University of Washington Official Athletic Site - Softball
|
|
The Huskies ended the 1997 season ranked No. 4.
Jan. 28, 1998
SEATTLE--The Washington softball team will begin the 1998 season ranked third according to the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. The Huskies advanced to the College World Series for the second straight time last season and ended the year ranked fourth. Also, coach Teresa Wilson's squad is picked to finish runner-up in the Pacific-10 Conference to defending NCAA champion Arizona.
Although UW begins its season next weekend with two exhibition games at Phoenix College and Central Arizona, Washington's schedule gets considerably more difficult thereafter. The Huskies will face 11 teams ranked in the top 25 in the nation and another nine which received votes. In fact, UW has only 13 games, not counting any playoff contests at the CSF Softball Classic, against teams who did not receive votes in the preseason poll.
The Huskies officially open the season Feb. 13-15 at the Coca-Cola Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Of their six games in the tournament, UW faces three ranked opponents (No. 12 Massachusetts, No. 21 Florida State, and No. 25 Tennessee) and three which received votes (CS Fullerton, Purdue and Texas).
Washington returns seven starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 50-19 as semifinalists in the CWS. However, the roster includes only four upperclassmen among 15 freshmen and sophomores. Pitcher Eve Gaw and outfielder Leah Francis are the team's lone seniors, with first baseman Becky Newbry and catcher Jami Nyblod rounding out the field of "veterans".
"We have a lot of talent, but still it's unproven talent," Wilson said. "Even last year, the freshmen who gained World Series experience were being led by a group of seniors who had done it all. They set the tone and everyone else followed. Now we're having to find a completely new leadership."
Gone is two-time first-team All-American Sara Pickering, an anchor at second base since her arrival. Also graduating were third baseman Heather Tarr, a second-team all-Pacific Region selection; outfielder Shelley Brown, a second-team All-American; and outfielder Leanne Rosser, an NCAA regional all-tournament team member.
USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll Rk. Team 97 Rec. Pts. 1. Arizona 61-5 (625) 2. Fresno State 54-14 (590) 3. Washington 50-19 (580) 4. Michigan 56-16-1 (522) 5. Iowa 52-9 (508) 6. South Carolina 63-5 (443) 7. California 35-25 (415) 8. Colorado State 51-14 (393) 9. Kansas 38-23 (372) 10. South Florida 50-13 (356) 11. Oklahoma State 40-22 (344) 12. Massachusetts 37-23-1 (334) 13. Missouri 47-16 (316) 14. Long Beach State 44-20-1 (271) 15. CS Northridge 34-22-2 (261) 16. Oklahoma 55-19 (239) 17. UCLA 49-14 (213) 18. Utah 44-18 (191) 19. SW Louisiana 46-18 (161) 20. Central Michigan 41-22 (152) 21. Florida State 45-19-1 (138) 22. Michigan State 46-22 (113) 23. Arizona State 32-25 (98) 24. DePaul 42-15 (70) 25. Tennessee 45-22 (55) Pac-10 Coaches' Poll Rk. Team Pts. 1. Arizona 49 2. Washington 43 3. California 37 4. Stanford 25 5. Arizona State 23 6. UCLA 20 7. Oregon State 17 8. Oregon 8
