For the second consecutive season, the Oregon softball team will be the only Pacific-10 Conference team not selected to make an appearance at the NCAA Tournament.
Although the team posted a 22-11 record outside of the Pac-10, the Ducks were 2-19 against the other seven teams in what is regarded as the best softball conference in the nation. Oregon State (38-23), the lowest ranked team in the conference, received a No. 2 seed in one of the eight first round regionals of the NCAA Tournament. Washington (43-16), Arizona (48-10) and UCLA (50-6) all were given No. 1 seeds, while Arizona State (40-18) and Stanford (43-18) earned No. 2 slots. California (48-19) received a No. 3 seed.
“Aside from wins and losses, I was pleased with the team’s efforts this season,” Oregon interim head coach Brent Rincon said. “In light of everything, it turned into a pretty good learning experience. We actually had a lot of growth not only in individuals, but also as a team — that includes not just playing growth but also personal growth and camaraderie growth.”
Heading into its 2002 Pac-10 season, Oregon had won nine of 11 games but in their first Pac-10 game against Oregon State on March 29, the Ducks hit a brick wall. Although the games against many of the top teams in the nation were close, the Ducks couldn’t manage a win in their conference until they faced Arizona State on April 27. The margin of victory in nine of Oregon’s 19 Pac-10 losses was two runs.

“I think we demonstrated that we can play with pretty much any body in the country, but we need to retool our intensity and our preparation to compete at this level,” Rincon said.
Although the team was outmatched in many of its games, Oregon battled until the end, winning their last game over No. 8 Stanford, 4-0.
“I think the last day of the season shows the resiliency these players have; they really did work and try right to the very end which is demonstrated by out last game victory,” Rincon said.
The Ducks were coming off a 2001 season that included the resignation of head coach Rick Gamez for financial issues, the mid-season departure of one starter and a 28-40 overall record. The 2001 team was 1-20 in the Pac-10. Two other players left the team prior to the 2002 season to go play for other schools.
“They had a difficult season last year and we had a difficult season this year wins and losses wise, but it wasn’t subjugated to some of the internal problems that transpired last year,” Rincon said. “This is a team that really got along well and really cared about each other.”
Oregon’s top two hitters, second baseman Alyssa Laux and first baseman Andrea Vidlund, both finished with a .320 batting average and a team-high 49 hits. Vidlund, who led the team in home runs (9), RBI (39), total bases (82), slugging percentage (.536) and walks (17), was named second-team All-Pac-10. Laux earned honorable mention All-conference honors.
Both Laux and Vidlund will be returning for one final season for Oregon as only Connie McMurren and Kristi Hall will graduate. Already five newcomers have signed letters of intent for Oregon to join next year’s squad, but the future for head coach Rincon is less definite.
Because Rincon was only hired on an interim basis, the Oregon Athletic Department has opened a national search for next year’s team and Rincon is one of 40 applicants. With the deadline for applications not until the end of May, senior associate Athletic Director Dave Heeke expects more to come.
“Brent has done an outstanding job this season and if he is interested, he will be considered for the position,” Heeke said.
“I would just be excited about the opportunity to get the job on a permanent basis,” Rincon said. “I don’t believe anything is owed to me by the administration certainly, but I hope our efforts this season are recognized.
“There were some good relationships that were established with coaches and players, and I would like to see it through. I feel like we did a lot of work — not just softball work but team-type work and some academic work. And so, because of that, I would like to stay here and see that through and restore Oregon back to some heights that they haven’t attained.”