There were some lofty goals set in the beginning — such as jumping every story in the Emerald.
Sometimes those goals are met, sometimes they’re not. Here’s the remainder of the Oregon softball season recap that got cut off yesterday:
Senior Jill Robinson found herself in the top-ten of four other career categories. She is sitting second with 35 doubles, one ahead of Lindsey Welch’s 34. Robinson’s 224 hits are good enough for third, while Welch’s 212 base-knocks puts her in fourth.
Welch and Robinson are also 1-2 in runs batted in. Welch’s 145 ribbies are No. 1, while Robinson’s 136 are second all-time. Robinson is No. 1 in career at-bats as well with 762.
The three seniors will leave a gaping hole in the program on and off the field. But Connie McMurren is confident that the trio of freshmen who saw significant time this season are ready to step up their play next season and fill the shoes of the departed leaders.
“You can’t replace the seniors because both on and off the field they were leaders,” McMurren said.
One of the freshmen that epitomized the idea of what experience and confidence will do for her game was pitcher/outfielder Andrea Vidlund. Coming in as a highly-touted recruit, Vidlund had the look of a stunned deer in the headlights early on. As the season wore on, though, she gained more confidence from competing at the Pac-10 level.
Vidlund’s pitching record showed her growth throughout the season. Her 17-8 record was the best on the team and she pitched some important games down the stretch.
Oregon will welcome four new faces next season and Gamez is very pleased with the class that features two transfers and two freshmen.
Shortstop Kate Peterson from Utah and outfielder Lisa Wangler are the team’s freshmen. Kristi Hall, from Sacramento, and Texas Tech’s Lindsey Heij round out the class as the transfers.