No. 21 Duck Softball Returns Home to Host No. 13 Bears
* Updated season/career statistics available via the link above, and a Pac-10 release and recent Oregon-Cal boxscores are located in the links box to the right.
THIS WEEKEND’S DUCK SOFTBALL ACTION (vs. No. 13 California (29-8, 1-2))
Game Times/Promotions
- Fri., 4/9, 6 p.m. – Dads & Daughters Day - Purchase an adult general admission ticket and receive a child G.A. ticket for free.
- Sat., 4/10, 1 p.m. – Take a Kid to the Park Day - (same ticket deal as 4/9).
- Sun., 4/11, Noon – Scout Day - Wear your scout uniform and get into the ballpark free.
DUCK SOFTBALL THIS WEEK
EUGENE – Looking forward to their first of three home Pac-10 series against top-15 ranked teams the next five weeks, the No. 21 University of Oregon softball team (26-6, 2-1) faces returning Super Regional advancer and No. 13 California (29-8, 1-2).
Last week at Oregon State, freshman left fielder Allie Burger drilled her first career home run, a three-run shot, in the seventh inning and lifted UO to a 6-5 victory and 2-1 series win. OSU won the second game, 7-6, after UO scored three runs in the seventh inning to almost tie the game. In the first contest, UO won 8-3 after banging out a school record 19 hits.
Not surprisingly, UO’s .411 average last week (20-for-95) put it atop the conference this week in batting (.346).
Overall, the Ducks have won 20 of their last 22 games since mid-February with their only losses to Oregon State (7-6) and at returning NCAA qualifier San Diego State (5-2) in early March.
This weekend’s games will feature the first conference night game in school history with the other two remaining Friday league games also starting at 6 p.m.
Last weekend, the Bears went 1-2 vs. No. 8 Stanford and won 6-0 Saturday, and lost to the Cardinal, 5-1, Friday, and 1-0, Thursday. On Wednesday, 23rd-year Cal head coach Diane Ninemire won her 1,000th career game with a win over Sacramento State.
DUCK-BEAR SERIES NOTES
The Bears were one of three Pac-10 teams that UO topped at home last season thanks to sophomore Samantha Skillingstad’s 7-0 shutout, while three Ducks hit safely - Sari-Jane Jenkins (3-for-4, homer, 4 RBI), senior Neena Bryant (1-for-4) and sophomore Lindsey Chambers (1-for-2, homer 2 RBI. The Bears won the other two games last April in Berkeley (7-2, 2-0) before they advanced to the Super Regional.
The Ducks last won the series in 2007 (2-1) with 8-2 and 4-3 wins in Eugene and 4-2 loss in Berkeley. Senior center fielder Neena Bryant went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in the first win and 1-for-3 in the game in Strawberry Canyon.
DUCK PITCHING / HITTING NOTES
On the mound for UO in Corvallis last weekend, freshman Jessica Moore (12-2) claimed both of UO’s wins and struck out 18 in her 14 innings.
Frosh right fielder Samantha Pappas led the team in batting (.583, 7-for-12, double, 4 RBI), and six other starters topped .300 – junior first baseman Monique Fuiava (6-for-12, double, 1 RBI), freshman left fielder Allie Burger (.462, 6-for-13, triple, homer, 5 RBI), senior center fielder Neena Bryant (.444, 4-for-9, double, 2 RBI), freshman Kaylan Howard (.400, 4-for-10), senior Carlyn Re (3-for-8, double, 1 RBI) and sophomore shortstop Kelsey Chambers (4-for-12, 2 doubles, homer, 5 RBI).
NATIONAL CRED
Glancing at this week’s national rankings, the Ducks jumped to second nationally in batting average (.346) after pounding out a school record 19 hits vs. OSU in the first game (and 11 and nine the next two games, respectively).
The Ducks also stood seventh nationally in ERA (1.38), 13th in slugging (0.540), 14th in win-loss percentage (.813), 18th in doubles (1.63 per game) and 27th in home runs (1.06 per game).
On the individual front, freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas ranked fifth nationally in batting (.500), 15th in on-base percentage (.559), 16th in slugging (.865), 33rd in RBI (1.06 per game) and 45th in home runs (9). Fellow frosh outfielder Allie Burger stood 14th in batting (.460), senior Blair Williamson 63rd nationally this week in on-base percentage (.508), and sophomore infielder Kelsey Chambers stood 102nd in RBI (0.84 per game).
Freshman Jessica Moore was equally easy to find on this week’s NCAA pitching stat charts in ERA (15th, 1.02), fewest hits allowed (24th, 4.21 per 7 innings), strikeouts (25th, 9.9 per 7 inning average), strikeouts (45th, 145) and wins (60th, 12), and is tied for 26th nationally in saves (2) with junior Brittany Rumfelt.
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.
HOME SWEET HOWE
After this weekend, the Ducks host returning national champion and No. 1 Washington (30-3, 2-1), Friday-Sunday, April 16-18. UO then heads to the desert for three games at Arizona State, Friday-Sunday, April 23-25, then returns home for its final non-conference tilts in a doubleheader vs. Portland State, Wednesday, April 28 at 4 p.m. Two of UO’s final three Pac-10 series are on the road vs, UCLA (Friday-Sunday, April 30-May 2) and Stanford (Thursday-Saturday, May 13-15), and its last home action is sandwiched in between vs. Arizona, Friday-Sunday, May 7-9.
RECENT STARTERS (‘10/’09/Career Starts)
C: Ashley Kivett (27/34/107), Kaitlin Vitek (8/27/41),
1B: Monique Fuiava (32/46/140)
2B: Kaylan Howard (32/-/32)
SS: Kelsey Chambers (32/49/81)
3B: Cortney Kivett (24/50/136)
RF: Samantha Pappas (32/-/32)
CF: Neena Bryant (30/50/207)
LF: Allie Burger (32/-/32)
DP: Carlyn Re (10/48/107), Blair Williamson (17/14/70)
PAC-10 RANKINGS
This week, freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas leads the Pac-10 in batting (.500), and ranks third in slugging (.865), on-base percentage (third, .559) and total bases (83), and top-10 in hits (fifth, 48), home runs (seventh-tie, 9), and RBI (eighth-tie, 34). Among other Ducks spotted, freshman Allie Burger ranks fourth in batting (.460), junior first baseman Monique Fuiava is tied for second in sacrifice flies (2) and 10th in the Pac-10 in doubles (8) and freshman sophomore infielder Kelsey Chambers is tied for fourth in sacrifice bunts (6).
On the mound, Ducks ranked top-10 in the league include freshman Jessica Moore (saves, first-tie, 2; games finished, third-tied, 6; ERA, fifth, 1.02; opposing batting average, fifth, .162; fewest home runs allowed, sixth-tied, 5; strikeouts, fifth, 145; relief appearances, seventh-tie, 6; appearances, seventh-tie, 19; innings, seventh, 103; starts, 10th, 13) and sophomore Samantha Skillingstad (fewest home runs allowed, second, 2), junior Brittany Rumfelt (saves, first-tied, 2) and sophomore Mikayla Endicott (games in relief, third, 7).
As a team, the Ducks top the Pac-10 in batting (.346) and saves (4), and rank top-six currently in several other categories:
Hitting
Batting – 1st, .346 (Arizona, 2nd, .343)
Sacrifice Bunts – 2nd, 28 (leader UCLA 32)
Doubles – 4th, 52 (leader OSU 58)
Slugging – 4th, .540 (leader Arizona .613)
Total Bases – 6th, 451 (leader ASU 570)
Home Runs – 6th, 34 (leader Arizona 63)
Stolen Bases – 6th, 34 (leader California 100)
Pitching
Strikeouts – 2nd, 287 (leader California 320)
ERA – 3rd, 1.38 (leader California 1.31)
Fewest Walks – 4th-t, 61 (leader Wash., 40)
Fewest Home Runs – 1st, 8 (UCLA/Cal, 2nd, 10)
Opposing Batting Average–6th, .191 (leader Cal, .175)
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT INFO
No. 13 California Bears (29-8, 1-2), Fri., 4/9, 6 p.m.; Sat., 4/10, 1 p.m.; Sun., 4/11, Noon
Website: www.CalBears.com
Head Coach: Diane Ninemire
Career Record (Years): 999-485 (23rd year)
Record at School: Same
Assistants: John Reeves, Tammy Lohmann,
Julie Meyer (Volunteer)
2009 Overall Record: 38-20
2009 Conference Record: 10-10, 5th
2009 Postseason: Super Regional (3-2)
Ret. Letterwinners/Starters/Pitchers: 12/8/2
Series Record: Cal leads, 70-34
2010 Bear Statistical Leaders
- Jamia Reid, So., OF - .413, 10 RBI, 39 SB
- Shannon Thomas, Sr., IF - .376, 23 SB
- Frani Echavarria, So., OF - .364
- Jace Williams, So., IF - .348, 8 2B, 22 RBI
- Valerie Arioto, Jr., UT - .346, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 11 SB
- Jolene Henderson, Fr., P – 12-3, 1.00 ERA, 3 SH, 111 SO, 20 BB, 97.2 Inn.
- Valerie Arioto, Jr., UT – 14-5, 1.03, 12 CG, 7 S, 189 SO, 40 BB, 129 Inn
IN THE POLLS
The Ducks were tabbed No. 21 for the second straight week in the ESPN.com / USA Softball national poll.
Their 91 votes in this week’s eighth edition were 17 more than last week and the fourth straight poll that it ranked top 25. Oregon's ranking was its highest since ending the 2008 campaign tabbed No. 20 and No. 23 in the NFCA and USA Softball editions.
In recent weeks, the Ducks stood 21st last week, 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 polls. UO also picked up 23 votes in Tuesday’s USA Today / NFCA Poll – the first team outside the top 25 - and received votes for the third straight week.
Six Pac-10 teams were again tabbed top 15 this week in the USA Softball / NFCA editions - Washington (1/1), Arizona (2/3), UCLA (4/5), Arizona State (10/9), Stanford (9/8) and California (15/13). Seven other teams on UO’s schedule in ’10 also received votes – No. 20/21 Texas A&M, No. -/23 Notre Dame, No. -/25 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.
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.
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, and final collegiate softball RPI rankings are available at the http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2009WSBrpi1.html and http://www.fullysports.com/softball/2009/rpi websites.
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.
To check on the status of home softball games that day and potential weather conflicts, fans can call (541) 346-6148.
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.).
ON THE CHARTS
On Oregon’s all-time career charts, senior Neena Bryant climbed another position on the doubles and hits charts last weekend in Corvallis (fifth, 35 / 8th, 194). She also ranks top 10 in several other categories, and a 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
4, Neena Bryant – 134 (3rd is 136, 2nd is 141)
Home Runs
5, Neena Bryant – 30 (4th is 31, 3rd is 33, 2nd is 35, 1st is 37)
Doubles
7t, Neena Bryant –5th, 35 (3rd (tie) is 36, 2nd is 39, 1st is 41)
Hits
10, Neena Bryant – 194 (7th is 195, 6th is 207, 5th is 212)
Batting Average
10, Neena Bryant - .313 (9th is .324, 8th is .326, 7th is .333)
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
Runs Batted In
4t, 46 - Neena Bryant, 2007, ‘08
34 – Sam Pappas, 2010 (10th is 42, 8th (tie) is 44)
Extra Base Hits
5t, 25 - Neena Bryant, 2007
17 – Sam Pappas, 2010 (9th (tie) is 22, 5th (tie) is 25)
Total Bases
9t, 104 - Neena Bryant, 2007, ‘08
83 – Sam Pappas, 2010 (10th is 104)
Home Runs
10, 10 - Neena Bryant, 2007, ‘08
9 – Sam Pappas, 2010 (10th is 10, 8th (tie) is 11), 6th (tie) is 12)
Strikeouts
4, 170 - Samantha Skillingstad, 2009
9th, 145 – Jessica Moore, 2010 (8th is 153, 7th is 159, 6th is 168)
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
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 – Samantha Skillingstad, at PSU, 3/23/10
9t, 11 – Jessica Moore, vs. No. 19 Texas A&M, 2/25
9t, 11 – Samantha Skillingstad, vs. North 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
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 223 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 13 homers (7 / 6) in their young careers, including two each 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.
POWER SURGE
The Oregon bats have come alive this season as nine players have combined to sock 19 homers already (for a 1.0 home run per game ratio). Compare that with last year’s total (39), also 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 (6), and is followed by Kaylan Howard (3), and Kelsey and Lindsey Chambers and Monique Fuiava who each have two homers. Ducks with single shots include Neena Bryant, Jessica Moore and Blair Williamson.
For comparison’s sake, Bryant has 29 career homers total (after clubbing 10 in both ’07 and ’08 and 8 in ’09), and ranks fifth all-time for UO. Fuiava led UO in homers (8) last year, and her 17 career homers are only five away from the 10th-best mark (22).
BORN TO RUN
The Ducks have been one of the Pac-10’s top teams on the basepaths and their 68 steals in ’09 ranked third in the league, after they topped the conference in 2007 (120) and ‘08 (110).
Going back into the Duck history books, those two aforementioned marks are the best in school history and ranked eighth and 19th nationally, while last year’s mark ranked sixth-best in the Duck record books and 47th in the nation.
Individually, four of UO’s top-10 career stolen bases leaders have made their presence felt on the basepaths in recent seasons –Sari-Jane Jenkins (first, 96), Suzie Barnes (third, 71), senior Neena Bryant (fourth, 64) and junior Cortney Kivett (ninth, 44).
Kivett and Jenkins led the Pac-10 in stolen bases in ’08 (33 / 32) – the fourth- and fifth-best Duck marks all-time behind Barnes’ and Jenkins’ totals in ‘07 (41 / 38) and former Duck Marnie McCall’s 36 swipes in ’92. Bryant is spotted twice on the all-time Duck season list with her 27 last season (#6) and 23 in ’08 (#8).
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
- Fri., 4/9 – California, 6 p.m. - Dads & Daughters Day - Purchase an adult general admission ticket and receive a child G.A. ticket for free.
- Sat., 4/10 – California, 1 p.m. - Take a Kid to the Park Day - (same ticket deal as 4/9).
- Sun., 4/11 – California, Noon - Scout Day - Wear your scout uniform and get into the ballpark free.
- Fri., 4/16 – Washington, 6 p.m. - Lights Out - Wear black to the game.
- Sat., 4/17 – Washington, 1 p.m. - Little League / ASA Day - Wear your little league or softball jersey to the game and get in free.
- Sun., 4/18 – Washington, Noon - Pink Out Howe – Show your Bi-Mart card at the ticket window at the game and receive admission for two adults and two children for only $10.
- Wed., 4/28 – 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.
2010 OREGON SOFTBALL QUICK FACTS / MEDIA INFORMATION
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Enrollment: 20,394
President: Richard Lariviere
Athletics Director: Mike Bellotti
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
All-Time Softball Record: 903-816-1 (.525), 37th season (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 Samantha 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 Samantha 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 Samantha 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 (4/6) – Week #8
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
http://nfca.org/top25/index.php?cat_id=1
Rk Team Record Totals Prev
*1. Washington (24) 30-3 499 1
*2. Arizona 30-4 473 2
3. Michigan (1) 26-5 465 3
*4. UCLA 27-6 430 5
5. Florida 27-4 396 9
6. Georgia Tech 32-5 394 7
7. Alabama 27-9 388 6
8. Missouri 25-6 354 4
*9. Stanford 27-5 339 11
*10. Arizona State 32-6 295 10
11. Oklahoma State 32-7 287 15
12. Georgia 26-8 283 8
13. Oklahoma 29-8 270 13
14. LSU 29-7 239 12
*15. California 29-8 231 14
16. Florida State 33-7 199 16
17. Texas 31-8 191 17
18. Tennessee 29-7 159 19
19. Illinois 26-4 140 20
*20. Texas A&M 30-9 107 18
**21. Oregon 26-5 91 21
22. Ohio State 21-10 68 23
23. Baylor 19-10 50 24
24. North Carolina 27-13 23 22
25. UMass 21-7 22 RV
Others Receiving Votes: *BYU (19), Arkansas (17), *Hawaii (17), DePaul (12), *Notre Dame (11), Louisville (9), *San Diego State (8), Fordham (7), ULL (2), Hofstra (2), Kentucky (2), *Texas Tech (1).
Dropped Out: BYU
New to Poll: UMass
* Denotes Duck opponents in 2010
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll
http://www.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=3208
Rk Team (1st Place Vts) Record Totals Prev
Rk. Team (1st Pl.) Record Pts Prev
*1 Washington (28) 30-3 747 1
2 Michigan (2) 26-5 715 2
*3 Arizona 30-4 685 3
4 Florida 27-4 655 6
*5 UCLA 27-6 632 5
6 Alabama 27-9 589 8
7 Missouri 25-6 550 4
*8 Stanford 27-5 527 9
*9 Arizona State 32-6 515 7
10 Georgia Tech 32-5 481 10
11 Oklahoma 29-8 439 13
12 Oklahoma State 32-7 412 15
*13 California 29-8 358 14
14 LSU 29-7 340 12
15 Georgia 26-8 328 11
16 Texas 31-8 307 17
17 Tennessee 29-7 295 16
18 Illinois 26-4 244 18
19 Florida State 33-7 204 19
20 Ohio State 21-10 179 21
*21 Texas A&M 30-9 139 20
22 Massachusetts 21-7 119 23
*23 Notre Dame 26-6 67 24
23 Louisville 24-12 67 25
*25 Hawaii 28-11 35 RV
Others Receiving Votes: **Oregon 23, North Carolina 21, *BYU 18, Baylor 18, Fordham 10, Hofstra 7, Lipscomb 7, *Fresno State 5, Arkansas 4, *San Diego State 3, Virginia 2, Kentucky 2, La.-Lafayette 1
Dropped Out: No. 22 North Carolina
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.
- www.GoDucks.com –
