After two years of being one game away from the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., the Ducks are ready to make another run this season with a veteran-laden line-up and a talented freshman class.
“The first season was a Cinderella season, everything good happened,” Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “The second season was trying to prove we weren’t a fluke the first season.
“Now we have the taste of being in a regional finals and being so close to the College World Series, so we have set our expectations higher, and we understand the public is as well.”
Senior Ashley Richards said some of the seniors realize time is running out for them to make the WCWS.
“For a lot of us, it’s our last chance to do it,” Richards said. “We definitely have a lot of motivation to do it this year.”
The Ducks will return most of their starters, but one of their losses is a big one.
Three-year starting catcher Jen Poore has graduated and become a volunteer assistant for Oregon.
Taking over at catcher will be Richards. The Richland, Wash., native started all 63 games last season for the Ducks, 13 of them at catcher.
Arendsen said the only difference between Richards and Poore is their personalities on the field.
“Physically, they are very similar players —
aggressive, strong arms and can really catch the ball well,” Arendsen said. “The biggest difference is that Ashley is an introvert and doing the verbal side of catching is a chore for her. Being a dominant catcher and calling out plays is something she has to work on.”
All-Pacific-10 Conference pitcher Ani Nyhus said it will be hard getting used to a new catcher.
“Missing Jen Poore is huge for me, because I worked so close with her,” Nyhus said. “But Ashley is a great catcher — a little
quiet — but really talented.”
The infield will once again be anchored by senior second baseman Erin Goodell and junior shortstop Breanne Sabol. Goodell has only missed eight starts since coming to Oregon, and Sabol has started 119 consecutive games. They helped the Ducks lead the conference in double plays with 32.
Sabol is projected to hit second, and last season set an Oregon single-season record in sacrifice bunts with 29.
Starting at first base will be junior Beth Boskovich. She started all 63 games last season, 26 of them at first base. The Camarillo, Calif., native hit .281 last season with
6 home runs and 29 RBIs.
At the other corner, freshman Joanna Gail will get a chance to take over the spot that Richards left at third base when she moved to catcher. She was
first-team all-league in high school and competed on the 2004 Greek Olympic Team during the Summer Olympics.
In the outfield, the Ducks will again have all their starters back. Left field duties will once again belong to junior Dani Baird. Last season she shined against the
best competition as she batted .571 against defending national champion California.
Starting in center field will be sophomore Suzie Barnes. As a freshman she started 52 games and led the team in stolen bases (8). She likely will be hitting leadoff for Oregon this season.
In right field, sophomore Kayleen Hudson. A great freshman year saw her finish fourth
on the team in average
(.261), runs (23), hits (36), home runs (6) and RBIs (22).
The deepest position for the Ducks might be their pitching with Nyhus, junior Amy Harris, senior Lindsey Kontra and freshman Alicia Cook.
The senior Nyhus returns with
an impressive resume after only one season with the Ducks. The junior-college transfer had a 25-13 record and broke the single-season record for strikeouts with 202. She is recovering from a forearm injury, but is expected to be at full strength once
conference play begins.
Newcomer Alicia Cook will also be fighting for innings this season. The local from Elmira High School
finished 26-1 with a 0.13 ERA and helped lead Elmira to a second consecutive state title.
Arendsen has no plans of her
redshirting this season.
“She’s going to be playing for us,” Arendsen said. “She will get innings for us, and down the road she could be one of Oregon’s best ever.”
With such a deep team returning, there is one goal in mind for this Oregon squad — the Women’s College World Series.
“It’s everything we’re working for,” Nyhus said. “Last year we got to regionals, but this year we want to make it all the way.”
