Recent polls place UCLA, Pac-10 teams on top
By Bob Costa
March 31, 2003 9:00 p.m.
There is no dispute as to which conference is the toughest in
collegiate softball. The Pac-10 stands well above the competition
as all eight participating teams are ranked in the National
Fastpitch Coaches Association and ESPN Top-25 polls.
Last year the conference sent seven teams to the NCAA regionals
and from that group, four teams made it to the Women’s
College World Series. Cal, who finished fourth during the
conference season, won its first national title by beating Arizona
6-0, further asserting Pac-10 dominance in collegiate softball.
This year looks to be similar as the first three spots in both
polls are occupied by UCLA, Washington and Arizona.
“What’s unique about the conference is the
experience, the athleticism and the versatility that all the teams
have that makes our conference what it is,” UCLA head coach
Sue Enquist said.
Despite its No. 1 ranking, Enquist does not feel that teams are
going to be specifically gunning for the Bruins.
“I know we have a target on our back, so do Washington and
Arizona,” Enquist said. “But Stanford and Arizona
State, even the Oregon schools can beat us.”
In spite of these comments, there does look to be a strict
dichotomy in the conference.
UCLA, Cal, Washington and Arizona are ranked in the top 10
nationally and should finish in the top half of the conference.
Stanford, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State comprise a bottom
half that, due to the strength of the conference, will compete for
two or three spots in the NCAA regionals.
This fact does not mean that the conference is locked into this
position. Stanford and Arizona State have teams that, if things
break their way, can displace one of the top four.
“That’s one of our goals. With the strength of the
conference it’s hard to predict where everybody will
finish,” Stanford coach John Rittman said.
The main difference between the top and bottom halves of the
conference is balance. UCLA, Cal, Washington and Arizona earned
top-10 status with team batting averages near .300 and at least one
pitcher with an ERA under 1.00.
Stanford has very strong pitching but a team batting average
near .250, while Arizona State does not have a star pitcher but has
a team average of over .300.
Oregon and Oregon State have not shown the team hitting or
pitching that would allow them to compete for a top spot in the
conference.
