For any other sport, the season would probably be over already.
But 35 games is only the preseason for the No. 24 Oregon softball team.
After participating in four tournaments since the beginning of February, the Ducks are a mediocre 20-15, far below many expectations after last season’s trip to the NCAA Tournament.
“We started off a little rocky and had a few more losses than we had hoped,” sophomore pitcher Andrea Vidlund said. “But we’ve done better lately and have come together as a team.”
Oregon lacks a solid core of seniors, but that doesn’t mean the Ducks are inexperienced. Nine Ducks return to the lineup this season, with seniors Kelly Planche and Triawn Custer leading the charge. Custer led the team in 2000 with a .331 average and was named to the Pacific-10 Conference second-team.
Junior Connie McMurren, the team’s ace who posted a 1.79 ERA last season, and Vidlund are the team’s top hurlers. McMurren is 8-5 so far, while Vidlund is 7-3.
Of the nine newcomers, sophomore Lisa Wangler has stood out as a key figure, leading the team in batting average, runs scored and total bases. She was also effective on the mound, picking up several big victories.
Overall, though, the transfer from Mesa, Ariz., said she expected more early on.
“I was pretty surprised by the way we came out,” Wangler said of the preseason. “I thought we would do better. But we’re staying positive, and we’ll get better.”
Offensively, the Ducks had problems with consistency at the plate during the preseason, but they expect that to come around as the season progresses.
“The offense was a little short to start, but it’s picked up quite a bit lately,” Vidlund said. “We just need to try to think of it as a battle and good out as hard as we can.
“I think we’re going to be fine.”
Oregon finished tied for last in the conference standings last season with a 6-15 record, but head coach Rick Gamez did lead the team to its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a No. 19 ranking at the end of the season.
Although they’ve started slowly, the Ducks expect nothing less than another NCAA Tournament appearance and are hoping to reach the College World Series for the first time since 1989.
But getting past their Pac-10 foes will continue to be an uphill climb: The Pac-10 boasts the best teams in the nation.
All of the teams in the Pac-10 are ranked in the top 25, with five teams in the top 10. UCLA (29-0) and Arizona (28-0) fill out the nation’s top two spots, respectively. Conference coaches projected that the Bruins and Wildcats would share the conference crown this season.
The Ducks face Arizona on March 30 in the home opener at Howe Field.
“I don’t really know what to expect,” Wangler said about facing the nation’s top teams for the first time. “I try not to think about it too much. It’s just a huge privilege to be here, and I’m really excited to play them.”