No. 15 Ducks Welcome Wildcats & Aggies in Howe Openers
* Updated season / career stats are available via the link above.
THIS WEEK’S DUCK SOFTBALL ACTION
Weber State (3-11) - Saturday, Howe Field (Eugene), March 19, 1 p.m. - www.WeberStateSports.com
Utah State (5-19) – Sunday, Howe Field (Eugene), March 20, Noon – www.UtahStateAggies.com
Ticket Promotion:
BI-MART 2 for 1 WEEKEND – Each day, show your Bi-Mart card at the Howe Field ticket window to receive 2 G.A. tickets for the price of 1.
SETTING THE STAGE
After a month on the road, the No. 15 University of Oregon softball team (18-4) returns to the cozy confines of Howe Field for its first home games of 2011 – a pair of doubleheaders vs. Weber State (3-11) and Utah State (5-19).
Polishing off one of its most successful opening months ever, the Ducks have ranked top 15 nationally all spring, and are 4-1 against top-20 teams so far. UO beat then-No. 16 BYU (5-0) and then-No. 19 Texas A&M (3-2) opening weekend; handed then-No. 9 Hawai’i its first loss of the season (13-5, 5 innings) in Las Vegas; and most recently split with then-No. 1 Alabama (10-0 loss, 5 innings) and then-No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette (5-2).
With the Pac-10 season opener two weeks away, Oregon is in the thick of the crowded league standings which features seven of the league’s eight teams ranked top 15 nationally.
In its most recent action two weekends ago, UO went 4-2 against its six NCAA tournament returnees in the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla. Besides its split with the Tide and Rajun Cajuns – both Super Regional returnees - Oregon beat North Carolina, 1-0; Illinois, 2-1; and Illinois State, 6-0; and lost to Virginia, 3-2.
RECENT HEROES
Combined for the six games in the Orlando trip, senior Monique Fuiava
joined the Duck all-time career list in homers (ninth-tie, 22), and paced UO in hitting (.545), home runs (1), total bases (10), runs (4), slugging (.909) and walks (3).
Three other starters topped .300 – freshman Courtney Ceo
(.471, 8 H, 1 SB), senior Kaitlin Vitek
(.400, 4 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 TB, .900 SLG) and sophomore Alle Burger (.333, 5 H, 3 RBI). Ceo hit safely in all six games, and fellow frosh Alexa Peterson
came up with an eighth-inning suicide squeeze and RBI single vs. the No. 17 Rajun' Cajuns for game winners.
On the mound, sophomore Jessica Moore
went 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA and 23 strikeouts in her 20.1 innings pitched. Two other Ducks logged sub 2.00 ERA’s – Brittany Rumfelt
(0.00, 5 IP, 9 K, 2 BB) and junior Mikayla Endicott
(1.75 ERA, 4 IP, 3 SO, 2 BB) – and junior Samantha Skillingstad
staked UO’s other win (1-0, 2.10 ERA, 10 IP, 15 SO, 5 BB).
HOME SWEET HOWE
Last year, UO sported a 14-5 mark in the
friendly confines of Howe Field after it rattled off a 12-0 streak to
start the home slate, and at least one win in every home series against
the nation's top conference. Oregon's perfect early run included it’s
first-ever sweep of then-No. 13 Cal in April. The following weekend, UO
beat its first top-ranked team, then-No. 1 Washington, 4-0, since 2004
when it topped the returning national player of the year Danielle
Lawrie. Oregon’s other league home victories came vs. then-No. 3 Arizona
(2-1) in nine innings when Neena Bryant
hit a two-run shot off another
of the nation’s top pitchers, Kenzie Fowler.
SERIES HISTORY
Among this weekend’s opponents, the Ducks own a combined 15-7 record all-time vs. Utah State (14-7) and Weber State (1-0).
UO has played Weber State only once and won the 1979 meeting by a 2-1 score. The Ducks won its last doubleheader vs. the Aggies with 8-0 wins in both contests in 2007.
Against Utah State that day, Sari-Jane Jenkins
went 3-for-4, and Melissa Rice threw a two-hitter in the first win. Neena Bryant
homered and Suzie Barnes went 3-for-3 behind Alicia Cook’s five-inning, one-hit shutout in which she struck out four.
FURTHER UP DOWN THE ROAD
In upcoming weeks, UO heads to Portland State for a doubleheader, Wed., March 23 at 2 pm, then has one more non-conference warm-weather road trip to San Luis Obispo, the Mustang Classic (3/25-27). Pac-10 play kicks off at returning Pac-10 Conference champion Washington on Fri., April 1 – UO’s first of two televised dates this year. The Husky-Duck game will be televised by Fox Sports Net, while the UO-OSU game on Fri., April 22 will be shown on Comcast Sports Net.
RECENT DUCK STARTERS (2011/‘10/Career Starts)
C: Ashley Kivett
(7/46/133), Alexa Peterson
(16/-/16)
1B: Monique Fuiava
(15/56/179), Kailee Cuico
(13/-/13)
2B: Kaylan Howard
(18/56/74), Courtney Ceo
(19/-/19)
SS: Courtney Ceo
(13/-/13), Kelsey Chambers
(20/57/126)
3B: Cortney Kivett
(6/38/156), Courtney Ceo
(19/-/19)
RF: Samantha Pappas
(17/57/74), Christie Nieto
(17/-/17)
CF: Samantha Pappas
(17/57/74), Allie Burger
(20/56/76)
LF: Kaitlin Vitek
(17/24/74), Kailee Cuico
(13/-/13)
IN THE POLLS
In this week’s sixth NFCA and USA Softball polls of the season, the Ducks were tabbed 15th and 16th, respectively.
Among this week’s two polls, 10 Duck foes this season were ranked top 25 (NFCA / USA SB) – Alabama (3/2), Washington (4/4), Arizona State (6/5), Arizona (7/7), UCLA (8/11), California (10/9), Stanford (13/10), Hawai’i (16/20), Louisiana-Lafayette (19/19) and Texas A&M (22/23).
Two other Duck opponents – BYU and Virginia – each received votes in one poll.
Overall in the USA Softball edition, Georgia jumped two spots into the top position, while the former No. 1, Florida, fell to third. The Bulldogs already ranked first in the NFCA edition the last two weeks.
Last week, the Ducks ranked 14th in both polls, and have been ranked for 18 straight editions by USA Softball and 13 straight polls by the NFCA. UO’s week-by-week NFCA/USA SB rankings this year follow: 3/9 (15/14), 3/2 (13/13), 2/22 (13/13), 2/15 (14/14), Preseason (14/14).
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.
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT INFO
Weber State Wildcats (3-11)
Website: www.weberstatesports.com
Gametime: Sat., March 19, 1 p.m., Eugene, Ore.
Founded: 1889
Enrollment: 21,000
Colors: Purple, White
Conference: Pacific Coast Softball
Head Coach: Tina Johnson
Preseason Career Record (Years): 92-135 (7)
Preseason Record at School: 2-48 (1)
Assistants: Sara Mason, Andi Pigeon
2010 Overall Record: 2-48
2010 Conference Record: 2-18 (6th - Mtn. Division)
2010 Postseason: DNQ
Ret. Letterwinners/Starters: 7/4
Series Record: UO, leads 1-0
Weber State Top Players / Key 2011 Stats
Shaila Rivers, Jr., C-OF - .333, 14 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB
Erika James, Jr., OF - .310, 13 H, 3 RBI, 8 SB
London Clarke, Jr., UT - .267, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 SB
Lyndsey Minnich, Jr., IF - .205 8 H, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB
Britinie Hardine, Sr., RHP – 7 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 HBP; 1-1, 2.53, 21.1 IP, 24 SO, 8 BB, 13 H
Angela DeVries, So., RHP – 2-0, 4.15 ERA, 13.0 IP, 10 SO, 13 BB, 13 H
Sarah Clark, RHP – 0-4, 5.88 ERA, 33.2 IP, 28 SO, 18 BB, 41 H
Utah State Aggies (5-19)
Website: www.utahstateaggies.com
Gametime: Sun., March 20, 12 p.m., Eugene, Ore.
Founded: 1888
Enrollment: 23,925
Colors: Navy Blue, White
Conference: Western Athletic
Head Coach: Carissa Millsap-Kalaba
Preseason Career Record (Years): 163-123 (6)
Preseason Record at School: 20-30 (1)
Assistants: Nikki Palmer, Chelsea Cantillo
2010 Overall Record: 20-30
2010 WAC Conference Record: 5-14
2010 Postseason: DNQ
Series Record: UO leads, 14-7
Utah State Top Players /
Key
2011 Stats
Kassandra Uchida, Fr., IF - .328, 19 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 8 BB
Shasta Tyteca, Sr., C - .326, 14 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Krista Bava, Fr., OF - .314, 16 H, 2 2 2B, 5 RBI, 6 BB
Kelly Kaneshiro,Sr., IF - .288, 15 H, 4 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI
Mandy Harmon, So., RHP – 4.38 4-13, 91.1 IP, 50 SO, 48 BB, 114 H
Dani Chaplin, Jr., RHP - 5.73 0-4, 25.2 IP, 5 SO, 18 BB, 39 H
Shelbi Tyteca, So., RHP – 8.49 1-2, 31.1 IP, 17 SO, 21 BB, 57 H
HONOR ROLL
Last May, Oregon’s talented then-freshman class was rewarded for their impressive debut seasons with a host of All-Pac-10 and All-Region honors.
In the vote by league head coaches, right fielder Samantha Pappas
picked up UO’s second Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honor, and was one of only two first-year players named to the 15-person All-Pac-10 First Team. Pitcher Jessica Moore
was chosen to the All-Pac-10 Second Team and became UO’s second freshman pitcher to receive All-Pac-10 acclaim after Katie Wiese was a first-team pick in 1989.
Altogether, UO has staked 18 first-team and 34 second-team honors in the award dating back to 1988.
Freshman left fielder Allie Burger
, sophomore shortstop Kelsey Chambers
, sophomore pitcher Samantha Skillingstad
, and senior center fielder Neena Bryant
added All-Pac-10 honorable mention acclaim, and the latter player claimed her second All-Pac-10 honorable mention nod after she received All-Pac-10 Second Team acclaim the last two seasons (2008, ’09).
All three aforementioned first-year Ducks (Burger, Moore and Pappas) were tabbed to the All-Pac-10 Freshman Team, and second baseman Kaylan Howard
was chosen as an honorable mention.
On the NFCA All-Pacific Region squads, Pappas was tabbed to the 12-person All-Region First Team, and pitcher Jessica Moore
and left fielder Allie Burger
were named to the 12-person All-Region Second Team.
Dating back to 1988, UO has staked 13 first-team and 21 second-team All-Region laurels. Its three-player tally in 2010 matched its third-highest count ever, and was its most since four players received similar honors in 2007 (while its all-time high (5) came in 1989).
NATIONAL CRED
Glancing at last year’s final national statistical rankings, the Ducks ranked 33rd nationally in batting (.299) and 34th in slugging (.46-), and 47th in home runs per game (0.89).
On the individual front, outfielder Allie Burger
ranked 72nd in batting (.387), and right fielder Samantha Pappas
stood 82nd nationally in batting (.383), 88th in RBI (0.84 per game), 90th on-base percentage (.472), 123rd in slugging (.641) and 131st in home runs (11).
Jessica Moore
was equally easy to find on the final NCAA pitching stat charts in strikeouts (36th, 8.7 per 7 inning average), total strikeouts (46th, 238), ERA (52nd, 1.86) and fewest hits allowed (160th, 6.38 per 7 innings). The Sutter, Calif., native ranked 11th nationally in saves (4), and was followed by teammate Brittany Rumfelt
(101st-t, 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
Junior Samantha Skillingstad
again paced Pac-10 pitchers this week in lowest opposing batting average (.153), while the Ducks led the league in strikeouts (145), strikeouts looking (39) and most stolen bases in a game (8). Here is a listing of various noteworthy team and individual rankings this week.
Individual – Hitting
Kelsey Chambers
– Home Runs, 8th-t, 6; Sacrifice Flies, 2nd-t, 3
Christie Nieto
–HBP, 3rd-t, 6; On-Base Pct., 10th, .545
Monique Fuiava
– Sacrifice Bunts, 4th-t, 3
Samantha Pappas
– Stolen Bases, 7th, 7
Courtney Ceo
- Triples, 7th-t, 1
Individual – Pitching
Samantha Skillingstad
- Opposing Batting Avg., 1st, .153
- ERA, 5th, 1.24
- Games in Relief, 7th-t, 5
- Appearances – 8th-t, 14
- Strikeouts, 8th, 70; Starts, 8th-t, 9
- Struck Out Looking, 9th, 18
- Wins, 11th-t, 6
Jessica Moore
- ERA, 2nd, 1.16
- Batters Struck Out Looking, 2nd, 23
- Saves, 3rd-t, 1
- Strikeouts, 4th, 85
- Starts, 4th, 12
- Appearances, 4th-t, 15
- Wins, 5th-t, 10
- Innings, 6th, 66.2
- Opposing Batting Avg., 8th, .191
Brittany Rumfelt
- Games in Relief, 1st-t, 10
- Games Finished, 3rd-t, 7
- Saves, 3rd-t, 1
Mikayla Endicott
- Games in Relief, 6th-t, 7
Team – Hitting (leader)
Sacrifice Flies – 2nd-t, 8 (ASU 8)
Sacrifice Bunts – 3rd, 14 (UCLA 20)
Stolen Bases – 4th, 31 (Stanford 40)
Home Runs – 5th, 31 (Arizona 39)
Triples – 5th-t, 1 (Cal 8)
Total Bases – 6th, 284 (ASU 415)
Hits – 6th, 173 (ASU 264)
Batting – 6th, .311 (Washington .408)
Slugging – 6th, .510 (Washington .687)
Team – Pitching
Strikeouts – 1st, 195 (Arizona/UCLA, 2nd, 167)
Batters Struck Out Looking – 1st, 58 (Arizona, 2nd, 53)
Opposing Batting Average, 2nd,.192 (Cal .176)
ERA – 3rd, 1.62 (California 1.32)
Home Runs Allowed – 2nd, 4 (Cal 1)
ON THE CHARTS
Last week, junior Samantha Skillingstad
climbed another spot on the Duck career list in strikeouts (fifth, 359) and appearances (ninth, 80), as did sophomore Jessica Moore
in career shutouts (10th-tie, 7) and senior Monique Fuiava
in career home runs (ninth-tie, 22). Here other are sightings on Oregon all-time lists and improvements to watch for:
UO CAREER LEADERS
Strikeouts
5, Samantha Skillingstad
– 359 (4th is 435, 3rd is 445)
Stolen Bases
9, Cortney Kivett
- 51 (8th is 52, 6th-t, is 58, 5th is 60)
Appearances
9t, Samantha Skillingstad
– 80 (8th is 114, 7th is 119)
Shutouts
10t, Samantha Skillingstad
– 7 (9th is 9, 8th is 10)
10t, Jessica Moore
– 7 (9th is 9, 8th is 10)
Home Runs
10t, Monique Fuiava
- 22 (8th is 25, 7th is 26, 6th is 26)
UO SEASON LEADERS
Strikeouts
1, 238 – Jessica Moore
, 2010
5, 170 - Samantha Skillingstad
, 2009
Stolen Bases
4, 33 - Cortney Kivett
, 2008
Runs Batted In
3, 48 - Sam Pappas, 2010
Slugging
7, .641 – Samantha Pappas
, 2010
Home Runs
8th-t, 11 – Samantha Pappas
, 2010
Batting
11, .387 – Allie Burger
, 2010
12, .383 – Samantha Pappas
, 2010
Total Bases
7t, 107 - Sam Pappas, 2010
UO GAME LEADERS
Stolen Bases
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
2t, 4 – Courtney Ceo
vs. Arkansas, 2/19/11
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 - Alexa Peterson
, vs. Nevada, 2/18/11
Runs Batted In
5t, 6 - Monique Fuiava
, vs Cal Poly, 2/9/08
10t, 5 - Samantha Pappas
, vs. Idaho State, 3/26/10
10t, 5 – Allie Burger
vs. Oregon State, 4/3/10
Strikeouts
3 - 14 – Jessica Moore
vs. Portland State, 5/6/10
4 - 13 – Jessica Moore
vs. No. 3 Arizona, 5/7/10
5t - 12 - Jessica Moore
vs. Creighton, 2/12/10
5t, 12- Jessica Moore
vs. Cal Poly, 3/6/10
5t, 12 - Sam Skillingstad at PSU, 3/23/10
5t, 12 - Jessica Moore
vs. No. 16 BYU, 2/10/11
11t, 11 - Jessica Moore
vs. No. 19 Texas A&M, 2/25
11t, 11- Jessica Moore
vs. North Carolina, 3/4/11
11t, 11 - Samantha Skillingstad
, vs. N. Dakota, 3/13/10
17t, 10 - Samantha Skillingstad
at Stanford, 4/24/09
17t, 10 - Brittany Rumfelt
vs. No. 12 Missouri, 2/27/09
17t, 10 - Jessica Moore
vs. Hawai’i, 2/26/10
17t, 10 - Jessica Moore
at PSU, 3/23/10
17t, 10 - Jessica Moore
, at Oregon State, 4/1/10
DUCK SEASON PREVIEW
The Duck squad smacks of experience and welcomes
back 14 letterwinners led by the All-Pac-10 Freshman Team trio of
sophomore trio of outfielder Samantha Pappas
(All-Pac-10 First Team /
Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year), pitcher Jessica Moore
(All-Pac-10 Second
Team), and outfielder Allie Burger
(All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention).
The
rest of the team’s pitching staff from last season also returns and
features senior Brittany Rumfelt
and juniors Mikayla Endicott
and
Samantha Skillingstad
– and the latter was a 2009 All-Pac-10 Freshman
Team pick and 2010 All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention.
Starters from
seven field positions also return in 2010 and include the senior quartet
of first baseman Monique Fuiava
, infielder Cortney Kivett
and catchers
Ashley Kivett
and Kaitlin Vitek
; junior infielder/outfielder Kelsey
Chambers (All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention) and sophomore second baseman
Kaylan Howard
(All-Pac-10 Freshman Team Honorable Mention). Infielder
Lindsey Chambers
has also been a frequent starter in the infield and
will again contend for action at third base.
NEW TO THE FOLD
Also
ready to make an immediate impact, UO’s talented five-person newcomer
class includes junior outfielder/first baseman Christie Nieto
(Yorba
Linda, Calif.), and the freshman quartet of infielder Courtney Ceo
(Meadow Vista, Calif.), utility player Kailee Cuico
(San Pedro, Calif.),
outfielder Lauren Kotz
(Bakersfield, Calif.) and Alexa Peterson
(Salem,
Ore.).
SIZING UP THE SCHEDULE
The Ducks face another grueling regular season schedule in 2011, and 26 of the Ducks’ 54 games this spring will be played against 14 returning tournament qualifiers from last year’s NCAA field.
That list includes last year’s national champion UCLA and runner-up Arizona; two more Women’s College World Series (WCWS) qualifiers (Hawai’i, Washington); five more regional champions (Alabama, ASU, BYU, California, Louisiana-Lafayette); three more regional finalists (North Carolina, Notre Dame, Texas A&M); and two more tourney qualifiers (Stanford, Virginia).
Among the team’s 18 other foes this spring, five were NCAA tourney advancers in ’09 – Arkansas, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Nevada and Portland State.
For comparison’s sake, UO’s 2010 schedule ranked 23rd and 38th nationally among the 290 programs nationwide in the NCAA and Fully Sports RPI rankings, respectively. Current collegiate softball RPI rankings are available at the http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2011WSBrpi1.html and http://www.fullysports.com/softball/2011/rpi websites.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN
The Ducks again sport a pair of twins on their roster in 2011 – all four of whom have frequently started the past two seasons.
The fraternal set of seniors Ashley Kivett
and Cortney Kivett
sisters have combined to start 289 games (133/156) 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 was one of the team’s leading hitters in Pac-10 play in ’10 with her .273 average and ranked second in the Pac-10 in runners picked off (4).
The identical sophomore pair of Kelsey Chambers
and Lindsey Chambers
have combined for 27 homers (19 / 8) in their careers, including eight and two, respectively, last season. They saw the most action among newcomers as freshmen when 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), while Lindsey’s starts came in the left side of the infield with 18 at third base and 22 at shortstop.
TOP DUCK PROFILE
Second-year head coach Mike White
is widely regarded as one of finest-ever U.S. National Team players and pitching mentors. 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 his 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 – then 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 continued to live in Eugene with his family and 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 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
Oregon’s highly-regarded staff also includes three other talented coaches that sport equally impressive playing resumes.
Second-year Duck coach and 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.
White first shared the field with first-year assistant coach Blake Miller
when the latter was a top infielder for the U.S. National Team. As a collegiate coach the past 10 years, Miller has worked with two All-Americans and nine Academic All-Americans, and guided four teams to regional bids and one Junior College World Series trip. His resume includes stops as a head coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville the past three seasons and at Darton College (2006-07) and as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State (2005), Missouri Western State (2004) and Mesa State (2001-03).
The Ducks rounded out one of its most experienced coaching staffs ever with the addition of Julie Strand
as a volunteer assistant coach. The Eugene native joined the program after serving the last two seasons as the head coach at Southern Utah (2009-10) and four seasons as its assistant coach (2005-08). In that stretch, she helped the Thunderbirds advance twice to the NCAA Tournament (2006-07) after three Mid-Con Conference tourney championships (2005-07) and a pair of regular season league titles (2005-06). She also served as an assistant coach at the University of Southern Colorado, and was a two-time all-league catcher for Colorado State University-Pueblo.
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, defending national champion UCLA and runner-up Arizona tied for first place after they each received 46 points and four-first-place votes. Arizona State followed in third place with 30 points, and was trailed by California (fourth-tie, 26), Washington (fourth-tie, 26), Stanford (sixth, 22), Oregon (seventh, 21) and Oregon State (eighth, 7).
THE ‘CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS’
The Pac-10’s moniker is validated by the fact the eight Pac-10 schools have combined to win 23 of the 28 softball NCAA national championships, including the last five by four different teams. Last year, the Pac-10 advanced six teams to the 16-team Super Regional level, including three of the eight World Series qualifiers (national champion UCLA, runner-up Arizona and defending champion Washington).
SUMMER FUN
Girls in grades 2-12 are invited to sign up online for the Oregon Softball Summer Camps, that will be hosted in Eugene on (July 18-19, July 25-26; and August 26-28 2011. 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.
WATCH WHITE WEEKLY ON GODUCKS.TV
Oregon softball fans can get a weekly update from head coach Mike White
on Jerry Allen’s www.GoDucks.TV sports talk show. Fans can watch the show live, and previous shows are also archived.
TICKET INFORMATION
In 2011, the Ducks will host 16 home games on 14 dates at Howe Field. UO has two non-conference doubleheader dates early in the schedule vs. Weber State (Sat., March 19, 1 p.m.) and Utah State (Sun., March 20, Noon).
Oregon’s first home Pac-10 contest is a 6 p.m. tilt against Arizona State, Friday, April 8. Five weeks later, UO caps its home slate vs. returning national champion UCLA, Friday-Sun., May 12-14. The Ducks also have a three-game slates against Oregon State (Thu.-Sat., April 21-23) and Stanford (Fri.-Sun., May 6-8).
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., 4/8: Arizona State, 6 p.m. - SPRING CLEANING DAY - Bring new/used items to donate to Goodwill and receive a voucher for free admission to the ASU game on Sat., 4/9
• Sat., 4/9: Arizona State, 6 p.m. - BI-MART FAMILY DAY: Show your Bi-Mart card at the ticket window and receive a family rate of $10 for two adults and unlimited number of kids. A ticket from the Duck baseball game vs. Washington the day before (Fri., 4/8) also works for free admission into the game.
• Sun., 4/10: Arizona State – LITTLE LEAGUE DAY: Wear your little league or ASA softball jersey to the game and receive free admission. Fans can also pick up a voucher at the ticket window to receive $5 off a reserved ticket for the baseball game at 1 pm.
• Thu., 4/21: Oregon State, 6 p.m. – THROWBACK NIGHT: Fans that show their Bi-Mart card while purchasing a G.A. ticket to the game will receive a free G.A. voucher for the next night’s game vs. OSU (Fri., 6 p.m.). Fans can also wear their 2010-11 “Quack Out Loud” spirit t-shirt and receive $1 off admission price.
• Fri., 4/22: Oregon State, 6 p.m. – CROWD HOWE: It’s Student Night/Greek Night/O-Heroes Night. As part of the ‘Go Green’ theme, fans that wear their bike helmet or bring two cans of food receive free admission.
• Sat., 4/23: Oregon State, Noon – EASTER SATURDAY: Junior Duck Club members receive FREE admission. Wear your Junior Duck Club t-shirt and receive a giveaway item. After the game, Duck players will sign autographs.
• Fri., 5/6: Stanford, 6 p.m. - SCOUT NIGHT – Scout leaders and members that wear their scout uniform to the game will receive G.A. admission for only $2.
• Sat., 5/7: Stanford, 2 p.m. – DERBY DAY – Wear your Derby Day outfit and receive a G.A. ticket for only $2. Kids get the chance to run out with the starters and run the bases postgame. Afterwards, fans can get autographs from the softball team.
• Sun., 5/8: Stanford, Noon – MOTHER’S DAY – Pick up a Bi-Mart 2-for-1 ticket coupon at area stores and get two G.A. tickets for the price of one. It’s also STRIKE OUT CANCER DAY, and fans are asked to wear pink. A ticket stub from the Saturday Duck baseball game also is good for free admission.
• Thu., 5/12: UCLA, 6 p.m. – LIGHTS OUT AT HOWE: All faculty and staff receive free admission with their UO ID card. Select faculty members will also serve as honorary guest coaches.
• Fri., 5/13: UCLA, 6 p.m. – TAKE A KID TO THE GAME: Kids receive $1 admission when they wear their Kidsports jersey or t-shirt. Local Bi-Mart stores also have vouchers for $2 admission.
• Sat., 5/14: UCLA, 11:30 a.m. – SENIOR NIGHT: Senior citizens receive admission for only $1. Vouchers are available at the Howe Field ticket window for $5 off reserved baseball tickets for the 2 p.m. game that day.
2011 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
Head Coach: Mike White
(41-22, 2nd Season)
Assistant Coaches: Lisa Dodd
, Blake Miller
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Julie Strand
Preseason All-Time Softball Record: 918-832-1 (First Year, 1974)
Postseason Trips: 1976, 80, 89*, 90, 94, 98, 99, 2000, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08, 10
Super Regional Appearances: 2010
Women’s College World Series Appearances*: 1989
All-Americans: 8
2010 Record / Pac-10 Record (Place): 36-21 / 8-13 (6th-t)
Letterwinners Returning / Lost: 14 (5 Sr., 5 Jr., 4 So.) / 5
Position Starters Returning / Lost: 7 (5 IF, 2 OF) / 3 (1 OF, 2 IF)
Position Players Ret. / Lost: 11 (9 IF, 2 OF) / 5 (3 OF, 1IF, 1 UT)
Pitchers Returning / Lost: 4 / 0
Top 2011 Returnees (2010 Stats)
- Samantha Pappas
(So., OF, .383, 64 H, 11 HR, 48 RBI, . 11 SB)
- Allie Burger
(So., OF, .387, 63H, 4 3B, 26 RBI, 11 SB)
- Kelsey Chambers
(Jr., IF, .301, 49 H, 8 HR, 39 RBI, .497 SLG)
- Monique Fuiava
(Sr., 1B, .271, 45 H, 4 HR, 20 RBI, .410 SLG,)
- Ashley Kivett
(Sr., C, .275, 25H 8 2B, 12 RBI, 12 BB)
- Jessica Moore
(So., P, 16-13, 5 SHO, 238 SO, 66 BB, 192 IP)
- Samantha Skillingstad
(Jr., P, 2.94 ERA, 11-6, 1 SHO, 119 SO, 45 BB, 100 IP)
Key 2010 Losses (2010 Statistics)
- Neena Bryant
(CF, .295, 46H, 9 2B, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 7 SB)
- Blair Williamson
(OF, .359, 23 H, 10 RBI)
- Carlyn Re
(1B, .293, 24 H, 4 2B, 3 HR)
Newcomers (5)
- Courtney Ceo
(Fr., IF, Meadow Vista, Calif.)
- Kailee Cuico
(Fr., UT, San Pedro, Calif.)
- Lauren Kotz
(Fr., OF, Bakersfield, Calif.)
- Christie Nieto
(Jr., 1B-OF, Yorba Linda, Calif.)
- Alexa Peterson
(Fr., UT, Salem, Ore.)
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 College Softball: www.ultimatecollegesoftball.com
Season RPI Ratings: http://warrennolan.com/softballl
2011 OREGON SOFTBALL ROSTER / PRONUNCIATIONS
NUMERICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Ht. Yr. Hometown (H.S./College)
00 Samantha Pappas
OF L/R 5-10 So. Las Flores, Calif. (Tesoro)
1 Cortney Kivett
IF L/R 5-3 Sr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
2 Allie Burger
OF L/R 5-3 So. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
3 Kaylan Howard
2B R/R 5-4 So. Riverside, Calif. (Poly)
4 Lauren Kotz
OF R/R 5-7 Fr. Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)
5 Lindsey Chambers
IF R/R 5-4 Jr. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
7 Sam Skillingstad RHP R/R 5-10 Jr. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
8 Kelsey Chambers
IF R/R 5-4 Jr. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
9 Mikayla Endicott
RHP R/R 5-7 Jr. Roseburg, Ore. (RHS)
11 Ashley Kivett
C R/R 5-4 Sr. Yucaipa, Calif. (YHS)
12 Jessica Moore
RHP R/R 5-10 So. Sutter, Calif. (Sutter)
13 Kaitlin Vitek
UT R/R 5-8 Sr. Valencia, Calif. (Hart)
14 Alexa Peterson
UT R/R 5-8 Fr. Salem, Ore. (South)
15 Monique Fuiava
IF R/R 5-8 Sr. Las Vegas, Nev (Mojave)
17 Christie Nieto
UT L/L 5-9 Jr. Yorba Linda, Calif. (El Dorado)
22 Courtney Ceo
IF L/R 5-8 Fr. Meadow Vista, Calif. (Bear River)
27 Jordan Reeves
C R/R 5-8 Jr. Fairbanks, Alaska (Lathrop)
33 Kailee Cuico
IF R/R 5-6 Fr. San Pedro, Calif. (SPHS)
35 Brittany Rumfelt
LHP L/L 5-8 Sr. Lakeport, Calif. (Clear Lake)
** PRONUNCIATION GUIDE **
Courtney Ceo
(CEE-oh), Kailee Cuico
(KIE-lee QWEE-co), Mikayla Endicott
(mih-KAY-lah IN-dih-cot), Monique Fuiava
(foo-EE-ah-vah, Ashley & Courtney Kivett (KIHV-et), Lauren Kotz
(COAT-s), Christie Nieto
(nee-ET-oh), Samantha Skillingstad
(SKILL-ing-stad), Kaitlin Vitek
(VEE-tek)
ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
# Name Pos. B/T Ht. Yr. Hometown (H.S./College)
2 Allie Burger
OF L/R 5-3 So. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
22 Courtney Ceo
IF L/R 5-8 Fr. Meadow Vista, Calif. (Bear River)
8 Kelsey Chambers
IF R/R 5-4 Jr. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
5 Lindsey Chambers
IF R/R 5-4 Jr. Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
33 Kailee Cuico
IF R/R 5-6 Fr. San Pedro, Calif. (SPHS)
9 Mikayla Endicott
RHP R/R 5-7 Jr. Roseburg, Ore. (RHS)
15 Monique Fuiava
IF R/R 5-8 Sr. Las Vegas, Nev (Mojave)
3 Kaylan Howard
2B R/R 5-4 So. Riverside, Calif. (Poly)
11 Ashley Kivett
C R/R 5-4 Sr. Yucaipa, Calif. (YHS)
1 Cortney Kivett
IF L/R 5-3 Sr. Yucaipa, Calif. (Yucaipa)
4 Lauren Kotz
OF R/R 5-7 Fr. Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)
12 Jessica Moore
RHP R/R 5-10 So. Sutter, Calif. (Sutter)
17 Christie Nieto
UT L/L 5-9 Jr. Yorba Linda, Calif. (El Dorado)
00 Samantha Pappas
OF L/R 5-10 So. Las Flores, Calif. (Tesoro)
14 Alexa Peterson
UT R/R 5-8 Fr. Salem, Ore. (South)
27 Jordan Reeves
C R/R 5-8 Jr. Fairbanks, Alaska (Lathrop)
35 Brittany Rumfelt
LHP L/L 5-8 Sr. Lakeport, Calif. (Clear Lake)
7 Sam Skillingstad RHP R/R 5-10 Jr. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
13 Kaitlin Vitek
UT R/R 5-8 Sr. Valencia, Calif. (Hart)
Head Coach: Mike White
, 2nd Season
Assistant Coach: Lisa Dodd
(2nd Season)
Assistant Coaches: Blake Miller
(1st Season)
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Julie Strand
(1st Season)
Managers: Garrett Gilchrist, John Mitchell
Athletic Trainers: Melissa Gresham, Clay Jamieson
SQUAD BREAKDOWN
BY CLASS
Seniors: 5
Juniors: 6
Sophomores: 4
Freshmen: 4
BY POSITION
Infielders: 8
Outfielders: 7
Pitchers; 4
Catchers: 3
BY STATE
California: 13
Oregon: 2
Washington: 2
Alaska: 1
Nevada: 1
AT BAT
Right/Left: 13/6
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS
(# of letters): Monique Fuiava
(3), Ashley Kivett
(2), Cortney Kivett
(3), Brittany Rumfelt
(3), Kaitlin Vitek
(3), Kelsey Chambers
(2), Lindsey Chambers
(2), Mikayla Endicott
(2), Samantha Skillingstad
(2), Allie Burger
(1), Kaylan Howard
(1), Jessica Moore
(1), Samantha Pappas
(1). Letterwinners Lost (2): Hannah Barril
(4), Neena Bryant
(4),Shelley Deadmond
(3), Carlyn Re
(4) Blair Williamson
(4)
- www.GoDucks.com -
