Monday, May 18, 1998

Wahine hope to
learn from NCAA
disappointment

Lose twice to
Arizona in playoffs

By John Moredich
Special to the Star-Bulletin

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The 10th-ranked University of Hawaii women's softball team looked forward to playing two-time defending national champion Arizona in the NCAA regionals.

Nerves and rust prevented such a matchup, and any chance the Wahine had to advance to the College World Series.

Instead, Arizona moved past this Region I tournament by defeating Pacific, 7-0, in the championship game yesterday. Hawaii was sent home after losing twice to the Tigers.

A 4-2 loss to Pacific Saturday in the double elimination format prevented the matchup the Wahine had anticipated. Hawaii defeated Niagara, 5-1, earlier in the day in a losers' bracket game.

"We wanted to see what we could do against Arizona," Hawaii coach Bob Coolen said. "They are a fine ball club, very, very balanced."

Pacific proved to be an obstacle Hawaii couldn't overcome. The Tigers beat Hawaii in the first round, 6-0, and the Wahine didn't fare much better in the rematch.

The reason? Costly mistakes and nervousness.

"What this club has to understand is that we can't be our own enemy," Coolen said. "We cannot be nervous from the get go. We have to come out confident. We have to take that first game so the pressure and the monkey is off our backs. We put ourselves in a hole by losing early."

Arizona has won five of the previous seven national titles in part because of its confidence. Coolen is hoping his Wahine team takes home a little of the Wildcats' bravado from this regional.

"It will get better for us. At the end I didn't have many words for them," Coolen said. "How can you look at a 46-15 record and say you didn't have a good year. Overall, we learned a lot. We will be better next year."

The Wildcats (64-3) advanced by sweeping three games, including the finale against Pacific. Arizona outscored its opponents 31-0.

"This is a big step for us," Arizona coach Mike Candrea said. "This is now the time to get down to business and start playing hard and start enjoying yourself."

Arizona will be making its 11th straight College World Series appearance.

The tournament's most outstanding player was Arizona outfielder Lauren Bauer, who was 7-for-9 with four runs scored, three RBI and a home run.

Hawaii's lone player on the 12-member team was Joyce Lum, who went 4-for-11 at the plate, with one run scored, a double, triple and two RBI.

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