Saturday, January 19, 2002
[ WAHINE SOFTBALL ]
The season doesn't begin for more than two weeks, but the Hawaii softball team is already on the hot seat. Wahine win in the polls
Star-Bulletin staff
The Western Athletic Conference coaches voted the Wahine most likely to win the league championship. UH got 34 points compared to 33 for perennial favorite Fresno State, and four first-place votes to three for the Bulldogs.
First baseman Stacey Porter, second baseman Natalie Gonzales, shortstop Kate Judd and outfielder Stacie Hirano were selected to the preseason all-WAC team, with Judd as player of the year.
UH went 46-18 last year, including two losses at the NCAA regionals.
While the Wahine will be strong offensively, they will have to replace three top pitchers in Desiree Duran, Felicity Witt and Janelle Gonzales. Duran and Gonzales were seniors last year, and Witt returned to Australia to train with the national team after her 22-win freshman season. The three accounted for 44 of the wins, and all but 17 of the innings pitched.
Those were thrown by Sheri Oronoz, who got the other two wins and will be depended on heavily this season.
Coach Bob Coolen hopes two other Australians, freshmen Paula Blanning and Stacey Ritter, can help make up for the loss of pitching experience.
Hawaii opens the season Feb. 5 at Long Beach State. The home schedule begins with the Feb. 14-17 Chevron Classic with Long Beach State, Mercer and Texas-Arlington.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
