No.15 Ducks San Luis Obispo-Bound For Last Tourney
*Updated season / career stats are available via the link above.
THIS WEEKEND'S MUSTANG CLASSIC SOFTBALL ACTION
Host:
Cal Poly (San Luis
Obispo, Calif.) - Bob Janssen Field
Teams:
Cal Poly (3-19), UNLV
(14-9), Fairfield (7-8)
Tournament Website:
http://gopoly.com/index.php?p=sports_info&cat_sport=29991&id=105946
Fri., March 25
-
UNLV (14-9), 12:30 p.m.
-
Cal Poly (3-19), 3 p.m.
Sat., March 26
- Fairfield
(7-8), 10 a.m.
- UNLV
(14-9), 12:30 p.m.
Sun., March 27
- Cal
Poly (3-19), 11 a.m.
SETTING THE STAGE
Capping one of its finest non-conference slates ever, the No. 15 University of Oregon softball team (24-4) heads to the Mustang Classic in San Luis Obispo, Calif., for its final regular season tournament of the season.
Oregon comes off a doubleheader sweep at Portland State Wednesday with 8-3 and 4-2 comebacks to run its current win streak to eight games. Last weekend it went 4-0 in Eugene at Howe Field with 6-1 and 6-2 wins over Weber State, and 11-3 and 9-0 decisions over Utah State.
Since February, the Ducks have been 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 a week away in Seattle against the returning Pac-10 champions - No. 6 Washington - Oregon is in the thick of the standings for the 'Conference of Champions' that features seven of the league's eight teams ranked top 15 nationally this week.
RECENT HEROES
On Wednesday, senior Monique Fuiava knocked in her fourth and fifth straight game-winning RBI's at PSU via the long ball. The Las Vegas prep product hit a two-out, fourth-inning grand slam in the first game, then connected on a three-run blast with two outs in the seventh inning in the night-cap. She now is tied for eighth all-time for UO in career homers (24) with former Duck Ann Marie Topps.
On the mound vs. the Vikings senior Brittany Rumfelt (2-0) struck out seven, allowed three hits and walked one in her first complete game of 2011. In the second game, junior Mikayla Endicott (3-2) got the win for her scoreless 3.1 innings in relief.
Last weekend, sophomore Jessica Moore (12-2) pitched UO's 18th no-hitter vs. the Wildcats, and came back with her eighth career shutout vs. the Aggies (and now ranks 10th all-time for UO). Senior starter Brittany Rumfelt and junior Mikayla Endicott yielded only one hit in the other game vs. Weber State, and junior Samantha Skillingstad (7-0) tied her career-high in strikeouts (12) vs. Utah State.
At the plate vs. Weber, seven different Ducks homered in the two tilts. Against the Aggies, freshman Kailee Cuico tied former All-American Kathy Stahl's school record for doubles in a game (3) and led the team to a game record (7), too.
For the weekend, two Ducks hit .500 - senior Monique Fuiava (4-for-8, 3 doubles, 5 RBI) and Cuico (4-for-8, 5 RBI), and seven others topped .300 - freshman Courtney Ceo (.429, 6H, 5 RBI, 2 HR, 2 SB), sophomore Kaylan Howard (.429, 1 2B, 1 HR), Peterson (.429, 1 2B), sophomore Allie Burger (.364), junior Lindsey Chambers (.333, 1 HR), sophomore Samantha Pappas (.300, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and junior Kelsey Chambers (.300, 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI).
SERIES HISTORY
Among this weekend's opponents, the Ducks own a combined 7-1 record all-time vs. Cal Poly (3-1) and UNLV (4-0), and will meet Fairfield for the first time.
In past trips to Las Vegas, UO beat UNLV, 7-1, in 2008; 10-1 and 5-1 in 2007; 3-1 in 2004; and 6-4 in 2002. UO beat Cal Poly 2-0 in San Diego last year; won 14-4 in Tempe in 2008; lost 8-5 in 2002; and won 2-1 in 1995.
Against UNLV in '08, Cortney Kivett went 3-for-5, and Kaitlin Vitek stroked her first collegiate hit.
Against Cal Poly last year, Jessica Moore struck out 12 in the complete game, Kelsey Chambers , Samantha Pappas and Kaylan Howard each went 1-for-3, and Kaitlin Vitek got the game-winning RBI on a fourth-inning sacrifice fly. In the '08 meeting in Palm Springs, the freshman trio of Monique Fuiava , Cortney Kivett and Brittany Rumfelt led the way. Fuiava hit her first career grand slam, Kivett went 2-for-4 in the lead-off spot, and Brittany Rumfelt won her first career start by scattering 11 hits in five innings.
HOME SWEET HOWE
Last weekend's home-opening 4-0 mark continued head coach Mike White 's Howe Field magic. In 2010, the Ducks went 14-5 in the friendly confines after it rattled off a 12-0 start, then staked at least one win in every home series against the nation's top conference. Oregon's perfect early run included its 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.
FURTHER UP DOWN THE ROAD
In next week's three-game series in Seattle, UO kicks off Pac-10 play 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.
UO looks forward to its first Pac-10 games at home against Arizona State, Friday-Sunday, April 8-10. After a three-game stand at California (Fri.-Sun., April 15-17), UO renews its Civil War series against Oregon State in Eugene, Thu.-Sat., April 21-23. Oregon's final away Pac-10 series is at eight-time national champion Arizona (Fri.-Sun., April 29-May 1). The Ducks close the regular season at home with three-game sets vs. Stanford (Fri.-Sun., May 6-8) and UCLA (Thu.-Sat., May 12-14).
RECENT DUCK STARTERS (2011/'10/Career
Starts)
C:
Ashley Kivett
(8/46/134), Alexa Peterson
(21/-/21)
1B:
Monique Fuiava
(20/56/184), Kailee Cuico
(18/-/18)
2B:
Kaylan Howard
(23/56/79), Courtney Ceo
(19/-/19)
SS:
Courtney Ceo
(25/-/25), Kelsey Chambers
(26/57/132)
3B:
Cortney
Kivett (6/38/156), Courtney Ceo
(25/-/25)
RF:
Samantha Pappas
(23/57/80), Christie Nieto
(17/-/17)
CF:
Samantha Pappas
(23/57/80), Allie Burger
(26/56/82)
LF:
Kaitlin Vitek
(20/24/77), Kailee Cuico
(18/-/18)
IN THE POLLS
In this week's seventh NFCA and USA Softball polls of the season, the Ducks were tabbed 15th and 16th , respectively, for the second straight week.
In this week's two polls, 10 Duck foes this season ranked top 25 (NFCA / USA SB) - Alabama (1/1), Washington (6/6), Arizona State (5/5), Arizona (9/9), UCLA (7/13), California (10/8), Stanford (13/12), Hawai'i (21/25), Louisiana-Lafayette (19/20) and Texas A&M (22/21).
Two other Duck opponents - BYU and North Carolina - each received votes in at least one poll.
Overall in the both editions, Alabama jumped to the top spot after it swept the former No. 1, Georgia, in a three-game series last weekend. Florida stood second in both; Michigan also moved into the top five for the first time and split the third and fourth spots with Georgia; and Arizona State stood fifth in both.
Oregon has now been ranked for 19 straight editions by USA Softball and 14 straight polls by the NFCA. UO's week-by-week NFCA/USA SB rankings this year follow: 3/16 (16/15), 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.
PAC-10 RANKINGS
Junior Samantha Skillingstad again paced the Pac-10 this week in opposing batting average (.153), while the Ducks led the league in batters struck out (235), strikeouts looking (69) 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 -Sacrifice Flies, 2nd , 3
Allie Burger - Stolen Bases, 7th , 9
Samantha Pappas - Stolen Bases, 8th , 7
Courtney Ceo - Batting, 10th , .434; Triples,
Individual - Pitching
- Opposing Batting Avg., 1st ,
- ERA, 4th , 1.38
- Strikeouts, 6th , 82
- Struck Out Looking, 7th , 22
- Appearances - 9th , 15
- ERA, 2nd , 0.98
- Batters Struck Out Looking, 2nd , 37
- Wins, 3rd -t, 12
- Saves, 3rd -t, 1; Starts, 3rd , 14
- Strikeouts, 4th , 100
- Opposing Batting Avg. - 4th , .174.
- Innings, 7th , 78.2
- Appearances, 8th , 17
Saves, 3rd -t, 1
Games in Relief, 3rd , 11
- Games in Relief, 6th , 8
Team - Hitting (leader)
Sacrifice Flies - 2nd , 7
Sacrifice Bunts - 3rd , 15
Stolen Bases - 4th , 37
Home Runs - 4th , 39
Triples - 5th , 2
Hits - 6th , 206
Batting - 6th , .316
Slugging - 6th , .543
On-Base Percentage - 6th , .389
Runs - 6th , 162
RBI - 6th , 136
Doubles - 6th , 27
Team - Pitching
Strikeouts - 1st , 235
Batters Struck Out Looking - 1st , 69
Opposing Batting Average - 2nd , .178
ERA - 2nd , 1.54
Home Runs Allowed - 3rd , 6,
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT INFO
UNLV Rebels (14-9)
Website: www.unlvrebels.com
Game times: Fri., 3/25 - 12:30 p.m.; Sat., 3/26 - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Founded: 1957
Enrollment: 28,000
Colors: Scarlet & Grey
Conference: Mountain West
Head Coach: Pete Manarino
Career Record (Years): 902-546-2 (26th year)
Record at School: 59-38 (3rd year)
Assistants: Maggie Liveri, Kim Martin, Kendall Fearn
2010 Overall Record: 14-8
2010 Conference Record: 0-0
Series Record: UO leads, 4-0
Top UNLV Players / 2011 Stats
Tayler Aleman So., IF - .500, 22 H, 6 2B, 4 HR, 14 RBI
Stefany Valentino, Fr., OF - .381, 24 H, 5 2B, 4 HR, 14 BB
Ashli Holland, Sr., 2B - .353, 30 H, 7 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI
Tayler Van Acker, Fr., 1B - .353, 18 H, 3 2B
Elena Fata, RSo., IF - .310, 13 H
Amanda Oliveto, Fr., RHP - 1.87, 11-3, 93.2IP, 85SO, 27BB, 86H
Kylie Wagner, Jr., LHP - 4.24 ERA, 1-2, 34.2 IP, 23 SO, 15 BB, 43 H
Jessica O'Connor, Jr., RHP - 7.57 ERA, 1-4, 28.2 IP, 28.2 IP, 19 SO, 17 BB, 39 H
Cal Poly Mustangs (3-19)
Game times: Fri., 3/25 - 3 p.m.; Sun., 3/27 - 11 a.m.
Website: www.GoPoly.com
Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Founded: 1901
Enrollment: 19, 471
Colors: Forest Green, Copper, Vegas Gold
Conference: Big West
Head Coach: Jenny Condon
Career Record (Years): 192-133 (7th year)
Record at School: Same
Assistants: Claire Sua-Amundson, Ani Nyhus
2010 Overall Record: 23-24
2010 Conference Record: 12-9
Series Record: UO leads, 3-1
Top Cal Poly Players / 2011 Stats
Nora Sobczak, Jr., OF - .355, 11 H,
Kim Westlund, Fr., IF - .307, 23 H, 4 SB
Anna Cahn, Sr., DP - .276, 16 H, 8 HR, 16 RBI
Nicole Lund, Jr., OF - .266, 17 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Ashley Romano, Fr., IF - .206, 13 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Trista Thomas, So., RHP - 5.28 ERA, 1-2, 15.1 IP, 6 SO, 23 BB, 16 H
Anna Cahn, Sr., LHP - 5.95 ERA, 1-6, 59 IP, 50 SO, 26 BB, 68 H
Rebecca Patton, So., RHP - 7.70 ERA, 1-11, 69 IP, 50 SO, 28 BB, 100 H
Fairfield Stags (7-8)
Game time: Sat., 3/26 - 10 a.m.
Website: www.fairfieldstags.com
Location: Fairfield, Conn.
Founded: 1942
Enrollment: 3,300
Conference: Metro Atlantic
Head Coach: Julie Brzezinski
Career Record: 612-547-5
Record at School: 367-352-5 (14th year)
2010 Overall Record: 24-22
2010 Postseason: Regional: DNQ
Series Record: First Meeting
Top Fairfield Players / 2011 Stats
Alli Wigand - .326, 14 H, 1 HR
Kristina Lingo, Sr., 1B/OF - .310, 13 H, 4 2B, 13 RBI
Lauren Liseth, Fr., IF - .304, 14 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Kristen Filicia, Fr., IF - .268, 11 H, 4 2B
Sarah Minice, Sr., RHP - 2.50 ERA, 3-3, 42 IP, 35 SO, 16 BB, 46 H
Rebecca Trott, Fr., RHP - 2.85 ERA, 2-1, 19.2 IP, 17 SO, 8 BB, 16 H
Rae Ball, Fr., RHP - 6.05 ERA, 2-1, 22 IP, 9 SO, 3 BB, 34 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).
ON THE CHARTS
The past week, senior Monique Fuiava improved two spots on the Oregon all-time career homer list to eighth (24-tied), and sophomore Jessica Moore took sole possession of 10th place all-time in career shutouts (8). Here other are sightings on Oregon all-time lists and improvements to watch for:
UO CAREER LEADERS
Strikeouts
5, Samantha Skillingstad - 373 (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 - 82 (8th is 114, 7th is 119)
Shutouts
10, Jessica Moore - 8 (9th is 9, 8th is 10)
11, Samantha Skillingstad - 7 (9th is 9, 8th is 10)
Home Runs
8t, Monique Fuiava - 24 (7th is 25, 6th is 26, 5th is 31)
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
10t, 5 - Monique Fuiava, at PSU, 3/23/11
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.
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.
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 290 games (134/156) 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 29 homers (20 / 9) 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
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)
NATIONAL POLLS (3/17) - Week #6
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
http://www.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=3208
Rk Team Record Totals Prev
*1. Alabama (16) 29-1 496 2
2. Florida (4) 29-1 482 3
3. Michigan 29-2 444 6
4. Georgia 23-4 434 1
*5. Arizona State 30-2 431 5
*6. Washington 23-2 385 4
7. Oklahoma 26-7 351 8
*8. California 21-3 342 9
*9. Arizona 26-6 337 7
10. Texas 24-3 308 14
11. Tennessee 23-4 296 T11
*12. Stanford 17-3 292 10
T13. Missouri 22-3 273 13
*T13. UCLA 20-5 273 T11
15. Baylor 24-4 204 15
>16. Oregon 22-4 201 16
17. Oklahoma State 25-6 175 18
18. Nebraska 24-3 174 17
19. Texas Tech 35-1 119 22
*20. ULL 17-10 105 19
*21. Texas A&M 26-7 91 23
22. Auburn 25-4 81 24
23. Kentucky 19-6 59 21
24. LSU 17-12 39 25
*25. Hawaii 22-9 32 20
Others receiving votes: Georgia Tech (26); Notre Dame (14); *BYU (9); Fresno State (9); Syracuse (7); UAB (4); SC Upstate (4); Kansas (2); Long Beach State (1)
Dropped Out: None
New to Poll: None
Parenthesis denotes first place votes.
* Denotes Duck opponents in 2011
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll
http://nfca.org/top25/index.php?cat_id=1
Rk Team Record Totals Prev
*1 Alabama 29-1 744 3
2 Florida 30-1 723 2
3 Georgia 23-4 664 1
4 Michigan 29-2 659 5
*5 Arizona State 30-2 620 6
*6 Washington 22-2 609 4
*7 UCLA 20-5 529 8
8 Texas 24-3 524 12
*9 Arizona 26-6 516 7
*10 California 21-3 460 10
11 Tennessee 23-4 443 11
12 Oklahoma 26-7 437 9
*13 Stanford 17-3 391 13
14 Nebraska 24-3 361 14
>15 Oregon 22-4 337 15
16 Missouri 22-3 303 17
17 Baylor 24-4 259 18
18 Oklahoma State 25-6 218 20
*19 La.-Lafayette 24-5 208 19
20 Texas Tech 35-1 180 21
*21 Hawai'i 22-9 143 16
*22 Texas A&M 26-7 133 22
23 Auburn 25-4 113 23
24 Kentucky 19-6 56 24
25 LSU 17-12 29 25
Others Receiving Votes: Georgia Tech 14, Syracuse 10, Kansas 9, Fresno St. 8, *BYU 5, S.C. Upstate 2, Long Beach St. 1, *North Carolina 1, Notre Dame 1
Dropped Out: None
-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 2011
- www.GoDucks.com -
