When the 2011 softball preseason rankings were released late last week, the Pacific-10 Conference slated seven teams in the top 25 nationally in both the USA Today/NFCA and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 polls.
Seven selections, the most by any conference, saw Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and Washington all are featured in the top 20. Defending national champion UCLA received 27 of 30 first place votes in the USA Today/NFCA poll, while national runner-up Arizona was tabbed second.
The Washington Huskies were picked tenth, followed by California at No. 12, Arizona State at No. 13, Oregon at No. 14, and Stanford at No. 20.
A couple days later, the Pac-10 coaches voted on where teams will finish within league play this season. UCLA and Arizona were the overwhelming favorites with 46 points and four first-place votes each. It was the second time the two teams have tied atop the preseason poll, having done so in 2001 and 2002.
The Bruins finished last season 50-11 overall and 14-7 in Pac-10 play. They return six starters and three pitchers for 2011, but will certainly have their hands full with other competition around the league. Arizona, coming off a 52-14 season and 13-8 showing in Pac-10 play, returns nine players from last season, including ace pitcher Kenzie Fowler.
Arizona State, picked to finish third in Pac-10 play, will be back on the hunt after winning the national championship in 2008. Despite finishing under .500 in conference play last season (10-11), the Sun Devils welcome back eight starters from last year’s NCAA Super Regional squad.
Another pair tied for fourth with California and Washington picking up 26 points each. Cal also reached the NCAA Super Regional last season to finish the year 44-19 and 10-11 in league play. The Huskies, however, took one of the biggest hits of any team in the conference with the graduation of senior pitcher Danielle Lawrie. Washington was knocked out of the College World Series by Arizona to end last season.
Coming in sixth in the preseason poll is the Stanford Cardinal with 22 points. The Cardinal returns 12 letter-winners from last year’s 37-19 squad, including All-American infielder Ashley Hansen.
Oregon and Oregon State rounded out the voting at seventh and eight, respectively. The Ducks tallied just one point less than Stanford, while the Beavers garnered seven points.
Oregon’s national ranking (No. 14) is the same slot they finished in a year ago, and will be looking to improve upon last season’s 36-21 regional finish. The Ducks return eight starters in the field after loosing senior center fielder Neena Bryant to graduation. Sophomore Allie Burger will fill that void in the outfield, while Oregon returns all four of its pitchers from a season ago in Mikayla Endicott, Jessica Moore, Brittany Rumfelt and Samantha Skillingstad.
Bottom-dweller Oregon State has a long way to go after ending 2010 with a 24-31 record overall and 4-17 showing in conference play. The Beavers return their top pitcher in junior Paige Hall, and speedy sophomore Lea Cavestany who had 13 stolen base last season.
Most teams will kick off the season next weekend, when Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State take the field Feb. 10. The Ducks will begin the season with a six-game stint in Tempe, Ariz., where they’ll face BYU, Texas A&M, Mississippi, North Texas, Nevada and Cal State Fullerton at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State.
Oregon finished 4-2 at the Kajikawa Classic a year ago.
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