Arizona, Stanford and South Florida don't usually have much in common. But every so often ÷ like, say, during a leap year that's also an Olympic year ÷ they do.
The No. 7 Cardinal (11-2) and No. 22 Bulls (15-2) are included in the field for the Worth Wildcat Invitational that starts today at Hillenbrand Stadium. One reason the two teams will appear is because both the Stanford and USF head coaches serve under UA head coach Mike Candrea on the U.S. Olympic team. Candrea is taking a sabbatical from UA this season in order to coach Team USA.
"A lot of that has to do with coach Candrea. Both of those coaches are assistants with Mike, so this weekend, we brought them in," said UA acting head coach Larry Ray.
The Wildcats play Boston University (4-6) Friday at 3 p.m., followed by the Cardinal. Arizona is scheduled to play Oklahoma State (10-4) tomorrow at 3 p.m., followed by the Bulls. The third place game starts at 10 a.m. Sunday, and the championship game is at noon.
John Rittman, of Stanford, and USF's Ken Eriksen will both be with Candrea at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. this weekend.
"That's part of it; it's an opportunity to play against great competition," Rittman said. "It's a chance to play in a great stadium, play in great weather, hopefully, and I have the utmost respect, not just for coach Candrea, but for Larry and (interim associate head coach) Nancy (Evans). We like to mix it up a little."
Stanford has lost only to No. 9 Alabama and Northwestern this season. In the Pacific 10 Conference's preseason coaches' poll, the Cardinal were picked to finish fifth.
The UA has dominated Stanford, owning a 31-3 all-time record.
While Rittman will only miss a couple weekends for the Cardinal, USF is in the same boat as the UA, missing its coach most of the season.
"Mike definitely needs Ken Eriksen most of the time, because he's handling the pitchers and catchers, and you know how important that is," Ray said.
South Florida also has a long-time coach, associate head coach Stacey Heintz, whom Eriksen said he is comfortable leaving the program with for a year while USA prepares to defend its gold medal. Rittman said he sat down with Candrea, USA Softball and the Amateur Softball Association of America to work out a way for him to stay on the Farm most of the year.
South Florida jumped into the rankings this week after a seven-game win streak and winning 15 of 16. Its run includes a win at Florida's tournament, where they handed former Wildcat Jenny Gladding the loss in a 2-1 win over Florida, the school that let Ray go.
Both Ray and Rittman agree this is a tough field, but Rittman said it's not that unusual for them to play another Pac-10 team in a non-conference setting.
All Pac-10 teams are ranked. The conference has five teams in the top 10 and owns the top four spots.
"Occasionally, you run into a Pac-10 team in a tournament," Rittman said. "I want to play the best teams we can."
Statistically, Arizona appears to be the favorite to win the tourney. The Wildcats boast the best ERA (0.41) and highest batting average (.392) of all participants.
Boston is the two-time defending American East champion and was unanimously chosen to repeat. The Terriers started the season 3-0 but have lost six of their last seven.
While Arizona has the reigning Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, sophomore Alicia Hollowell (11-0), and Pac-10 Player of the Week, senior Wendy Allen, OSU has the current Big XII Player of the Week ÷ freshman outfielder Shanel Scott.
The Cowgirls, who are receiving votes in the polls, have won seven of their last eight, though that run has come against unranked teams.
Other tournament games today include Stanford vs. Oklahoma State at 9 a.m., followed by South Florida vs. the Cowgirls and the Bulls vs. Boston. Tomorrow, the action starts with USF vs. the Cardinal followed by the Terriers vs. SU and BU vs. OSU.