With a combined 28-1 rout of Western Baptist in a rare September doubleheader, Oregon softball returned to Howe Field last Friday.
The Ducks took the first game against the Warriors, 17-1, in five innings. The second game was also called after five with an 11-0 final.
“This team is a really exciting group to be around,” Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “It’s energized with six new players, yet we’re feeling the loss of five very experienced and excellent players. But it’s always fun to get a new start.”
Junior Lindsey Kontra pitched three innings between the two games, earning the win after starting the second game. Kontra and senior Anissa Meashintubby each gave up two hits, while sophomore Amy Harris pitched three hitless innings.
“They’ve been working hard,” Arendsen said. “We’re all getting to know each other, kind of find out what we can do, what our depth is and who’s going to play what position.”
Offensively, each player who had an at-bat in the first game got at least one hit. The Ducks had 22 hits in the first game, including two home runs by senior catcher Jenn Poore.
Junior Ashley Richards went a combined 6 for 7 in the two games, while sophomore Beth Boskovich went 3 for 3, including a home run in the second contest.
The Ducks, ranked 11th in the nation in the final poll of the 2003 season, had six home runs in the doubleheader.
The two games marked the first in Western Baptist’s history.
“It’s an opportunity to get out and allow the girls to play together in a game situation rather than always practicing,” Western Baptist coach Todd Bradley said. “It’s also an opportunity to see some great talent against us and to kind of put them on the measuring stick to see where we need to go.”
The Warriors, an NAIA school, will be members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, joining Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Concordia and Albertson.

Looking for talent
Oregon’s short fall exhibition includes two days — today and Wednesday — of tryouts for walk-on players.
“We’re going to look at everybody,” Arendsen said. “We have the option of keeping one just in addition to what we have, and also if they’re better than someone we have, we’ll make the move. We strongly encourage everyone.”
One current Duck who joined the team through walk-on tryouts said it was a way to get back into softball.
“I was recruited to go play,” Senior Heather Munson said. “At the last minute I decided not to. Then I decided I wanted to play later.
“It was more or less just a challenge to myself. It was an awesome experience. It’s tough and a little bit of pressure, but definitely a good experience.”
Women interested in trying out should contact assistant coach Mike White in the Oregon softball office at 346-3393.
“It is a legitimate opportunity for a student who maybe kind of slipped through the cracks in the recruiting process to have a chance to play on a hopefully top-15 softball program,” Arendsen said.
The Ducks play two more games this fall, hosting a tournament on Saturday and Sunday at Howe Field, before beginning their season in February.