By
Brett Erickson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Redshirt freshman dazzles softball alumni in Saturday's home run
Although selected by Pacific 10 Conference coaches to finish atop the conference standings this season, the Wildcats have some convincing to do across the rest of the country.
In the preseason USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Preseason Top 25, Arizona was picked to finish third by 27 Division I coaches. UCLA is ranked first, while defending national champion Oklahoma is second. Rounding out the top 10 are Washington, Alabama, Arizona State, California, Louisiana State, Fresno State and DePaul.
Senior outfielder Lauren Bauer said she would rather see Arizona play the role of the hunter instead of the hunted.
"I wish we were ranked number 10 - I like being the underdog," she said.
Being ranked behind the Bruins, though, might provide the Wildcats with a little extra motivation when conference play begins, not that getting pumped up is a problem in this rivalry.
"We want to beat them every time, regardless of where we're ranked. We're not really worried about the ranking - the last day is what counts," Bauer said.
Head coach Mike Candrea agreed that rankings released in January have no bearing on the season.
"Preseason polls are primarily for the fans," said Candrea, who was unaware that the rankings had been released until he was contacted yesterday.
The highlight of Saturday's Alumni Game home run hitting contest was the mammoth power display put on by redshirt freshman Leneah Manuma.
During the rain-shortened event, Manuma launched several shots that amazed many of the alumnae who returned for the weekend. Two of her hits went nearly 300 feet and landed on the roof of the Ina E. Gittings building behind the right field fence of Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.
A third ball disappeared behind the brick wall surrounding the vacant pool beyond center field.
"Toni (Mascarenas) was giving me some good pitches and I was just dialed in," Manuma said Saturday. "It was a lot of fun."
Manuma will split time this season at first base and designated hitter. Manuma will likely play first when junior Jennie Finch pitches and play as the team's DH when senior Becky Lemke is in the circle.
Manuma, who sat out last season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in October of 1999, said she is excited to be back in the middle of a potentially explosive lineup.
"It feels good to be back on the field, because last year was really a nail bitter," she said. "I have a lot protection around me. We're strong one-through-nine."
Candrea said Manuma has been impressive in practice, but time will tell if she is able to transfer that into regular season games.
"In practice, she's a very good hitter and hits the ball to all fields very well," he said. "Respect in our league is earned."
With opening day Friday in Tampa, Fla., against Florida Atlantic, Candrea has yet to name his starting pitcher. The Wildcats, who play two games each on Friday and Saturday, will either go with Lemke (30-7, 1.15 ERA last season) or Finch (29-2, .79), but both will see action Friday, Candrea said.
"I may name it today, I may not," Candrea said yesterday.
