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Date Posted: 10:29:47 02/03/02 Sun
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Softball

The Softball team starts their season today. Coach Kolze has built the softball program into one of the top two athletic programs with in Pacific's athletic department (the other being Women's Volleyball). Hopefully, they can continue their recent success from past seasons and continue to build towards the future.

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Originally Published Sunday, February 3, 2002
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Lone senior to lead youthful Tigers

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

Cindy Ball is used to standing alone in the pitcher's circle. This season, she's the lone senior on the University of the Pacific softball team.

''It's hard because I don't have anyone to relate to,'' the Tigers' All-American said. ''I'm all by myself.''

There are times when Ball would like to turn to a classmate and talk about issues only another senior could appreciate. But since no one on her young squad can fill that role, Ball has developed a kinship with Selena Ho, a senior guard on the Pacific women's basketball team.

''I talk to Selena a lot, and she always tells me to take it one day at a time, stay within yourself, and not to try and do too much,'' said Ball, who has 63 career victories and needs 21 to become Pacific's all-time leader. ''That has really helped me a lot.''

Ball will begin her final run at a Big West Conference title and a berth in the College World Series against No. 5 Cal at 1 p.m. today at Bill Simoni Field.

Ball hopes her teammates approach the season with the same senior-like urgency. They say they will.

''It's different this season with so many freshmen,'' said junior left fielder Barbara Moody, an All-Big West selection last season. ''They understand we're a winning program, and they're not going to settle for less.''

Ball will throw to a new catcher, freshman Ashlie D'Errico, with a new left side of the infield behind her with freshman Kristen Allen at third base and freshman Michelle Anunciation -- the heir to Adrienne Ratajczak -- at shortstop.

''I've been ready to play,'' said D'Errico, a highly-touted product out of Highland High in Lancaster. ''I've caught for a lot of years, so I'm comfortable, and the upperclassmen have been really good getting us prepared.''

Junior Aloha Yamaguchi finally will have her turn at second base, and junior Brandy Thurman from Tokay High will patrol first base.

A new 6-foot chain-link fence will contain the Tigers' experienced outfield with Moody, who hit .332 and scored 32 runs last season, next to junior center fielder Estee Okumura (.345, 45 RBI) with sophomore Boni Kading (.273) in right.

''I'm not worried about how the (seven) freshmen will do,'' Okumura said. ''For me, I want to be more consistent. My highs were pretty high, and my lows were low last year. I want to keep producing hits on a regular basis.''

Sophomore Jennifer Dacre (17-4, 1.47 ERA) and freshman Ashlie Platten of Clovis will take considerable pressure off Ball, named the 2001 Big West pitcher of the year after going 33-9 with a 1.31 ERA.

''We have a different team, and that's not necessarily bad,'' Ball said. ''It's a different team, but it still will be good.''

The Tigers are coming off a season to remember. They finished second in the Big West (16-5) and had the most overall victories (50-13) in school history. They advanced to the NCAA regional final against Stanford and fell one win short of advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1983. The Tigers were ranked 18th in the final USA Today/NFCA poll.

Pacific is ranked 18th in the 2002 preseason poll -- its first preseason ranking in the tenure of head coach Brian Kolze -- and was picked to finish second in the Big West by conference coaches.

''Every year presents a different type of excitement,'' said Kolze, who's entering his 10th season. ''You want to see the new players be as successful as you know they can be, and the returners want to carry that torch.''

Pacific's first three opponents advanced to last year's World Series: Cal today, a doubleheader with No. 4 Stanford on Feb. 9 and No. 21 Michigan on Feb. 15. The Tigers will play nine schools ranked in the top 25 and three who received votes.

''We're going to make it a challenge for other teams to beat us,'' Ball said.

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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