WAC SOFTBALL NOTEBOOKPLAYER OF THE WEEK Loyola Marymounts Danielle Kaminaka was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
Kaminaka a freshman from Vista, Calif., (Rancho Buena Vista HS) hit .500 as the Lions went 3-2 at the UCSB Early Bird Tournament to kick off the season. The third baseman went 8-for-16 for a .500 average with two home runs and four RBI. Kaminaka scored six runs in five games. In the Lions 10-6 win over UC Santa Barbara, she had a 2-for-4 game with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Kaminaka added two more RBI in a 5-3 nine-inning win. Kaminaka recorded the only hit in the win for the Lions.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK LMUs Sami Strinz was named WAC Pitcher of the Week. Strinz, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Keizer, Ore. (McKay HS), went 1-0, in three appearances. She pitched 10.0 innings, allowing 10 hits and two runs. Only one of the runs allowed was earned. Strinz earned a relief win over New Mexico State, pitching the final two innings of the nine-inning contest for the win.
The Lions ended the tournament with a 3-2 record to lead the WAC. Three more WAC schools begin the 2002 season with Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and Fresno State opening play this week. The Lady Techsters will play their first games as members of the WAC.
IN THE POLLS Fresno State is the only WAC team ranked in the preseason USA Today/NFCA top 25 poll. The Bulldogs are ranked 16th with 239 votes. Hawaii received 37 votes to rank 26th.
HAWAI`I PICKED TO WIN WAC TITLE The Western Athletic Conference softball coaches selected Hawaii to win the 2002 WAC regular season crown. This is the first time in seven years that a team other than Fresno State was voted to take the top spot in the WAC. The coaches also voted on 2001 preseason award winners today. Hawaii shortstop Kate Judd was voted preseason Player of the Year, while Fresno States Jamie Southern earned preseason Pitcher of the Year honors.
Hawaii earned 34 points, edging Fresno State by one point. Both the Wahine and the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. Hawaii advanced for the fifth time, while the Bulldogs are the only team to have advanced to all 20 NCAA Tournaments.
Loyola Marymount was picked third with 25 points after a 37-22 season. The WACs other affiliate member Portland State earned the fourth spot with 19 points. With 14 points, Tulsa took fifth, while San Jose State and newcomer Louisiana Tech tied for sixth with 11 points.
The preseason all-WAC team included five Fresno State players: junior catcher Pam West, senior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti, senior outfielder Tiffany Whipple, red-shirt freshman pitcher Jamie Southern and senior utility player Vanessa Czarnecki.
Hawaii placed four players on the preseason all-WAC team, including 2001 WAC Player of the Year Kate Judd. The sophomore shortstop earned preseason Player of the Year honors after driving in 31 runs and scoring 32 runs last season. Judd was joined by sophomore first baseman Stacey Porter and senior outfielder Stacie Hirano. Natalie Gonzales tied with Portland State Megumi Hackett for second base honors. Loyola Marymount outfielder Christy Cercedes rounded out the team.
WELCOME TO THE WAC Louisiana Tech begins its first season of WAC action and its 23rd season of softball.
Lady Techsters head coach Bill Galloway enters his second decade as the La. Tech head coach. Galloway was inducted in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in November of 2001. Galloway surpassed the coveted 900 win mark last season and now has 912 career wins with 704 coming at Louisiana Tech.
BATTER UP The WAC begins its second week of the 2002 season. Six of the seven WAC schools will be in action this week. Fresno State travels to Arizona for the always-tough Fiesta Bowl Tournament. The Bulldogs will face at least two ranked teams in No. 5 California and No. 8 Arizona State.
Hawaii began the week with two tough nine-inning losses to Long Beach State. The Wahine look to get back on track at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego. Loyola Marymount and Tulsa will both be involved in tournament play.
NON-CONFERENCE MARK WAC teams are 5-9 (.357) in non-conference games. The WAC is 0-3 against teams that are ranked in the preseason poll. San Jose State is 0-3 with losses to No. 2 UCLA, No. 9 Washington and No. 23 San Diego State.
FRESNO STATE IN HOME OPENERS In the 24-year history of the Fresno State softball program, the Bulldogs have compiled a 16-8 mark in season openers. Under 17th-year head coach Margie Wright, the Bulldogs have tallied a 12-4 record. In home openers, the program is 20-4 while the Bulldogs are 13-3 under Wright.
WAC EXPANSION In 2001-02, Louisiana Tech joined the conference. In softball, there will be seven teams, including affiliate members Loyola Marymount and Portland State. The schedule will consist of 24 games played as doubleheaders home and home other than Hawaii. All four games with Hawaii will be played at one site, alternating home and away each year.
REWIND: THE 2001 SEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES Fresno State made its 20th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs are the only program in the nation to have qualified for each of the 20 NCAA Division I womens softball championships. Hawaii made its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, including its third in the past four seasons.
FRESNO STATE WINS WAC TITLE For the fourth-straight season and the fifth time in the past six years, Fresno State clinched the WAC regular-season title. Since joining the WAC in 1993, Fresno State has compiled a 161-41 (.797) record in conference play.
IMPROVEMENTS Hawaii finished the 2001 campaign with a 46-16 overall record. In 2000, the Wahine finished with a 25-24 record. San Jose State had a 26-39 record, also surpassing 2000s win total (19-37). The Spartans 26 victories were their most since the 1998 season. Portland State, which finished with 25 victories won three more contests compared to 2000.
FRESNO STATES WITT LEAPS INTO NCAA RECORD BOOKS Fresno States Becky Witt, a senior centerfielder, concluded her stellar career ranked in three Top 10 NCAA all-time marks: career runs (No. 8, 224), career hits (No. 9, 331) and career at bats (No. 10, 866). With eight games rained out this season, Witt just missed ranking in the NCAA's Top 25 in career games played. She played in 261 games as a Bulldog, and the No. 25 spot was 263.