Jenkins is the school career stolen base leader (87), and also ranks top-10 all-time in career batting average (ninth, .331), runs (fifth, 123) and hits (fifth, 210). An All-Pac-10 Second Team pick in 2007 and honorable mention in ’08, she led the team last season in runs (37), walks (37), on-base percentage (.418) and triples (2), and stood second in batting (.293) and stolen bases (32).
- Sophomore catcher Ashley Kivett made 42 of her 46 starts at catcher in ’08, and showed timely hitting instincts with homers vs. Pac-10 rivals Washington and Oregon State.
- Sophomore second baseman Cortney Kivett led the Pac-10 in stolen bases last year (33) - one of three Ducks ranked top five with Jenkins (second) and Bryant (fifth) - and had the team’s top freshman batting mark (.290).
- Sophomore designated player-first baseman Monique Fuiava ranks second among Duck returnees based on 2008 stats in slugging (.395), home runs (7) and RBI (20).
- At first base, junior Carlyn Re shared starting honors with Fuiava, and her infield-leading .993 fielding percentage helped her earn 46 starts. Her charisma and positive attitude will also help steady an infield that smacks of youth.
- Junior left fielder Blair Williamson led the Ducks in batting in Pac-10 contests in ’08 (.258) and started 12 of the final 18 Pac-10 games of the season.
RETURNING DUCK PITCHER PRESEASON NOTES
- Junior Melissa Rice staked the team’s Pitcher of the Year award as a freshman and sophomore in 2006 and ’07, and is a frequent sighting on Duck all-time career charts, including wins (eighth, 41), strikeouts (eighth, 290), games (eighth, 111), complete games (ninth, 37) and innings (ninth, 466.2).
- Even though she missed a month of duty because of a pitching finger injury, sophomore Brittany Rumfelt still logged a 6-4 record in 2008 and started her career with a 4-0 record, including wins vs. returning NCAA qualifiers Long Island and Cal Poly. In Pac-10 duty, she stood second on the team (and is the top returnee) in appearances (10) and innings (39).
- The pair combined on UO’s 16th no-hitter in school history in March 2008 - a five-inning 8-0 home win vs. Idaho State in the Cascade Clash tournament. Altogether in ’08, the duo combined for 18 of the team’s 35 wins (Rice 12, Rumfelt 6) and made 54 appearances (Rice 34, Rumfelt 21).
OTHER DUCK RETURNEE PRESEASON NOTES
- Heading into the ’08 campaign, junior second baseman Hannah Barril positioned herself as one of the team’s most improved players, and was rewarded with the team’s Most Inspirational Award in ?08. Her speed and heady instincts on the base paths marked her as the team’s most called-upon pinch runner last year, and her career-high 51 games of action included starts vs. returning NCAA qualifiers California and Southern Utah.
- Redshirt junior outfielder Shelley Deadmond joined the team in 2008 and was one of its most called-upon pinch runners in 18 appearances. Able to play any outfield position, she transferred to UO after earning all-league honorable mention honors for Butte College in 2006 and ’07.
- Behind the plate, sophomore Kaitlin Vitek is another contender to help replace graduated catcher Amie Morris and third baseman Joanna Gail who started 110 games and 179 games, respectively, the previous three seasons. The Valencia, Calif., native Vitek started three games in ’08, including key late season contests vs. top-25 California and Washington, and earlier rapped out pinch hits vs. top-ranked UCLA and another top-10 foe in Stanford.
NEWCOMER PRESASON NOTES
On the mound, freshman right-hander Samantha Skillingstad shined in her first fall of work in ?08, one that included a nine-strikeout no-hitter in her Fall Fest starting debut. As a prep, she was an All-America First-Team choice as a junior and senior. The two-time Washington Player of the Year led her team to the state title in 2007 and runner-up honors in '08. In similar fashion, fellow frosh Mikayla Endicott staked Oregon State Pitcher of the Year honors as a senior and Player of the Year status as a junior and led her Roseburg high school team to the 6A state title her final season. The pair showed their moxie on the mound last summer against the Olympic-silver medal U.S. National Team and had their club team’s best stats in Pacific Northwest stops in mid-July.
Freshman identical twins Kelsey Chambers and Lindsey Chambers will have ample opportunity to play in right field and infield, respectively, after the Duck made changes at various positions after the graduation of shortstop Lovena Chaput, third baseman Joanna Gail and right fielder Kayleen Hudson. The newcomer duo from the Bay Area were multiple All-Metro Team infield choices and helped their Sorcerer Gold-Pete ASA club win the 2008 18-U Louisville title and Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament in Boulder, Colo. Freshman catcher Jordan Reeves impressed UO coaches enough in the fall to earn a spot on the roster, and is quickly adjusting to the collegiate level. As a prep, Reeves helped her Fairbanks high school team to a pair of top-three state finishes, and her Alaska Northstars club team was the state runner-up in ?08.
2008 SEASON RECAP
UO staked its fifth +35-win season under Arendsen in ’08 (35-29, 5-17). In the postseason, the Ducks beat Arkansas and Tulsa to advance to the regional final at Oklahoma, and earned votes in the campaign’s final polls. During the regular season, Oregon took the season series from eight-time national champion Arizona after it won its first game in Tucson since 1989, and also beat fellow league rivals California, Oregon State and Washington. Earlier during the '08 season, UO also beat four other 2007 NCAA advancers - Long Island, Mississippi Valley State (twice) and Oklahoma. Outfielder Neena Bryant was tabbed to the All-Pac-10 Second Team, and three others were honorable mentions - the graduated pair of pitcher Alicia Cook and third baseman Joanna Gail and Sari-Jane Jenkins. Cook claimed the team's Pitcher of the Year award and then-senior shortstop Lovena Chaput was its Top Defensive Player award winner.
IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
Head Coach Kathy Arendsen returns for her seventh season as UO’s all-time wins leader, and she sports its best all-time winning percentage (226-157, .590) and has tied the longest tenure in school history. In the postseason, she has guided UO to the regional final in all five of its postseason trips, and the Ducks’ 15-10 postseason record tops the program’s 8-8 mark in its four other regional trips since the first NCAA tournament in 1982.
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 conference 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.
Overall in her 20-year collegiate coaching career, she sports a 598-432 (.584) overall record after prior stops at Mississippi State, Yale, Eastern Illinois and Western Connecticut.
Before her coaching career, 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 15 seasons, and assistant coach Mick Hokanson who returns for his fourth season in Eugene and 18th overall in the collegiate ranks.
SKED CRED
The Ducks face another grueling schedule in 2009 with 29 of their 51 games against 16 returning 2008 NCAA qualifiers. That list of who’s who in collegiate softball includes four returning World Series qualifiers (Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA), four more Super Regional advancers (California, Missouri, Northwestern and Stanford) and fellow first-round advancers Cal State Fullerton, Georgia Tech, Hawai’i, Nevada, North Carolina, San Diego State, Texas and Washington.
Glancing at the preseason NFCA and USA Softball polls, 11 of UO’s 31 opponents this season were ranked, including six in the top 10 - Arizona State (2/3), Alabama (3/2), UCLA (4/4), Arizona (7/7), Northwestern (9/11) and Stanford (11/9). Other opponents sighted in the top 25 included California (17/14), Washington (21/15), Missouri (16/19), North Carolina (18/21) and Nevada (23/22), and five others received votes - Georgia Tech, Hawai'i, Nebraska, Oregon State and Texas.
For comparison’s sake, the 2008 schedule featured 27 games against 16 opponents that made the 2007 NCAA tourney field. Duck wins in 2008 against those NCAA qualifiers (and game scores) included a pair against eight-time national champion and World College Series advancer Arizona (3-2, 2-1) to give Oregon its first-ever season series vs. the Wildcats, Long Island (2-1), No. 10 seed Oklahoma (1-0), Mississippi Valley State (10-0, 6-1), Arizona (3-2, 2-1), California (4-1), Washington (3-0), Tulsa (1-0) and Arkansas (3-0).
Later this season, collegiate softball RPI rankings will be available at the http://warrennolan.com/softball/2009/rpi website. Last year, Oregon’s strength of schedule ranked 38th nationally among the 282 Division 1 programs, and look for the Ducks to make major gains during the conference slate with the Pac-10 Conference’s unparalleled strength.
A FOND FAREWELL
Senior pitcher Alicia Cook, the team’s 2008 Pitcher of the Year, won all five of UO’s Pac-10 games last season and beat four league rivals teams ? three of which advanced to the NCAA tourney (Arizona (2x), California, Washington) and Oregon State ? and also accounted for its 1-0 postseason win over Tulsa. Senior shortstop Lovena Chaput capped her career ranked top 10 for UO in doubles (third, 36), games played (third, 234), at-bats (seventh, 663), home runs (eighth, 22), walks (10th, 63), RBI (10th, 94) and runs in a game (tied, 4). In the field, she was tapped as the team’s defensive MVP after she switched from left field to shortstop her final collegiate season ? the latter position was the same that she had earlier received ASA All-America honors. Senior third baseman Joanna Gail led the team in doubles (12) and assists (186), and the former mark ranked 10th-best in a season for UO. On the season, she also ranked top-five for the team in total bases (second, 82), slugging (second, .463), sacrifice bunts (second, 7), batting (fourth, .277), hits (fourth, 49) and on-base percentage (fifth, .312). Senior right fielder Kayleen Hudson stood top-five on the team in walks (fourth, 16), RBI (fifth, 16), home runs (fifth, 4). With their success in the classroom, Gail and Hudson were tabbed to the Pac-10 All-Academic Second team, while senior catcher Amie Morris picked up her first, first-team honor. The Salem, Ore., native started 111 games in her career and was one of the team’s most dependable signal-callers.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN
The Ducks sport a pair of twins on their roster in 2009 ? all four of whom who have frequently started in the opening non-conference tournaments of 2009. The fraternal set of sophomores Ashley Kivett and Cortney Kivett sisters were integral cogs for the Duck offense last season as Cortney paced the Pac-10 in steals with UO’s fourth-most ever in a season (33), while Ashley started 43 games, including 41 behind the plate and had homers against both Pac-10 Northwest rivals, Oregon State and Washington. This season, the identical freshman pair of Kelsey Chambers and Lindsey Chambers started at right field and third base for much of the non-conference slate, and Kelsey led the Ducks in hitting in the five-game set (545, 6-for-11, 1 double, 6 RBI, 3 walks) and also had a game-winning RBI vs. Texas Tech to help UO to its first win of the season.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD BOOK UPDATES
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Sr. SS, Salem, Ore
Hits - 5th-tie, 207 (was 6th, 202)
Neena Bryant, Jr., CF, Placentia, Calif.
Career Stolen Bases ? 7th, 53 (was 8th, 51)
THIS WEEK’S RECORD BOOK WATCH ? UO ALL-TIME CHARTS
Neena Bryant, Jr., CF, Placentia, Calif.
Career Home Runs ? 8th, 22 ? (7th is 24, 6th is 25); (2 in ’09, 20 in prior seasons - 10, 2008, 10, 2007)
Career RBIs ? 8th, 107 (7th is 117, 6th is 119); (15 in ’09, 92 in prior seasons - 46, 2008, 46, 2007)
Career Stolen Bases ? 7th, 53 (5th-t is 58); (16 in ’09, 37 in prior seasons ? 22, 2008, 15, 2007)
Career Doubles ? 29 (10th is 30); (5 in ’09, 24 in prior seasons ? 10, 2008, 14, 2007)
Season Stolen Bases ? 16 (10th is 22, 7th-t is 23)
Monique Fuiava, So., Las Vegas, Nev.
Season Home Runs ? 7 (10th is 10, 8th-t is 11)
Season Doubles ? 6 (10th is 12, 9th is 13)
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Sr. SS, Salem, Ore.
Career Stolen Bases ? 88, 1st; (8 in ’09, 80 in prior seasons ? 32, 2008, 38, 2007, 10, 2007)
Career Average - 8th, .331 (210-for-634), (25-for-78 in ’09, 185-for-556 in past seasons)
Career Hits ? 5th-t, 210 ? (4th is 212, 3rd is 224); (25 in ’09, 185 in prior seasons - 53, 2008, 82, 2007, 50, 2006)
Career Runs ? 5th, 123 (4th is 130, 3rd is 144); (12 in ’09, 111 in prior seasons - 37, 2008, 48, 2007, 26, 2007)
Career Doubles ? 10th, 30 (8th-t is 32, 7th is 33); (4 in ’09, 26 in prior seasons - 5, 2008, 16, 2007, 5, 2006)
Career Walks ? 62 (10th is 63, 9th is 65); (6 in ’09, 56 in prior seasons ? 37, 2008, 10, 2007, 9, 2006)
Cortney Kivett, So., 2B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Career Stolen Bases ? 9th, 41 (8th is 43, 7th is 52) ? (8 in ’09, 33 in ’08)
Melissa Rice, Sr., P, Colville, Wash.
Career Shutouts ? 6th, 12 ? (5th is 14); (12 in prior seasons - 3 in 2008, 8 in 2007, 1 in 2006)
Career Innings ? 8th, 466.2 (7th is 482); (11.2 in ’09, 455 in prior seasons ? 139.1 in 2008, 202.2 in 2007, 113 in 2006)
Career Games ? 8th, 111 (7th is 114); (6 in ’09, 105 in prior seasons ? 34 in 2008, 40 in 2007, 31 in 2006)
Career Complete Games ? 9th (37) (8th is 42); (37 in previous seasons ? 10 in 2008, 23 in 2007, 4 in 2006)
Career Strikeouts ? 8th (290) ? (7th is 316); (9 in ’09; 281 in prior seasons ? 87 in 2008, 114 in 2007, 80 in 2006)
OTHER DUCK RECORD BOOK SIGHTINGS ? PAST SEASONS
Sari-Jane Jenkins, Sr., SS, Salem, Ore.
Past Seasons
Average ? 7th, .396, 2007
Runs ? 5th, 48, 2007
Hits ? 2nd, 82, 2007
Doubles ? 2nd, 16, 2007
Stolen Bases ? 2nd, 38, 2007
Melissa Rice, Sr., P, Colville, Wash.
Past Seasons
Victories ? 6th, 21, 2007
Appearances ? 9th, 40, 2007
Starts ? 9th, 34, 2007
Complete Games ? 10th-t, 23, 2007
Strikeouts ? 9th, 114, 2007
Neena Bryant, Jr., CF, Placentia, Calif.
Season
Doubles - 4th-t, 14, 2007
Home Runs ? 10th-t, 10, 2007
Runs Batted In ? 4th, 46, 2007
Extra Base Hits ? 5th, 25, 2007
Total Bases ? 9th-t, 104, 2007
Home Runs ? 10th, 10, 2007 and 2008
Runs Batted - 4th, 46 (3rd is 47)
Total Bases ? 9th, 104, 2007 and 2008
Game
Home Runs ? 3rd, 2, vs. UC Davis, 3/25/08
Monique Fuiava, So., 1B-DP, Las Vegas, Nevada
Game
RBIs ? 5th-tie, 6, vs. Cal Poly, 2/9/08
Cortney Kivett, So., 2B, Yucaipa, Calif.
Past Seasons
Stolen Bases ? 4th, 33, 2008
Game
Hits ? 2nd-tie, 4, vs. Colorado State, 2/28/08
Stolen Bases ? 3rd, 3, vs. UNLV, 3/8/08
THE CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS
The moniker 'The Conference of Champions' is indeed appropriate for the Pac-10 softball league, since four of the eight league members have combined for 21 of the 27 previous NCAA championships. In '08, Arizona State claimed the national crown and was one of three Pac-10 teams that advanced to the eight-team Women’s College World Series with No. 2 and 7 seeds UCLA and Arizona. In the year-end final rankings, ASU ranked first in the NFCA and USA Softball polls, and other teams in the top 25 included UCLA (5/5), Arizona (7/7), Stanford (11/13) and California (16/14), while Washington and Oregon both received votes. Individually, 13 Pac-10 players were tabbed All-Americans in 2008 (1st-4, 2nd-1, 3rd-8).
OREGON POSTSEASON HISTORY
UO’s first postseason trip was in 1976 to the AIAW World Series, an event it returned to in 1980. The Ducks’ next regional trip in 1989 (3-1) resulted in its lone Women’s College World Series invitation where it went 1-2 with a win over South Carolina (1-0) and losses to Cal Poly Pomona (1-0) and Arizona (4-0). The Ducks also advanced to regional play in 1990 (0-2), ’94 (2-2), ’98 (2-2), ’99 (1-2) and 2000 (2-2). Seventh-year head coach Kathy Arendsen guided UO to its five most recent trips in ’03 inFullerton, Calif. (5-2), ’04 in Tallahassee, Fla., (4-2), ’05 (2-2), ’07 in Columbia, S.C. (2-2) and ’08 (2-2) in Norman, Okla.
THE ROAD TO OKLAHOMA CITY
The NCAA Division I Tournament is composed of 64 teams (30 automatic qualifiers and 34 at-large) and held over three weekends. The opening weekend (Friday-Sunday, May 15-17), four teams participate in each of 16 regional sites in a double-elimination tournament. The 16 top teams are seeded with one placed at each regional site, and remaining teams placed in regional brackets to create balanced competition and avoid conference match-ups, when possible. The following weekend (Friday-Saturday, May 22-23), the 16 regional winners advance to super regional competition for a best-of-three, two-team series at eight campus sites. The following weekend (Thursday May 28-June 3), the remaining eight winning teams advance to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) - an eight-team, double-elimination tournament - hosted at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. More tourney info is located at the www.NCAAsports.com website.
TICKET INFORMATION
The Ducks looking forward to 15 home games on 14 dates this season at Howe Field, with its home opener vs. Portland State set for Wednesday, March 11 at 5 p.m. After another doubleheader two weeks later vs. Seattle on Tuesday, March 24 at 1 p.m., UO has one more home, non-conference contest vs. Portland State, Wednesday, April 1 at 5 p.m. Two days later, Oregon has its first home Pac-10 contest as California travels to Eugene, Friday, April 3 for a 4 p.m. tilt. Five weeks later, UO caps the regular season at home vs. a pair of recent national champions in Arizona and Arizona State, Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9.
Varsity sport tickets are available though the Oregon Athletic Ticket Office (1-800-WEB-FOOT, 541 346-4461 locally), and tickets are for general admission seating are $5 for Adults and $3 for Children (2-18) and Seniors (62+). Groups of 10 or more that arrange for tickets in advance can purchase GA tickets for $2 each. Current UO Students with valid UO ID’s can receive general admission at no charge.
LET THERE BE LIGHTS
The 2009 season will be the first for UO where the team can host games at night. In January, the department finished the installation of six permanent light standards by Musco Sports Lighting to give the Ducks an option to practice and play at night. The project - budgeted at $314,000 - will be paid mostly from the gifted salary of UO athletic director Pat Kilkenny. The lighting system will resemble the recent update to nearby Hayward Field, although the candlepower won't be the same strength and adjusted to limit the effects on the surrounding residential neighborhood.
HOME GAME TICKET/PROMOTION GAME CALENDAR
Wed., 3/11 - Portland State, 5 p.m. - Bi-Mart 2 for 1 Ticket Deal
Tue., 3/24 - Seattle (doubleheader), 1 p.m. -Bi-Mart $2 Tuesday ? 2 games for $2
Wed., 4/1 - Portland State, 5 p.m. - April Fool’s Day - BB vs. Portland Ticket stub - FREE
Fri., 4/3 - California, 4 p.m. - "Duck Day" - Live Green Yell-O ? T-Shirt Day Get $1 off General Admission with your Spirit T-Shirt.
Sat., 4/4 - Stanford, 1 p.m. - Jr. Duck Day / Bi-Mart Family Day - 2 kids & 2 adults for $10
Sun., 4/5 - Stanford, Noon - Kidsports & Little League Day
Fri., 4/10 - Oregon State, 4 p.m. - Buy 1, Get 1 ? Buy OSU ticket, Get UW ticket free
Sat., 4/11 - Oregon State, 1 p.m. - "Pink out the Park" (Strike Out Cancer) & Easter Game Egg Hunt for Kids Buy 1, Get 1 ? Buy OSU, Get UCLA
Fri., 4/17 - Washington, 4 p.m. - Bi-Mart Family Day - 2 kids & 2 adults for $10
Sat., 4/18 - UCLA, 1 p.m. - "Signature Saturday" Autograph Day / Take a Kid to the Game ? Kids tix $1
Sun., 4/19 - UCLA, Noon - "Crowd Howe" (on Earth Day - Plant a Tree, Get in Free) - Donate your ticket price to the Eugene Tree Foundation
Thu., 5/7 - Arizona, 4 p.m. - BI-MART 2-for-1 ticket deal
Fri., 5/8 - Arizona State, 4 p.m. - Scout Night
Sat., 5/ 9 - Arizona State, Noon - Mother’s Day ? Moms get in Free
MORE ONLINE SOFTBALL INFORMATION
NCAA: www.ncaasports.com
NCAA Playing Rules: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=351
NCAA Championships Handbooks: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=36602
NCAA Record Books: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=36413
Pacific-10 Conference: www.Pac-10.org
National Professional Fastpitch League (NPF): www.profastpitch.com
International Softball Federation: www.internationalsoftball.com
USA Softball: www.USAsoftball.ccm
National Fastpitch Coaches Association: www.nfca.org
Ultimate Softball: www.ultimatesoftball.com
Season RPI Ratings: http://warrennolan.com/softballl
OREGON SOFTBALL MEDIA
Daily Emerald Student Newspaper: www.dailyemerald.com
Eugene Register Guard: www.registerguard.com
Oregonian: www.oregonlive.com
KEZI-TV (ABC): www.kezi.org
KMTR-TV (NBC): www.kmtr.org
KVAL-TV (CBS): www.kval.org
KUGN-590 AM (Radio): www.kugn.com
Duck News (Online): www.DuckNews.com
OREGON SOFTBALL QUICK FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater): Kathy Arendsen (Chico State ?80)
Record at Oregon: 226-157 (.590) - Seventh Season
Overall Record: 598-432 (.581) - 20th Season
Office Phone / FAX: 541-346-2245 / -2244
Associate Head Coaches: J. Gaudreau
Assistant Coach: Mick Hokanson
Athletic Trainers: Luke Montgomery, Clay Jamieson
Team Managers: John Mitchell, Garrett Gilchrist
2008 Record / Pac-10 Record (place): 35-29 / 5-16 (8th)
2008 Final NFCA / USA Softball Rankings: Received Votes
2008 Highest NFCA / USA Softball Rankings: 20th / 23rd
2008 Postseason Record / Finish: 2-2 (Regional, Norman, Okla.)
Letterwinners Returning / Lost: 11/5
Starters Returning / Lost: 7/4
Position Players Returning / Lost: 9/4
Pitchers Returning / Lost: 2/1
Top 2009 Returnees (’08 Stats)
Sari-Jane Jenkins (Sr., SS, .293, 53H, 37BB, 37R, 32SB)
Neena Bryant (Jr., OF, .330, 64H, 10-2B, 10HR, 46RBI, 23SB)
Melissa Rice (Sr., P, 2.31 ERA, 12-11, 3 SHO, 87 SO, 41 BB)
Monique Fuiava (So., 1B, .223, 7 HR, 20 RBI)
Ashley Kivett (So., IF, .221, 24 H, 7 SB, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
Cortney Kivett (So., 2B, .290, 56 H, 33 SB)
Key 2008 Losses (’08 Stats)
Lovena Chaput (Sr., SS, .266, 47 H, 8 2B, 6 HR, 26 RBI)
Alicia Cook (Sr., P, 2.33 ERA, 17-14, 18 CG, 4 SHO)
Joanna Gail (Sr., 3B, .277, 49 H, 12 2B, 7 HR, 27 RBI)
Kayleen Hudson (Sr., RF, .203, 4 HR, 16 BB, 16 RBI)
Amie Morris (Sr., C, .182, 95 PO)
Newcomers (5)
Kelsey Chambers, Fr., OF, Concord, Calif.
Lindsey Chambers, Fr., IF, Concord, Calif.
Mikayla Endicott, Fr., P, Roseburg, Ore.
Jordan Reeves, Fr., C, Fairbanks, Alaska
Samantha Skillingstad, Fr., P, Spokane, Wash.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (# of letters)
Sari-Jane Jenkins: 3
Melissa Rice: 3
Hannah Barril: 2
Neena Bryant: 2
Carlyn Re: 2
Blair Williamson: 2
Monique Fuiava: 1
Ashley Kivett: 1
Cortney Kivett: 1
Brittany Rumfelt: 1
Kaitlin Vitek: 1
Letterwinners Lost (5)
Lovena Chaput: 4
Alicia Cook: 4
Joanna Gail: 4
Kayleen Hudson: 4
Amie Morris: 4
2009 DUCK NUMERICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Ht. Yr. Hometown (High School/College)
1 Cortney Kivett 2B L/R 5-3 So. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
2 Sari-Jane Jenkins SS L/R 5-6 Sr. Salem, Ore. (South Salem)
4 Blair Williamson OF L/R 5-8 Jr. Salem, Ore. (Sprague)
5 Lindsey Chambers IF R/R 5-4 Fr. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
6 Neena Bryant OF R/R 5-6 Jr. Placentia, Calif. (El Dorado)
7 Samantha Skillingstad P R/R 5-10 Fr. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
8 Kelsey Chambers OF R/R 5-4 Fr. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
9 Mikayla Endicott P R/R 5-8 Fr. Roseburg, Ore. (Roseburg)
10 Hannah Barril IF L/R 5-1 Jr. Juneau, Alaska (Juneau Douglas)
11 Ashley Kivett C-IF R/R 5-4 So. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
13 Kaitlin Vitek C-IF R/R 5-8 So. Valencia, Calif. (William S. Hart)
15 Monique Fuiava 1B R/R 5-8 So. Las Vegas, Nev (Mojave)
16 Melissa Rice P R/R 5-8 Sr. Colbert, Wash. (Colville)
24 Carlyn Re 1B L/R 5-6 Jr. Tualatin, Ore. (Tualatin)
25 Shelley Deadmond OF L/R 5-6 RJr. Chico, Calif. (Butte/Chico)
27 Jordan Reeves C R/R 5-8 Fr. Fairbanks, Alaska (Lathrop)
35 Brittany Rumfelt P L/L 5-8 So. Lakeport, Calif. (Clear Lake)
2009 DUCK ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Yr.
10 Hannah Barril IF L/R Jr.
6 Neena Bryant OF R/R Jr.
8 Kelsey Chambers OF R/R Fr.
5 Lindsey Chambers IF R/R Fr.
25 Shelley Deadmond OF L/R RJr.
9 Mikayla Endicott P R/R Fr.
15 Monique Fuiava 1B R/R So.
2 Sari-Jane Jenkins SS L/R Sr.
11 Ashley Kivett C-IF R/R So.
1 Cortney Kivett 2B L/R So.
24 Carlyn Re 1B L/R Jr.
27 Jordan Reeves C R/R Fr.
16 Melissa Rice P R/R Sr.
35 Brittany Rumfelt P L/L So.
7 Samantha Skillingstad P R/R Fr.
13 Kaitlin Vitek C-IF R/R So.
4 Blair Williamson OF L/R Jr.
DUCK PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
COACHES
Kathy Arendsen (AIR-un-son)
J. Gaudreau (GOD-row)
Mick Hokanson (HOKE-an-son)
PLAYERS
Hannah Barril: bah-RIL
Neena Bryant: KNEE-nah
Mikayla Endicott: mih-KAY-lah IN-dih-cot
Monique Fuiava: foo-EE-ah-vah
Sari-Jane Jenkins: SARRY-Jane
Ashley & Courtney Kivett: KIHV-et
Carlyn Re: CAR-lynn RAY
Samantha Skillingstad: SKILL-ing-stad
Kaitlin Vitek: VEE-tek
SQUAD BREAKDOWN
BY CLASS
Seniors: 2
Juniors: 5
Sophomores: 5
Freshmen: 5
AT BAT / BY POSITION
Right/Left: 10/7
Infielders/Outfielders: 9/4
Pitchers/Catchers: 4/3
BY STATE
California: 8
Oregon: 4
Alaska: 2
Washington: 2
Nevada: 1
THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL POLLS (3/10)
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
Rank Team Record Points PVS
1. Florida (13) 22-2 488 2
*T2. Alabama (2) 17-2 469 4
*T2. Washington (4) 20-2 469 1
*4. UCLA 23-3 445 3
*5. Stanford (1) 24-1 427 6
6. Tennessee 20-3 365 7
7. Georgia 15-2 345 12
8. Oklahoma 17-6 338 5
*9. California 17-4 336 9
10. Michigan 16-6 329 8
*11. Arizona State 21-4 328 10
*12. Northwestern 12-7 272 17
*13. Arizona 21-5 266 11
14. Massachusetts 8-4 215 14
*15. North Carolina 18-3 207 15
*16. Missouri 18-3 202 13
17. Ohio State 15-3 197 16
18. Louisville 18-2 170 20
19. La.-Lafayette 11-2 144 18
20. DePaul 9-4 117 19
21. Fresno State 11-8 66 21
22. LSU 14-5 64 22
23. Southern Illinois 15-3 56 23
24. Florida State 16-4 54 25
25. Texas A&M 18-9 41 RV
Dropped Out: Baylor
Others receiving votes: Baylor (19), Cal Poly (13), Nevada (12), Auburn (11), Iowa (10), Georgia Tech (6), Tulsa (6), Houston (5), Oklahoma State (3), Texas (3), New Mexico State (1), Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (1)
Parenthesis Denotes first place votes.
* Denotes Duck opponents in 2009
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll ? March 10, 2009
RANK TEAM RECORD TOTALS LAST
1 Florida (15) 22-2 707 2
*2 Alabama (10) 17-2 699 1
*3 Washington (4) 20-2 671 3
*4 Stanford 24-1 623 5
*5 UCLA 23-3 622 4
*6 Arizona State 21-4 554 7
7 Tennessee 20-3 530 8
8 Georgia 15-2 478 11
9 Oklahoma 17-6 474 6
10 Michigan 16-6 445 9
*11 California 17-4 444 10
*12 Arizona 21-5 392 13
*13 Northwestern 13-7 367 16
*14 Missouri 18-3 350 12
*15 North Carolina 18-3 335 15
16 La-Lafayette 11-2 321 14
17 Louisville 18-2 233 22
18 Texas A&M 18-9 195 17
19 Southern Illinois 15-3 192 18
20 LSU 14-5 167 19
21 UMass 8-4 157 20
22 Ohio State 15-3 147 21
23 DePaul 9-4 96 23
24 Fresno State 11-8 68 24
25 Florida State 16-4 41 RV
Others Receiving Votes: Mississippi State 24, Baylor 15, Cal Poly 14, Iowa 12, Illinois 11, Nevada 8, South Carolina 8, Houston 5, Tulsa 5, Long Beach State 5, Auburn 4, San Diego State 2, BYU 2, Texas 1, Georgia Tech 1
Dropped Out: No. 25 Mississippi State
* Denotes Duck opponents in 2009
Note: The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records through March 8, 2009, are shown. First-place votes are in parentheses.
