The Oregon softball team is going back to basics.
Coming off a season in which the Ducks finished 24-29 and last in the Pac-10 at 4-17, batted .254 as a team, failed to produce even a single run in 11 games and managed just one run in five others, who could blame them?
Oregon instituted an entirely new offensive philosophy this offseason, molded in part from UCLA’s philosophy, in hopes of turning around its fortunes from last year.
Oregon assistant coach J. Gaudreau researched the new hitting approach, worked with the players’ vision and broke down each player’s swing, step by step.
“We started in the fall and just took it piece by piece and eventually added it all in,” junior outfielder Lovena Chaput said. “For a couple of weeks, we didn’t even get to swing fully.
“Everybody bought into it. That’s the biggest thing. Nobody complained about changing and we all just worked hard…Getting the new hitting style and knowing we struggled last year, I think that’s the reason we bought into everything so easily.”
For some players, such as second baseman Suzie Barnes, the leading hitter from last year’s squad with a .320 average, the new hitting philosophy has catered to her strengths.
“I enjoy it,” Barnes said. “Generally, we’re a defensive team in the past. This year, we’re going to step up our offense hopefully quite a bit all around throughout the lineup and use more slapping and incorporate the small game.”
So far Oregon coach Kathy Arendsen likes what she sees with the new approach.
“It has worked really well with this group,” Arendsen said. “I believe we’re going to be strong offensively. It’s increased our power. It’s increased our contact.”
Combined with a more aggressive base running style, Arendsen said, “I expect we’re going to see more stolen bases and better taking advantage of situations.”
The first test comes Friday in the Kajikawa Tournament in Tempe, Ariz. Oregon starts out on the road for the first five weeks of the season before the home opener on March 16 against Utah State. Arendsen said the schedule last season was the third toughest in the nation and “too ambitious” as the Ducks faced eight ranked opponents before entering Pac-10 play. This year Oregon does not have a guaranteed ranked opponent on the schedule until facing No. 14 Georgia in a Hawaii tournament on March 1.
The Ducks open the season today in the first round of the Kajikawa Tournament against Florida, a team the Ducks beat twice last season. Oregon also takes on Long Beach State on today.
Two Oregon freshmen are set to make their debuts. Redshirt freshman Jen Salling, a member of the Canadian National Team, takes over at shortstop for Breanne Sabol and Neena Bryant will start in right field after senior Kayleen Hudson suffered a season-ending stress fracture in her right foot.
“Losing Kayleen Hudson…someone who’s played significant time for us over the last three years, is a real jolt,” said Arendsen, who added that Hudson is available for a medical redshirt.
Arendsen expects Salling and Bryant to bat in the third and fourth spots in the lineup.
“Those two freshmen are going to be huge for us,” Arendsen said.
The Ducks retain three other seniors aside from Hudson, the first class to sign with Arendsen at Oregon, and the majority of its offensive firepower from a year ago. That includes Barnes, the triples leader and average leader at .320, Chaput, the doubles leader and total bases leader, Sari-Jane Jenkins, the hits leader, and the home run leader, Joanna Gail, who had six last season.
That’ll help out a relatively young pitching staff that loses Amy Harris from last season. Harris pitched a team-high 116 innings and managed a 1.99 ERA in 27 appearances. Close behind her was Melissa Rice who returns as a sophomore after going 8-5 last season in 113 innings in which she earned a 2.60 ERA 31 appearances.
Yet the ace of the staff, Arendsen said, is junior Alicia Cook, who battled eligibility issues last winter, which put her behind schedule. She started just 14 appearances last year, accumulating a 5-11 record and a 3.36 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched. Elise Orange figures into the rotation as well on a limited basis.
“Losing Amy, obviously a proven performer, is tough but Cook being eligible this year is such a blessing because we could really work with her with the idea that she’s going to throw next weekend,” Arendsen said. “She’s a talented pitcher, who I think is maturing daily. I think she understands that she’s the ace and she’s reacting that way.”
The pitchers will run into another difficult Pac-10 Conference. All seven teams picked ahead of Oregon are ranked in the top 12 in the nation led by defending champion and preseason No. 1 Arizona.
“I say we’ll finish in the middle to the top. Why not? Shoot high, right?” Chaput said. “I don’t think we’ll be at the bottom because I think we’re a lot stronger this year pitching and our defense is going to be really solid.”
Oregon hopes to add offense this season to that list of strengths.
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