It’s a new season for all of the Oregon sports programs: Signing season.
Nov. 8 marked the day that high school seniors could begin signing letters of intent to attend colleges.
The Oregon Athletic Department has already got the ball rolling, signing five student athletes in the first five days.

A southpaw will take

the mound
Oregon softball coach Rick Gamez signed three players to letters of intent for the 2002 season.
Mari Lyn Petrick, a senior at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, led the Metro League with a .438 batting average and was an All-State catcher last season.
The Washington 4A Conference Player of the Year, Ashley Richards (Richland, Wash.), also signed a letter of intent to play with the Ducks. The catcher/infielder is “very versatile,” Gamez said. “We’re going to be able to utilize her athletic ability at many positions.”
Additionally, Lindsey Kontra, a native of Valencia, Calif., will contribute for Oregon as a left pitcher. Her 14-under team was crowned the national champion, and she helped lead her 16-under team to a second-place finish nationally.
“Lindsey is a big left-handed pitcher who will definitely have an impact immediately,” Gamez said.
All three are expected to have quality playing time on the team during their freshmen season, Gamez said.
“We’re very excited about this class,” he said. “It’s always big to get kids that can help us both athletically and academically. They are all really excited about becoming Ducks, as well.”
Last season, Gamez guided the Ducks to a 36-29 overall record, and fell only one game short of the College World Series.

Volleyball adds another setter
In his first season as the Oregon volleyball coach, Carl Ferreira has implemented the flashy two-setter offensive system that has produced 10 wins so far this season. The addition of another setter, Lauren Westendorf (Centennial High School, Bakersfield, Calif.) should strengthen the system and the program even more in the future.
“Lauren has an infectious personality,” Ferreira said. “She has 100 percent of the intangible characteristics that I think it takes to be successful in the top half of the conference. She’s a highly skilled player, and I honestly believe that her attitude, intelligence and work ethic make her an above-average recruit.”
Westendorf, a 6-foot senior who will also see action as an outside hitter, was named First-Team All-Area in 1999 and chosen the Best All Around Player for her junior season.
“I’m really excited because I love the coaching staff and I think I can add a lot of things in terms of my mental and physical game,” she said.