With the help of four starting freshmen and a new head coach, the Oregon women’s softball team had a remarkable year in 2010. Ranking in the top 25 for the final two months of the season, Oregon made a great deal of noise within the demanding Pacific-10 Conference.
Though the Ducks finished seventh in the final standings, Oregon’s 8-13 league record was a huge improvement from the three-win conference bill in 2009. In a conference littered with the nation’s best teams, the Ducks managed to take wins from Oregon State (twice), California (three times), Washington, Arizona State and Arizona along the way.
The final three series of the season were rough on first-year head coach Mike White’s team, which saw the losing end of nine of its final 10 league games. But none of that mattered once regional play began, as Oregon swept the Atlanta Regional with three straight wins over Auburn (1-0) and Georgia Tech (11-2, 4-3), to advance to the Super Regional round for the first time in more than 20 years.
On the field, the Oregon freshmen made an immediate impact as they each started in more than 50 games. Freshman right fielder Samantha Pappas was tabbed the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year for her efforts, leading the Ducks in at-bats (162), hits (63), home runs (11), RBI (48), walks (25) and stolen bases (11). She was also the only freshman position player named to the 15-player All-Pac-10 first team.
Freshman pitcher Jessica Moore earned All-Pac-10 second team honors after breaking Oregon’s single-season strikeout record (216).
Fellow freshman Allie Burger was selected to the All-Pac-10 freshman team — along with Moore and Pappas — and freshman second baseman Kaylan Howard took home honorable mention accolades. Senior center fielder Neena Bryant, sophomore shortstop Kelsey Chambers, sophomore pitcher Samantha Skillingstad, and Burger were all named  All-Pac-10 honorable mentions.
Oregon will match up with Missouri later this week to play for a trip to the College Softball World Series. Of the 16 teams remaining in postseason action, six come from the Pac-10.
[email protected]