After a record-breaking 2010 season, the Oregon women’s softball team will begin the long road back to the postseason Thursday afternoon at Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
The No. 14 Ducks, who advanced to their first NCAA Super Regionals last spring, will see a few other top 25 teams this weekend. On Thursday, they’ll meet up with fellow Super Regional advancer in No. 16 BYU, followed by a contest with No. 21 Texas A&M on Friday.
The Kajikawa Classic is the first of four consecutive road tournaments Oregon will participate in over the next month, and according to second-year head coach Mike White, the Ducks have plenty to prove in the early season.
“Depends on how we all bring it together and how we start off,” White said. “That’s the big thing, knowing the strength of the Pac-10 schedule, that we have to really make a good impression to start off the first four or five weekends.”
Oregon returns eight of its nine position starters from last season, while the entire pitching staff also returns intact. The Ducks’ lone departure from the starting lineup, center fielder Neena Bryant, could be felt in more ways than one.
“Not only her bat, but her center field prowess out there,” White said of Bryant. “She was very good, but we’re hoping Christie Nieto, a junior transfer coming in, will pick up some of that slack.”
Nieto, an All-American infielder last season at Mt. San Antonio College in Los Angeles, will help boost the batting order after leading the conference in doubles (21) and walks (27), and ranked second in hitting (.481) and third in hits (63) as a sophomore last season.
In the outfield, however, White has tried a couple different combinations in the center field spot, which sophomore Allie Burger earned the starting nod at this offseason. Burger started 56 of Oregon’s 57 games last season in left field, and has the speed to cover a lot of territory in the outfield.
Fellow sophomore Sam Pappas, who started all 57 games in right field a year ago, has also seen some action in center with the edge over Burger in arm strength. White said he likes having Pappas in right field with her quick release and ability to throw runners out at first base.
On the infield, all five position starters return with Monique Fuiava (first base), Kaylan Howard (second base), Kelsey Chambers (shortstop), Cortney Kivett (third base), and Ashley Kivett and Kaitlin Vitek who split time at catcher last season.
“We can’t be the underdogs anymore,” Howard said, who was second on the team with nine home runs last season. “They do know that we’re there and we’re going to fight. We’re a pretty scrappy team.”
In addition to Nieto, the Ducks also welcome four freshmen into the mix. Infielder Courtney Ceo, ultility player Kailee Cuico, outfielder Lauren Kotz, and utility player Alexa Peterson will each be competing for playing time this season.
White was particularly high on Ceo, a prep Under Armour All-America infielder at Bear River High School in Meadow Vista, Calif., who could break into the starting lineup this weekend.
“She’s still young, but she’s got all the tools to be a very good player,” White said. “She’s got speed, athleticism, throws the ball extremely hard overhand … it’s just a matter how quickly she adapts to the college D-I series.”
Ceo will have her work cut out for her competing with Kelsey Chambers who started all 57 games at shortstop last season. The freshman said she’s enjoyed getting to know her teammates and the daily pressure to improve in practice, but is more than ready to get the season underway.
“Little bit of nerves just wondering how it’s really going to be like when we really get into like Pac play,” Ceo said. “But good nerves. Excited, ready to be out here, ready to play and be a part of the team.”
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