Softball sends 10 Cats to Olympic trials in Calif.

Ten former or current University of Arizona softball players have been named to the list of 46 players invited to participate in 2003 Olympic Trials next month in Chula Vista, Calif.

Olympic head coach Mike Candrea, who will work part-time as UA's mentor during the next year, will lead the staff that selects the team. Six former players and four current members of the Wildcat softball program will compete.

Heading the list is two-time Olympic gold medalist Leah O'Brien-Amico, an outfielder who participated on the USA Softball Team that won the U.S. Cup and Pan American games this summer. O'Brien-Amico was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year to add to her list of accomplishments.

Others on that club who received automatic invitations to the Trials Sept. 2-7 include former players Jennie Finch, a two-time National Player of the Year as a pitcher for the Wildcats, outfielder Nicole Giordano and shortstop Lovie Jung.

Players from the USA Softball Elite Team who won the 2003 Canada Cup gold are sophomore pitching ace Alicia Hollowell, senior catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest and former third baseman Toni Mascarenas.

Former outfielder Lauren Bauer, sophomore outfielder Autumn Champion and incoming outfielder recruit Caitlin Lowe were also chosen for the Trials.

FILE PHOTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Would-be senior Richie Gardner, considered to be the ace of the Arizona baseball pitching staff, opted to forego his senior season and sign a professional contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

A last-ditch effort by the Cincinnati Reds was enough to lure senior-to-be Richie Gardner from the Arizona baseball program. The right-hander, slated to be UA's Friday night starter this season, agreed to terms with the Reds on Friday, just two days before the start of school.

Gardner was 9-3 in his only season with the Wildcats after transferring prior to last season from Santa Rosa JC (Calif.). He compiled and E.R.A. of 4.49 in 16 starts and led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts as a junior.

Despite the loss of Gardner, Arizona welcomes back the majority of the 2003 roster that advanced to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 1999.

"Losing Gardner this late really stings," head coach Andy Lopez said. "But we're happy that Richie got what he wanted from the Reds and we certainly feel good about the guys we've got in school now. Offensively, we return a lot of firepower and speed, and we made an effort to bolster the pitching staff through our newcomers."