No. 17 UO Headed to No. 5 UCLA To Kick Off Final Month
*Updated season/career statistics are available via the link above, and other Pac-10/series information links are available in the LINKS box to the right.
THIS WEEK’S No. 17 DUCK SOFTBALL ACTION
At #5 UCLA Bruins (33-9, Pac-10 7-5 (3rd))
Location: Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
Dates/Times: April 30-May 2 – Fri., 6 p.m.; Sat., 6 p.m.; Sun., Noon
Opponent Website: www.UCLAbruins.com
SETTING THE STAGE
EUGENE – In a battle between the Pacific-10 Conference’s third-place teams, the No. 17-ranked University of Oregon softball team (31-10, 7-5) travels to 11-time national champion and No. 5-ranked UCLA for a three-game set Friday-Sunday, April 30-May 2.
Last week, the Ducks ended a seven-game series losing streak to the Sun Devils with a 7-4 win Saturday, while ASU won Sunday, 3-0, and Friday, 10-3.
Sophomore shortstop Kelsey Chambers batted .750 (6-for-8, homer, 3 RBI) on the weekend, and freshman second baseman Kaylan Howard also hit .333 (3-for-9). Senior centerfielder Neena Bryant (.273, 3-for-11) belted her 33rd career homer and moved into a tie for third all-time for UO, and freshman Jessica Moore moved to fourth all-time for the Ducks in strikeouts in a season (16).
Overall, the Ducks have won 27 of their last 34 games since mid-February with their only losses to No. 1 Washington, then-No. 9 Arizona State, returning NCAA qualifier San Diego State, Oregon State and Indiana.
In recent history, UO has won the season series vs. UCLA in 2005 via a sweep, and also posted single wins in ’04 and ’03 – all three seasons when head coach Mike White served as an assistant or volunteer coach for the Ducks.
FURTHER UP DOWN THE ROAD
After this weekend, UO looks ahead to a final home non-conference doubleheader vs. Portland State, rescheduled for Wednesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. Oregon then has a final Pac-10 home series vs. eight-time national champion Arizona, Friday-Sunday, May 7-9, and the final day will feature a pre-game Senior Day ceremony.
The Ducks end the regular season at Stanford, Thursday-Saturday, May 13-15, then find out their postseason fate Sunday, May 16 on ESPN-U at 7:30 p.m.
BRUIN SERIES NOTES
After five straight losses at No. 1 Washington and at home to then-No. 7 Arizona State, then-No. 6 UCLA rebounded in late April with six straight wins. The Bruins started the run with a sweep at Oregon State (12-0, 4-2, 10-6), then pulled the same feat last weekend at then-No. 9 Stanford (10-0, 7-3, 10-1).
This week, the Bruins ranked fourth nationally in batting (.334), eighth in slugging (.566), 10th in home runs (1.4 per game), 11th in ERA (1.60), 12th in scoring (6.62 runs/game) and 32nd in fielding (.970).
Bruin individuals ranked top 25 nationally include senior Megan Langenfeld (slugging, second, 1.100; on-base percentage, second, .661; batting, third, .525; home runs, fourth, 0.41 per game; RBI, 11th, 1.16 p/g), junior Andrea Harrison (doubles, 15th, 0.36 p/g) and junior Donna Kerr (hits allowed, 18th, 4.09 per 7 innings).
Langenfeld was tabbed the Pac-10 Softball Player of the Week Tuesday for her efforts vs. the Cardinal (.714 (5-for-7), 4 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB).
RECENT DUCK STARTERS (‘10/’09/Career Starts)
C: Ashley Kivett (31/34/111), Kaitlin Vitek (18/27/51)
1B:
Monique Fuiava (41/46/149)
2B: Kaylan Howard (40/-/40)
SS: Kelsey Chambers (41/49/90)
3B: Cortney Kivett (31/50/143)
RF: Samantha Pappas (41/-/41)
CF: Neena Bryant (39/50/215)
LF: Allie Burger
(41/-/41)
DP: Carlyn Re (15/48/112), Kaitlin Vitek (18/27/51), Blair Williamson (18/14/71)
NATIONAL CRED
Glancing at this week’s national rankings, the Ducks ranked 12th nationally in batting average (.325), 20th nationally in ERA (1.81) and slugging (0.509), 25th in win-loss percentage (.756), 28th in home runs (1.07 per game) and 42nd in doubles (1.44 per game).
On the individual front, freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas stood 23rd nationally in batting (.429), 35th in slugging (.754), 36th in RBI (1.02 per game), 64th in on-base percentage (.497) and 67th in home runs (11). Fellow frosh outfielder Allie Burger ranked 56th in batting (.403).
Freshman Jessica Moore was equally easy to find on this week’s NCAA pitching stat charts in ERA (24th, 1.33), strikeouts (28th, 9.3 per 7 inning average), fewest hits allowed (49th, 5.04 per 7 innings) and total strikeouts (62nd, 176). The Sutter, Calif., native ranks seventh nationally in saves (4), just ahead of junior teammate Brittany Rumfelt (45th, 2).
Fans can find the Ducks’ national stat rankings updated every Tuesday on the NCAA website at the http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/ranksummary?sportCode=WSB URL address.
PAC-10 RANKINGS
This week, freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas ranked fifth in the Pac-10 in batting (.429) and total bases (95), and top 12 in slugging (seventh, .754), hits (seventh-tie, 54), RBI (eighth, 42), on-base percentage (eighth, .497) and home runs (11th-tie, 11). Among other Ducks spotted, freshman sophomore infielder Kelsey Chambers was fifth in sacrifice
bunts (6), junior first baseman Monique Fuiava was tied for sixth in doubles (10) and freshman Allie Burger stood seventh in batting (.403).
On the mound, freshman Jessica Moore paced the Pac-10 in saves (4), and ranked top 10 in games finished (second, 9), strikeouts (fourth, 176), fewest home runs allowed (fourth-tied, 6), relief appearances (fourth-tie, 9), appearances (fifth, 28), opposing batting average (seventh, .188), ERA (seventh, 1.33), starts (seventh-tied, 19), innings (seventh, 122.2) and wins (ninth-tie, 13).
Sophomore Samantha Skillingstad is similarly ranked in fewest home runs allowed (third, 5), strikeouts (ninth, 104) and opposing batting average (10th, .211), as are junior Brittany Rumfelt (saves, second-tied, 2; games in relief, fourth, 9) and sophomore Mikayla Endicott (games in relief, third, 13).
As a team, the Ducks led the Pac-10 in saves (6) and fewest home runs allowed (15-tied), and ranked second in strikeouts (361), and fourth in batting (.325) and ERA (1.81), and top six currently in several other categories:
Hitting
Sacrifice Bunts – 2nd, 31 (leader UCLA 39)
Doubles – 4th, 59 (leader UCLA 70)
Slugging – 4th, .509 (leader Arizona .609)
Total Bases – 4th, 550 (leader ASU 686)
Home Runs – 5th-t, 44 (leader Arizona 84)
Stolen Bases – 6th, 37 (leader California 111)
Pitching
Strikeouts – 2nd, 361 (leader California 381)
ERA – 4th, 1.81 (Cal 1.50)
Fewest Walks – 4th-t, 92 (leader Wash., 53)
Fewest Home Runs – 1st, 15 (UCLA, 1st-t, 15)
Opposing Batting Average–5th, .204 (leader Cal, .185)
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT INFO
#6 UCLA Bruins (33-9, Pac-10: 7-5 (3rd)), Fri., 4/23, 7 p.m.; Sat., 4/24, 7 p.m.; Sun., 4/25, Noon
Website: www.UCLAbruins.com
Head Coach: Kelly Inouye-Perez
Career Record (Years): 166-47 (4th Year)
Record at School: Same
Assistant Coaches: Lisa Fernandez, Gina Vecchione, Natasha Watley (Volunteer)
2009 Overall Record: 45-11
2009 Conference Record: 16-5, 1st
2009 Postseason: Super Regional (4-2)
Ret. Letterwinners/Starters/Pitchers: 16/8/3
Series Record: UCLA leads, (67-12)
2010 Bruin Statistical Leaders
- Megan Langenfeld, Sr., P-1B - 525 (42-for-80), 13 HR, 37 RBI; 0.92 ERA, 5-1, 35K/9 BB, 53 IP
- Dani Yudin, So., C-DP - .377 (23-for-61), 4 HR, 17 RBI
- GiOnna DiSalvatore, Jr., 2B - .374 (52-for-139), 4 HR, 33 RBI
- Andrea Harrison, Jr., LF - .362 (47-for-130), 14 2B, 9 HR, 32 RBI
- Samantha Camuso, So., RF - .339 (39-for-115), 8 HR, 32 RBI
- B.B. Bates, Fr., CF - .338 (48-for-142), 21 RBI
- Julie Burney, Sr., 3B - .311 (37-for-119), 12 HR, 39 RBI
- Monica Harrison, Jr., SS - .303 (37-for-122), 10 2B, 17 RBI
- Aleah Macon, So., P – 0.81 ERA, 8-1, 75K/15 BB, 60.2 IP
- Donna Kerr, Jr., P – 1.93 ERA, 16-5, 147K/56 BB, 119.2 IP
HOME SWEET HOME
UO sports a 12-2 mark in the friendly confines of Howe Field after it
rattled off a 12-0 streak to start the season before its 1-2 series with
No. 1 Washington. To check on the status of home softball games that
day and potential weather conflicts, fans can call (541) 346-6148
IN THE POLLS
The No. 17 Ducks ranked top 25 for the seventh straight week in the national polls released Tuesday after a 1-2 series at then-No. 9 Arizona State.
UO’s 175 votes helped it rank top 25 for the seventh straight year, and the Ducks dropped a position in the 12th edition of the season.
Last week, Oregon stood 16th – its highest since late in the 2007 campaign when it ranked 16th in late April and the same season the Ducks climbed as high as 10th nationally. Earlier this season UO stood 17th the two weeks prior (#9, 10), 21st in the seventh and eighth editions, 25th in the fifth and sixth editions, and received votes in three other USA Softball polls – the preseason, third (3/1) and fourth (3/8) week editions.
In the USA Today / NFCA poll, Oregon made its second appearance and ranked 20th for the second straight week and its 189 votes were 32 more than the previous week. Two weeks ago, UO ranked 23rd after it stood just outside the top 25 received votes the previous four weeks.
Overall, seven Pac-10 teams were tabbed top 20 this week in the USA Softball / NFCA editions - Washington (1/1), Arizona (3/3), UCLA (6/5), Arizona State (9/7), Stanford (14/14) and California (16/13). Seven other teams on Oregon’s schedule in ’10 received votes this week – No. 20/22 Texas A&M, No. 25/25 Notre Dame, No. 20/23 Hawai’i, BYU, Fresno State, San Diego State and Texas Tech.
Complete NFCA and USA Softball preseason polls are available at the http://nfca.org/top25/index.php?cat_id=1 and http://www.usasoftball.com/news.asp?uid=5398 URL addresses.
SIZING UP THE SCHEDULE
The Ducks face another grueling schedule in 2010 and look ahead to 32 games against 15 tournament qualifiers from last year’s NCAA field.
That list of who’s who in collegiate softball includes including last year’s national champion (Washington), two more World College World Series (WCWS) qualifiers (Arizona, Arizona State), three more regional champions (California, Stanford, UCLA), four more regional finalists (Cal Poly, Fresno State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M) and five more tourney qualifiers (BYU, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Portland State, San Diego State).
For comparison’s sake, UO’s 2009 schedule ranked eighth nationally among the 286 programs nationwide at the end of the regular season.
Glancing at the preseason NFCA and USA Softball polls, six of UO’s 31 opponents this season were ranked top 12 – Washington (1/1), Arizona State (5/7), Arizona (6/4), UCLA (8/6), Stanford (10/12) and California (12/11). Fresno State also stood top 25 (25/24), and eleven other Duck foes received votes in at least one of the two preseason polls - BYU, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Creighton, Hawai’i, Long Beach State, Notre Dame, San Diego State, Texas A&M and Western Michigan.
Fans should note that the Pac-10 schedule will feature a new scheduling twist – three-game, same-team weekend sets to ease the travel demands compared to the previous ‘travel pair’ arrangement. Duck fans will also be pleased to hear that with the addition of lights, Friday conference home tilts are pushed back to 6 p.m., along with several afternoon non-conference doubleheaders that start later than before.
ON THE CHARTS
On Oregon’s all-time career charts last week, senior Neena Bryant moved into a tie for third place in doubles (36) and home runs (33), and Jessica Moore jumped two spots on the season strikeouts list to fourth place (176). A complete list of current Ducks on career, season and game all-time categories follows:
UO CAREER LEADERS
Stolen Bases
4, Neena Bryant - 70 (3rd is 71, 2nd is 72, 1st is 96)
9, Cortney Kivett - 48 (8th is 52, 6th-t, is 58, 5th is 60)
Runs Batted In
3, Neena Bryant - 137 (2nd is 141)
Home Runs
3-t, Neena Bryant - 33 (2nd is 35, 1st is 37)
Doubles
3-t, Neena Bryant - 36 (2nd is 39, 1st is 41)
Runs
9, Neena Bryant - 114 (8th is 115, 6th-t is 120)
Hits
7, Neena Bryant - 203 (6th is 207, 5th is 212)
At-Bats
9, Neena Bryant - 648 (8th is 663, 6th-t is 670)
Batting Average
10, Neena Bryant - .313 (9th is .324, 8th is .326, 7th is .333)
Strikeouts
9, Samantha Skillingstad - 274 (8th is 300, 7th is 316)
UO SEASON LEADERS
Stolen Bases
4, 33 - Cortney Kivett, 2008
5, 27 - Neena Bryant, 2009
8, 23 - Neena Bryant, 2008
Doubles
4t, 14 - Neena Bryant, 2007
- 10 - Monique Fuiava, 2010
Runs Batted In
4t, 46 - Neena Bryant, 2007, ‘08
10t, 42 - Sam Pappas, 2010 (8th-t is 44, 7th is 45, 4th is 46)
Extra Base Hits
5t, 25 - Neena Bryant, 2007
- 19 - Sam Pappas, 2010 (9th (tie) is 22, 5th (tie) is 25)
Total Bases
9t, 104 - Neena Bryant, 2007, ‘08
- 95 - Sam Pappas, 2010 (10th is 104)
Home Runs
10, 10 - Neena Bryant, 2007, ‘08
8th-t, 11 – Sam Pappas, 2010 (6th-t is 12, 4th-t is 14)
Strikeouts
4, 176 – Jessica Moore, 2010 (3rd is 180, 2nd is 2020, 1st is 203)
5, 170 - Samantha Skillingstad, 2009
UO GAME LEADERS
Stolen Bases
1t, 4 - Neena Bryant, vs. Wichita State, 2/14/09
4t, 3 - Cortney Kivett, at UNLV, 3/8/08
Hits
2t, 4 - Cortney Kivett, vs. Seattle, 3/24/09
2t, 4 - Monique Fuiava vs. #13 California, 4/9/10
Home Runs
3t, 2 - Monique Fuiava, vs Cal Poly, 2/9/08
3t, 2 - Monique Fuiava, vs Cal State Fullerton, 2/13/09
3t, 2 - Carlyn Re, vs. North Dakota, 3/13/10
Runs Batted In
5t, 6 - Monique Fuiava, vs Cal Poly, 2/9/08
10t, 5 - Samantha Pappas, vs. Idaho State, 3/26/10
Strikeouts
3t, 12 - Jessica Moore, vs. Creighton, 2/12/10
3t, 12- Jessica Moore, vs. Cal Poly, 3/6/10
3t, 12 - Sam Skillingstad, at PSU, 3/23/10
9t, 11 - Jessica Moore, vs. No. 19 Texas A&M, 2/25
9t, 11 - Samantha Skillingstad, vs. N. Dakota, 3/13/10
14t, 10 - Samantha Skillingstad at Stanford, 4/24/09
14t, 10 - Brittany Rumfelt vs. No. 12 Missouri, 2/27/09
14t, 10 - Jessica Moore, vs. Hawai’i, 2/26/10
14t, 10 - Jessica Moore, at PSU, 3/23/10
14t, 10 - Jessica Moore, at Oregon State, 4/1/10
DUCK SEASON PREVIEW
Chasing its 12 postseason trip in school history, and sixth the past eight years, Oregon received preseason national poll votes for the seventh straight season. The Duck roster is full of veteran talent, and last year’s top three pitchers all return, including All-Pac-10 Freshman Team member and sophomore Samantha Skillingstad who posted UO’s fourth-best strikeout tally ever in ‘09 (170). Backing her up, seven of last year’s eight starting fielders are also back, including two-time All-Pac-10 Second Team pick, two-time USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List pick, and senior centerfielder Neena Bryant. This year’s freshman class has already made an immediate impact and includes prep All-America outfielders Allie Burger and Samantha Pappas, second baseman Kaylan Howard and starting pitcher Jessica Moore.
DUCKS TO WATCH
The squad smacks of experience and welcomes back 14 letterwinners led by senior centerfielder Neena Bryant, a repeat All-Pac-10 Second Team honoree in ’09. The squad also returns its top three pitchers from last season – junior Brittany Rumfelt and sophomores Mikayla Endicott and Samantha Skillingstad – and the latter was an All-Pac-10 Freshman Team pick.
Starters from seven field positions also return in 2010 – Bryant, fellow senior outfielders Shelley Deadmond and Blair Williamson and first baseman Carlyn Re; junior first baseman Monique Fuiava, infielder Cortney Kivett and catchers Ashley Kivett and Kaitlin Vitek; and sophomore infielder/outfielder Kelsey Chambers and infielder Lindsey Chambers.
Also ready to make an immediate impact, UO’s talented four-person newcomer class includes outfielder Allie Burger (Spokane, Wash.), infielder Kaylan Howard (Riverside, Calif.), pitcher Jessica Moore (Sutter, Calif.) and outfielder Samantha Pappas (Las Flores, Calif.).
DOUBLE YOUR FUN
The Ducks again sport a pair of twins on their roster in 2010 – all four of whom have frequently started the past two seasons.
The fraternal set of juniors Ashley Kivett and Cortney Kivett sisters have combined to start 254 games in the infield their first three years. Cortney paced the Pac-10 in steals as a freshman with UO’s fourth-most ever in a season (33), while Ashley socked homers last year against both Pac-10 Northwest rivals, Oregon State and Washington.
The identical sophomore pair of Kelsey Chambers and Lindsey Chambers have combined for 19 homers (13 / 6) in their young careers, including eight and two, respectively, this season. They saw the most action among newcomers last year as Kelsey started in right field the first half of ‘09, then started 24 games in the remainder at second base (and had two more at shortstop), and Lindsey’s starts came in the left side of the infield with 18 at third base and 22 at shortstop.
CARDIAC KIDS
With nine Pac-10 games left to play, UO has already notched seven league wins – tying for its most since winning 10 games in 2004 and ’03 – the same seasons head coach Mike White served as an assistant coach for the Ducks.
Three of those conference wins (and two others early in the regular season) came via seventh- or extra-inning rallies, and short summaries of those games follow.
- Cal State Northridge (Tempe, 2/14) - 3-2 Win (down 2-1 in top of 8th, UO scored 2 runs in bottom of 8th on an RBI single by Kaylan Howard and fielder’s choice by Kelsey Chambers).
- Illinois-Chicago (Las Vegas, 2/21) – 6-5 Win (down 5-4 in 7th, UO scored run to tie 5-5, then scored run in 9th on Monique Fuiava’s RBI double to win).
- Oregon State (Corvallis, 4/3) – 6-5 Win (down 7-2 in the fourth, Allie Burger hit three-run homer in top of 7th).
- #13 California (Eugene, 4/9) – 7-6 Win (down 6-5 in bottom of the seventh, Monique Fuiava hit two-run double to win)
- #13 California (Eugene, 4/11) – 8-6 Win (down 6-4 in top of sixth, UO scored twice in sixth to send to extra innings, and two-run homer by Monique Fuiava won game 8-6 in 9th inning)
POWER SURGE
The Oregon bats have come alive this season as 12 players have combined to sock 44 homers already (for a 1.07 home run per game ratio). Compare that with last year’s total (39) by nine players, which equated to a rate of about 2/3 that (0.78 per game). From a historical standpoint, UO’s highest total (69) came in a 69-game season in 1999 (for a 1.0 per game ratio).
Pappas leads the Ducks in homers (11) – tied for the eighth-best mark in school history - and is followed by sophomore Lindsey Chambers (8), freshman Kaylan Howard (6), senior Neena Bryant (5), junior Monique Fuiava (4) and senior Carlyn Re (3). Ducks with single shots include freshmen Allie Burger and Jessica Moore, juniors Brittany Rumfelt and Kaitlin Vitek and senior Blair Williamson.
For comparison’s sake, Bryant has 33 career homers total (after clubbing 10 in both ’07 and ’08 and 8 in ’09), and is tied for third all-time for UO. Fuiava led UO in homers (8) last year, and her 19 career homers are only three away from the 10th-best mark (22).
TOP DUCK PROFILE
First-year head coach Mike White is widely regarded as one of finest-ever U.S. National Team players and pitching mentors in the country. The 2009 International Softball Congress (ISC) Hall of Fame selection, also is well-known in the area as an integral part of two of Oregon’s greatest teams in 2003 and ‘04 and one of the West Coast’s top prep coaches.
In that prior Duck stint as an assistant coach, the Ducks lowered their ERA from 3.01 the season prior to his arrival to 2.12 and 1.68, respectively, while its strikeout totals of 347 and 394 – the best two in school history – far outdistanced its 223 total from 2002.
His first-year pupils included then-freshman Amy Harris who set a single-season strikeout record (180) his first season, while senior Andrea Vidlund led the nation in saves and set a Pac-10 record (11). The next season, newcomer Ani Nyhus was an All-Pac-10 First Team and NCAA Regional All-Tournament choice and two-time conference pitcher of the week. The junior college transfer notched 20 wins (25-12), rewrote the program’s single-season strikeout record (202) and pitched a no-hitter vs. Utah State. Catcher Jenn Poore was also an All-American and All-Pac-10 Second Team honoree in ’04 and drafted into the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league.
Since then, he has continued to live in Eugene with his family and has remained active as an assistant coach for one of the nation’s top programs at Marist High School during the 2008-09 seasons. The program ended 2009 ranked 22nd nationally by USA Today and won consecutive 4A state titles after identical 29-1 seasons. He has also coached the Northwest Thunder and Northwest Bullets Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) youth club teams and served as a private instructor for various elite players of all levels.
As a player, the New Zealand native became a U.S. citizen in 1994 and helped the two national teams claim two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze in his four trips with New Zealand and two with the United States
In 2000, he helped guide the USA to a bronze medal in the World Championships when he went 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA and 19 strikeouts. In 1999, the U.S. won the silver medal at the Pan Am Games, and he was 3-2 with a 0.68 ERA and 35 strikeouts. He also played on three silver medal Pan-American Games teams in 1995, 1999 and 2003.
Among other honors, the multiple Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) MVP pitcher and All-American helped lead teams to five ASA national titles and five ISC World Club Championships, and was the 2002 ASA Player of the Year.
MORE LOVE FOR THE DUCK STAFF
In his first move as a head coach, White quickly and wisely tapped three of the West Coast’s top players to fill out his coaching staff.
Former Stanford All-America catcher Jessica Allister has as an assistant coach two years at both Stanford and Georgia and helped the teams to five NCAA trips, three Super Regional bids, one Southeastern Conference title, and another SEC East Division crown. As a player, the three-time All-Pac-10 pick helped Stanford to four postseason bids and two World Series trips, then played professionally for the New England Riptide in 2004 and ‘05.
Former UCLA All-American Lisa Dodd has earned similar respect as a Nevada assistant coach after she helped them to WAC conference title, top-20 rankings and NCAA bid in 2008. As a pitcher and infielder, the 2007 NFCA Second-Team All-American helped the Bruins to three straight WCWS trips and a Pac-10 title in 2006. She went on to play professionally in Italy in 2007 and ’08, while as a prep she was tabbed the 2003 Gatorade National Prep Player of the Year.
Duck faithful are more than familiar with the leadership abilities of recent great Sari-Jane Jenkins who will serve as an undergraduate assistant coach in 2010. The Duck school stolen base record holder (96), was a 2007 All-Pac-10 / All-Region Honoree and ’09 team captain. She also ranks top-10 all-time for Oregon in hits (second, 230), runs (fourth, 135), doubles (seventh, 33) and batting average (10th, .324). Last summer she played for Akron in the National Professional Fastpitch league after she was drafted 19th overall last spring and the fourth of six Pac-10 players selected in the draft.
CATCH THE ACTION LIVE
Duck softball fans can track home action this season several ways. For home games, O-Zone subscribers can listen to and watch games online for as little as $6.66 per month (for a 12-month membership), and a link to signing up is available at the www.GoDucks.com multimedia link at the top of each page.
Fans from Duck opponents can catch multiple games online for a $9.95 automatically-renewing monthly membership (and should cancel the membership before the end of the month to prevent the next month's charge).
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.
PAC-10 PRESEASON POLL
In the annual Pacific-10 Conference Softball Coaches Preseason Poll, returning national champion and No. 1-ranked Washington received seven of the eight first-place votes and 49 points – both maximum totals possible. No. 6 Arizona followed in second place with 41 points, and was followed by No. 8 UCLA (third, 37 points, 1 first-place vote), No. 5 Arizona State (fourth-tie, 26), No. 10 Stanford (fourth-tie, 26), No. 12 California (sixth, 25), Oregon (seventh-tie, 10) and Oregon State (seventh-tie, 10).
THE ‘CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS’
The Pac-10’s moniker is validated by the fact the eight Pac-10 schools have combined to win 22 of the 27 softball NCAA national championships, including the last four. Last year, the Pac-10 advanced six teams to the 16-team Super Regional level, including three of the eight World Series qualifiers.
TICKET INFORMATION
In 2010, the Ducks will host 19 home games on 14 dates at Howe Field. UO has four non-conference doubleheader dates early in the schedule vs. Boise State (Sat., March 13, 2 p.m.), North Dakota (Sat., March 13, 4 p.m.), Seattle (Thu., March 25, 3 p.m.) and Idaho State (Fri., March 26) , then has another non-conference twin-bill vs. Portland State (Wed., April 28, 4 p.m.).
Oregon’s first home Pac-10 contest is a 6 p.m. tilt against California, Friday, April 9. Four weeks later, UO caps its home slate vs. eight-time national champion Arizona, Friday-Sun., May 7-9. The Ducks also have a three-game slate against defending national champion Washington, Friday-Sunday, April 16-18.
Varsity sport tickets are available through 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 that show valid UO ID’s at the entry gate will receive general admission at no charge.
UPCOMING HOME GAME PROMOTIONS
Wed., 5/5 – Portland State, 4 p.m. – 2 For 1 Day – Pick up a ‘Bi-Mart 2 For 1’ coupon at any Eugene-Springfield Bi-Mart location and get two general admission tickets for the price of one.
Friday, May 7 – Arizona, 6 p.m. – Go ‘O’ Day – Wear your 2009-10 ‘Go O or Go Home’ spirit t-shirt and receive your general admission ticket for $1.
Saturday, May 8 – Arizona, 1 p.m. –Kidsports Day – Wear your Kidsports shirt to the game and get in for free.
Sunday, May 9 – Arizona, Noon – Happy Mother’s Day – All mothers get into the ballpark free.
* (DH = Doubleheader)
THE ROAD TO OKLAHOMA CITY
In 2010, Oregon will seek its 12th postseason bid to the NCAA tournament and sixth in the last eight years. The 64-team NCAA tournament kicks off on May 21-23 at 16 sites nationally; the Super Regionals are set for May 28-29; and the Women’s College World Series returns to Oklahoma City, June 3-9. The 2010 Selection Show will be aired live on Sunday, May 16 from 7 -8 p.m. on ESPN-U. To see last year’s NCAA bracket, visit the http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2009/ncaa_bracket_DI_softball.html URL address.
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). After a two-year absence, White helped the Ducks return to the regional final and one game from the Women’s College World Series in trips in ’03 to Fullerton, Calif. (5-2) and ’04 to Tallahassee, Fla., (4-2). Oregon also scored recent regional final appearances in ’05 (2-2) and ’07 in Columbia, S.C. (2-2) and ’08 (2-2) in Norman, Okla.
SUMMER FUN
Girls in grades 2-12 are invited to sign up for the Oregon Softball Summer Camp, that will be hosted in Eugene on June 21-24, 2010. More information is available at the www.GoDucks.com front-page camps link, and at the http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204830692 URL address. Dates and information for other upcoming fall and winter camps for 2010-11 are also listed on this page.
WATCH WHITE WEEKLY ON GODUCKS.TV
Oregon softball fans can get a weekly update from head coach Mike White every Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. on Jerry Allen’s www.GoDucks.TV sports talk show. Fans can watch the show live, and previous shows are also archived.
2010 OREGON SOFTBALL QUICK FACTS / MEDIA INFORMATION
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Enrollment: 20,394
President: Richard Lariviere
Senior Women’s Administrator: Renee Baumgartner
Colors / Nickname: Green and Yellow (Pantone 342 & Yellow)
Nickname: Ducks
Conference: Pacific-10
Home Field (Capacity): Howe Field (3,000)
Department Web site: www.GoDucks.com
Home Game Status Update Line (b/c of weather conflicts): (541) 346-6148
OREGON SOFTBALL HISTORY / INFORMATION
Preseason All-Time Softball Record: 877-810-1 (First Year, 1974)
Postseason Trips: 1976, 80, 89*, 90, 94, 98, 99, 2000, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08
Women’s College World Series Appearances*: 1989
All-Americans: 8
2009 Record / Pac-10 Record (Place): 16-34 / 3-18 (8th)
Letterwinners Returning / Lost: 14 (5 Sr., 5 Jr., 4 So.) / 2
Position Starters Returning / Lost: 7 / 1 (OF)
Position Players Returning / Lost: 12 / 1 (OF)
Pitchers Returning / Lost: 3 / 1
Top 2010 Returnees (2009 Stats)
- Neena Bryant (Sr., OF, .314, 49 H, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 27 SB)
- Kelsey Chambers (So., IF, .225, 27 H, 7 2B, 5 HR, 21 RBI)
- Lindsey Chambers (So., IF, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
- Monique Fuiava (Jr., 1B-DP, .225, 29 H, 8 HR, 19 RBI)
- Ashley Kivett (Jr., C, 17 H, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 10 BB)
- Cortney Kivett (Jr., IF, .257, 39 H,11 SB)
- Carlyn Re (Sr., 1B, .220, 29 H, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 11 BB)
- Samantha Skillingstad (So., P, 2.36 ERA, 12-15, 4 SHO, 170 SO)
- Kaitlin Vitek (Jr., C, 10 H, 2 HR, 10 BB)
- Blair Williamson (Sr., OF, 14 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .342 SLG)
Key 2009 Losses (2009 Statistics)
- Sari-Jane Jenkins (OF, .292, 45 H, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 16 SB)
- Melissa Rice (P, 5.65, 0-6, 31 Inn., 19 SO)
Newcomers (4)
- Allie Burger, Fr., OF, Spokane Wash.
- Kaylan Howard, Fr., IF, Riverside, Calif.
- Jessica Moore, Fr., P, Sutter, Calif.
- Samantha Pappas, Fr., OF, Las Flores, Calif.
MEDIA SERVICES INFORMATION
Assistant Ath. Director, Media Services: Dave Williford
Assistant (SB Contact): Geoff Thurner, (541) 346-2250
E-mail: gthurner@uoregon.edu
Department web site: www.goducks.com
Address: 2727 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene, Ore. 97401
Office Phone: 541/346-5488
Office FAX: 541/346-5449
Press Box Phone: 541-346-4497
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
MORE ONLINE SOFTBALL INFORMATION
NCAA: www.ncaasports.com
NCAA Playing Rules: http://www.ncaapublications.com/ProductsDetailView.aspx?sku=SR11
NCAA Championships Handbooks: http://ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/ncaa/NCAA/Sports+and+Championship/General+Information/championship+handbooks
NCAA Record Books: http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/SB_Records/2010/DivI.pdf
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
2010 OREGON SOFTBALL ROSTER / PRONUNCIATIONS
NUMERICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Ht. Yr. Hometown (H.S./College)
00 Sam Pappas OF L/R 5-10 Fr. Las Flores, Calif. (Tesoro)
1 Cortney Kivett IF L/R 5-3 Jr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
2 Allie Burger OF L/R 5-3 Fr. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
3 Kaylan Howard 2B R/R 5-4 Fr. Riverside, Calif. (Poly)
4 Blair Williamson OF L/R 5-8 Sr. Salem, Ore. (Sprague)
5 Lindsey Chambers IF R/R 5-4 So. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
6 Neena Bryant OF R/R 5-6 Sr. Placentia, Calif. (El Dorado)
7 Sam Skillingstad RHP R/R 5-10 So. Spokane,Wash.(Shadle Park)
8 Kelsey Chambers IF R/R 5-4 So. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
9 Mikayla Endicott RHP R/R 5-7 So. Roseburg, Ore. (RHS)
10 Hannah Barril IF L/R 5-1 Sr. Juneau, Alaska (Douglas)
11 Ashley Kivett C R/R 5-4 Jr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
12 Jessica Moore RHP R/R 5-10 Fr. Sutter, Calif. (Sutter)
13 Kaitlin Vitek C R/R 5-8 Jr. Valencia, Calif. (William S. Hart)
15 Monique Fuiava 1B R/R 5-8 Jr. Las Vegas, Nev (Mojave)
24 Carlyn Re 1B L/L 5-6 Sr. Tualatin, Ore. (Tualatin)
25 Shelley Deadmond OF L/R 5-6 RSr. Chico, Calif. (Butte)
27 Jordan Reeves C R/R 5-8 So. Fairbanks, Alaska (Lathrop)
35 Brittany Rumfelt LHP L/L 5-8 Jr. Lakeport, Calif. (Clear Lake)
ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Ht. Yr. Hometown (H.S./College)
10 Hannah Barril IF L/R 5-1 Sr. Juneau, Alaska (Douglas)
6 Neena Bryant OF R/R 5-6 Sr. Placentia, Calif. (El Dorado)
2 Allie Burger OF L/R 5-3 Fr. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
8 Kelsey Chambers IF R/R 5-4 So. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
5 Lindsey Chambers IF R/R 5-4 So. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
25 Shelley Deadmond OF L/R 5-6 RSr. Chico, Calif. (Butte)
9 Mikayla Endicott RHP R/R 5-7 So. Roseburg, Ore. (RHS)
15 Monique Fuiava 1B R/R 5-8 Jr. Las Vegas, Nev (Mojave)
3 Kaylan Howard 2B R/R 5-4 Fr. Riverside, Calif. (Poly)
11 Ashley Kivett C R/R 5-4 Jr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
1 Cortney Kivett IF L/R 5-3 Jr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
12 Jessica Moore RHP R/R 5-10 Fr. Sutter, Calif. (Sutter)
00 Samantha Pappas OF L/R 5-10 Fr. Las Flores, Calif. (Tesoro)
24 Carlyn Re 1B L/L 5-6 Sr. Tualatin, Ore. (Tualatin)
27 Jordan Reeves C R/R 5-8 So. Fairbanks, Alaska (Lathrop)
35 Brittany Rumfelt LHP L/L 5-8 Jr. Lakeport, Calif. (Clear Lake)
7 Sam Skillingstad RHP R/R 5-10 So. Spokane,Wash.(Shadle Park)
4 Blair Williamson OF L/R 5-8 Sr. Salem, Ore. (Sprague)
13 Kaitlin Vitek C R/R 5-8 Jr. Valencia, Calif. (William S. Hart
Head Coach: Mike White, 1st Season
Assistant Coaches: Jessica Allister (1st Season)
Assistant Coach: Lisa Dodd (1st Season)
Undergrad. Asst. Coach: Sari-Jane Jenkins (1st Season)
Managers: Garrett Gilchrist, John Mitchell
Athletic Trainers: Rachel Painter, Clay Jamieson
** PRONUNCIATION GUIDE **
Hannah Barril (buh-RIL); 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: 5
Juniors: 5
Sophomores: 5
Freshmen: 4
BY POSITION
Infielders: 7
Outfielders: 5
Pitchers; 4
Catchers: 3
BY STATE
California: 10
Oregon: 3
Washington: 3
Alaska: 2
Nevada: 1
AT BAT
Right/Left: 11/8
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (# of letters): Hannah Barril (3); Neena Bryant: (3); Carlyn Re (3); Blair Williamson (3), Monique Fuiava (2), Ashley Kivett (2), Cortney Kivett (2), Brittany Rumfelt (2), Kaitlin Vitek (2), Kelsey Chambers (1), Lindsey Chambers (1), Shelley Deadmond (1), Mikayla Endicott (1), Samantha Skillingstad (1). Letterwinners Lost (2): Sari-Jane Jenkins (4), Melissa Rice (4)
NATIONAL POLLS (4/27) – Week #11
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
http://nfca.org/top25/index.php?cat_id=1
Rk Team Record Totals Prev
*1. Washington (12) 37-5 492 1
2. Michigan (8) 37-5 485 2
*3. Arizona 38-7 462 3
4. Alabama 39-9 435 5
5. Florida 35-7 414 4
*6. UCLA 33-9 399 7
7. Georgia Tech 43-8 369 6
8. Georgia 40-8 366 10
*9. Arizona State 37-10 324 9
10. Oklahoma 36-10 293 13
11. Oklahoma State 40-11 290 8
T12. Texas 37-10 265 14
T12. LSU 38-10 265 12
*14. Stanford 30-12 252 11
15. Missouri 36-9 216 15
*16. California 34-13 215 17
17. Tennessee 39-9 184 18
**18. Oregon 31-10 175 16
19. Illinois 33-5 149 19
*T20. Hawaii 39-11 97 T23
*T20. Texas A&M 36-13 97 21
22. Florida State 39-14 72 20
23. UMass 29-7-1 65 22
24. Ohio State 30-11 57 T23
*25. Notre Dame 38-9 19 25
Others Receiving Votes: North Carolina (13); Fordham (9); *BYU (4); DePaul (4); *San Diego State (4); *Texas Tech (4); Louisville (2); Hofstra (2); Virginia (2)
Parenthesis Denotes first place votes.
* Denotes Duck opponents in 2010
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll
http://www.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=3208
Rk Team (1st Pl. Vts) Record Points Prev
*1 Washington (19) 37-5 736 1
2 Michigan (11) 37-5 728 2
*3 Arizona 38-7 694 3
4 Alabama 39-9 643 4
*5 UCLA 33-9 625 6
6 Florida 35-7 584 4
*7 Arizona State 37-10 530 9
8 Georgia 40-8 514 12
9 Georgia Tech 43-8 507 8
10 Missouri 36-9 453 11
11 Oklahoma State 41-10 449 7
12 Oklahoma 36-10 410 14
*13 California 34-13 396 13
*14 Stanford 30-12 384 10
15 Texas 37-10 351 15
16 Tennessee 39-9 284 17
17 LSU 39-10 280 16
18 Illinois 33-5 250 18
19 Ohio State 30-11 216 19
**20 Oregon 31-10 189 20
21 Massachusetts 29-7 138 21
*22 Texas A&M 36-13 103 22
*23 Hawaii 39-11 88 25
24 Florida State 39-14 69 24
*25 Notre Dame 38-9 61 23
Others Receiving Votes: DePaul 22, Louisville 13, *Fresno State 7, Lipscomb 7, *Texas Tech 6, Hofstra 5, Fordham 4, *BYU 3, *San Diego State 1
Parenthesis Denotes first place votes.
-The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches representing each conference. First-place votes are in parentheses.
* Denotes Duck opponents in 2010
- www.GoDucks.com –
