Tournament Notes

The University of Hawai'i softball team (2-8, 0-0 WAC) continues their first roadtrip to Palm Springs, Calif. where they will play in the 2009 Cathedral City Classic, Feb. 19-21. The 'Bows will face stiff competition from Maryland, No. 9 Tennessee, Ohio State, and the top-ranked team in the nation, Alabama.

 

The Rainbow Wahine look to bounce back after a tough 1-4 showing at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The 'Bows defeated Saint Louis, but fell to No. 13 Northwestern, Kentucky, Oregon, and UC Davis.

 

Senior outfielder Tanisha Milca posted strong offensive numbers in the tournament, leading the 'Bows with a .615 average (8-for-13) with three runs scored and two home runs. She had a slugging percentage of 1.077 in the five games. Third baseman Clare Warwick continues to hit well, going 4-for-12 at the plate for a .333 average. The senior scored two runs with a triple and three RBI. Also making a statement, was junior first baseman/designated player, Amanda Tauali'i, who also hit .333 with three runs scored to go with her triple and two home runs. She led the team with five RBI.

The 'Bows pitching staff is led by senior Courtney Baughman, who is 2-4 with a 4.20 ERA. In six starts, Baughman has thrown 35.0 innings walking eight and striking out 23. Making a strong showing in Las Vegas, was freshman Stephanie Ricketts, who has the team low 3.82 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched and is 0-1 on the season. Sophomore Melissa Gonzalez has started three games and has thrown 8.2 innings and has a 0-3 record.

 

**Hawai'i's game at Loyola Marymount that was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 12:00 pm was cancelled because of unplayable conditions due to the heavy rains that have hit the Southern California region the past few days.

 

The 32-team tournament field at the 2009 Cathedral City Classic showcases some of the most prestigious softball programs in the country, with 20 of the 32 2008 NCAA Tournament teams including four of the eight teams that competed in the 2008 Women's College World Series, Alabama, Florida, UCLA and the 2008 National Champions - the Arizona State Sun Devils. The tournament also features 22 NFCA All-Americans.

 

WHAT: 2009 Cathedral City Classic (Palm Springs, Calif.)

WHEN: Thursday, February 19 – Saturday, February 21, 2009

WHERE: Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, Calif. (near Palm Springs)

HAWAI'I HEAD COACH: Bob Coolen (640-396-1) is in his 18^th year at UH and 23^rd season overall (712-489-1)

OPPONENTS: Maryland, No. 9 Tennessee, Ohio State, No. 1 Alabama

LIVESTATS: Live stats will be available for the Tennessee, Ohio State and Alabama games            

 

 

 

MARYLAND
Game day/time: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Where: Big League Dreams Sports Park: Yankee Field

Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)

Coach: Laura Watten (Texas-Arlington '92)

 

The Maryland Terrapins went 0-5 in their opening weekend at the Florida Atlantic Kick off Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. Last season, the Terps were 36-23 overall and finished tied for fifth in the ACC with a 7-14 record.

 

The Terrapins' offense is led by red-hot Kerry Hickey, who is hitting .471 (8-for-17) with a double. Nadine Blackie and Devon Williams are tied for the second-best batting average at .308. Both went 4-for-13 in their first tournament with Blackie getting a double and Williams knocking in a team-high two RBI.

 

Hickey also posted the Terps' lowest ERA for the tournament, 2.55. She is 0-1 mark four appearances, three of which were in relief. She carries a 2.55 ERA with 11.0 innings pitched with seven walks and eight strike outs. Kendra Knight is 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched and has notched the most strike outs with 16 with 13 walks on the staff. She has held opponents to a team low .191 batting average. Sarah Dooley also made three appearances and is 0-2 thus far in 2009. Dooley has a 6.77 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched.

 

Game day/time: Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 at 3:00 pm

Where: Big League Dreams Sports Park: Wrigley Field

Conference: Southeastern (SEC)

Coaches: Ralph Weekly (Arizona State '73)

Series Record: UT leads 6-2

Last Meeting: UT won 7-1(5/26/07) in the Super Regionals (Knoxville, Tenn.) championship game

The No. 9 Tennessee Lady Volunteer softball team is 9-1 after two tourneys. The UT offense has been dominant, racking up a team .326 batting average, while hold opponents at .181. After a 2-1 loss against then No. 21 Washington, the Lady Vols have run off seven straight wins, outscoring their opponents 43-5 during that span.

 

Kelly Grieve leads the potent UT attack, hitting an even .500 on the season (18-for-36). She has already scored 15 runs with two doubles, a triple and three RBI. She has an on-base percentage of .550 and is a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases. Tiffany Huff is second on the squad with a .464 average (13-for-28), and leads the team with an amazing 21 RBI with three doubles and two home runs Lillian Hammond is also hitting about .400 going 13-for-31 at the plate good for a .419 average. She has scored 10 runs with a double and two RBI and is 6-of-7 in stolen bases.

 

Cat Hosfield has send the bulk of the action on the mound, firing a team high 43-2 innings. She is 6-1 with a save and an ERA of 1.12. She has 16 walks while fanning 33 batters. Hosfield also leads the team with nine appearances, six games started and has held opponents to a .161 batting average. Ashton Ward has tallied a measly 0.97 ERA and has a 3-0 record going into the CCC. She has thrown 21.2 innings with no walks and 15 strike outs.

 

OHIO STATE
Game day/time: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm

Where: Big League Dreams Sports Park: Pawtucket Field

Conference: Big-10  

Coach: Linda Kalafatis (California (Pa.), 1988)

 

The Buckeyes enter the week ranked No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Today Poll and is just outside of the NFCA Top 25 poll after going 5-0 in the Easton Tiger Classic hosted by LSU in Baton Rouge, La., which included a 2-1 win over No. 21 LSU, and a pair of victories over No. 5 Texas A & M (9-3 and 2-0).

 

The Buckeyes are led by Sam Marder who is hitting at a .414 clip with team highs in runs scored (eight), hits (12), home runs (5) and RBI (12). Coming on strong has been Rebecca Schultz who is hitting .462 in (6-for-13) with four runs scored two doubles and three RBI. While Tory Haddad is hitting an even .400 (10-for-25) with four runs, three doubles and two home runs.

 

National and Big 10 Pitcher of the Week, Kim Reeder earned three of the team's five wins this past weekend and was named the MVP of the tournament after shutting out No. 21 LSU and No. 5 Texas A&M, 2-0. Against the Aggies Sunday, Reeder struck out 11 batters and allowed just two hits. In four games of action, the Salinas, Calif., native gave up just one run on eight hits for a 0.38 ERA through the weekend. Overall, she has a 0.73 ERA and a 4-1 record in 28.1 innings pitched. She has walked just six batters while striking out 36. Linsday Bodeker also has posted stellar numbers thus far, she is undefeated at 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 24.1 innings pitched. Megan Miller, who is 1-0 in two starts has a 1.91 ERA and has thrown 11.0 innings. In all, the Buckeyes pitching staff has a 1.20 ERA and has walked 15 batters while striking out 72.

Game day/time: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Where: Big League Dreams Sports Park: Wrigley Field

Conference: Southeastern (SEC)  

    Overall record: Same

Series: The 'Bows and Crimson Tide have squared off just two times, with Alabama winning both (1-3 and 3-4) in 2005 during the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament in Hawai'i.

The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide rolls into Palm Springs with a perfect 8-0 record. Led by a juggernaut of an offense and a miserly pitching staff, 'Bama looks to have very few chinks in their armor. At the plate, the Crimson Tide boast a .424 team batting average with 71 runs and 58 RBI already in 2009.

OFFENSE

Thirteen 'Bama players are hitting over .300 with nine hitting above .400, and four above .500. Leading the charge is Reilly-Boccia who is hitting .550 with five runs scored four doubles and a team-high 11 RBI. Jennifer Fenton who along with Charlotte Morgan are both hitting an even .500. Fenton has scored a team-high nine runs thus far with two doubles, nine RBI, and is a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases. Morgan has scored five runs with two doubles, a home run and nine RBI. And in just three games, Brittany Rogers is hitting .700 with six runs scored and 6-for-6 in stolen bases.

PITCHING

The Alabama staff has a 0.60 ERA in 47.0 innings pitched and have walked just 11 to 50 strike outs. Leading the Crimson Tide is Kelsi Dunne, who boasts a 0.00 ERA and 3-0 record. All three were complete games, and two were shut-outs. In 16 innings, she has walked six batters while striking out 27 and has held opponents to a .096 batting average. Freshman sensation Amanda Locke is a dual threat, but on the mound, she is 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA and one shut out. She has thrown 13.0 innings in 2009. Morgan too is a two-way threat, picking up the teams other three wins. She has a 1.17 ERA with two complete games and one shut out. In 18 innings, she has given a free pass to just one batter while fanning 13 at the plate. As a staff, the Tide holds opponents to a .171 average.


                                                                                                                                                        -UH-