2006 Softball Roster
Roster
Dani Baird
- Position:
- Outfielder
- Height:
- 5-4
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Sedro-Wooley HS
- Hometown:
- Mt. Vernon, Wash.
2005 ? Continued her role as one of the teams most consistent players despite sharing time in right field. Started 36 games and committed just one error throughout the season while also being a more consistent offensive presence. After starting 51 games as a junior in 2004, Baird came out strong in 2005 and was named to the all-tournament team in the Ducks’ first trip of the season after going 6-for-11 with four RBI, one home run and a double. Also began the season with at least one RBI in six of the first seven games. As preseason play came to a close, Baird’s 2-for-3, one run performance against Portland State was key as Oregon went on to win 2-1. Two weeks later, Baird hit an RBI line drive in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Oregon to a 4-3 win over Drake in the Las Vegas Tournament. Perhaps her best offensive day came vs. the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson, where she went 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Ducks. Later scored the lone run in a 5-1 loss at Stanford and went on to start two games in the postseason. Continued to be a leader both on and off the field and earned first-team Pac-10 all-academic honors (3.57, Communications).
2004 ? Used the offseason prior to her sophomore year to improve her speed and strength and the work paid dividends as Baird became a 51-game starter for the Ducks in 2004. After playing in just two of Oregon’s final 10 games of the 2003 season primarily as a pinch runner, Baird returned as a sophomore and started in Oregon’s first 11 games of the season and during that span she was second on the team in RBI (nine) and also had two doubles ? the first of her career. Primarily starting in left field (29 games), Baird’s versatility showed as she also started nine games in right field and one in center field. Defensively, she committed just one error all season and offensively she improved in every statistical category from her freshman year, including average (.237), runs (12), home runs (2), RBI (20) and doubles (2). After being held hitless in the Ducks’ first three games of the season and most of the 2003 season, Baird’s offense came to life in a big way as her first hit since Feb. 8, 2003 was a two-run double to deep center field against Iowa State Feb. 7 at the Florida International Tournament. The following weekend, Baird did much of the same, finishing the Fiesta Bowl Tournament with five RBI and a double. The first-team Pac-10 all-academic honoree (3.52, Pre-Journalism) wrapped up the preseason by going 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored vs. Kansas and two days later when Oregon opened conference play against Oregon State, Baird was key in the Ducks’ 9-8 win, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored. In fact, Baird dominated Oregon State’s pitching staff in all three games as a sophomore, going 5-for-8 (.625) with three runs scored and three RBI. And against defending national champion California, Baird hit .571 and had two RBI and a run scored in three appearances vs. the Golden Bears. Not one to miss an opportunity, Baird was a perfect 3-for-3 when batting with the bases loaded (eight RBI) and also did her part to get on base early, hitting .324 when leading off an inning.
2003 ? Played in 33 games as a freshman, primarily as a pinch runner. Did start a string of six consecutive games, including starts vs. then-No. 9 Florida State, then-No. 17 Georgia and then-No. 4 Michigan. Walked once vs. the Seminoles and went on to score a pivotal run as the Ducks narrowly defeated them 3-1. Also scored the winning run in a 2-1 victory over Georgia Tech Mar. 7. Had her best offensive performance vs. Florida A&M, finishing the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Defensively, Baird was also consistent, committing just two errors all season.
High School ? A four-year letterwinner in softball and soccer this well-rounded athlete also competed for two seasons in basketball while at Sedro-Woolley High School...Her team was third at the 3A state Championships in 2002...Earned all-league honors for her play at second base and was a three-time all area second baseman as well...Played for Eve Gaw and Shelly Brown on the Washington Ladyhawks.
Personal ? Born January 31, 1984 in Seattle, Wash. Parents are Danny and Pamela Baird. One brother, Jon Baird. Major: Communications.
