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CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Sophomore UA outfielder Autumn Champion attempts a drag bunt last season. The Wildcats play Phoenix College Saturday in their first action of the season.
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By James Kelley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, January 22, 2004
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The Pacific 10 Conference coaches picked the Arizona softball team to finish second in the league and defending national champions UCLA to win it.
The No. 3 Wildcats (56-7, 19-2 Pac-10 last season) were not picked to defend their Pac-10 championship, receiving 44 points. Seven points are awarded per first-place vote, six points for second and on down.
Arizona did receive two first-place votes.
The top-ranked Bruins (54-7, 17-4 last year, second in the Pac-10) received 48 points and six first-place votes. No. 2 California was picked to finish third with 36 points, followed by No. 5 Washington, No. 12 Stanford, No. 13 Oregon, No. 19 ASU and No. 23 Oregon State.
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UA Softball
regular season opener:
Feb. 6
Arizona Pepsi Invitational
Hillenbrand Stadium
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Last year, the Pac-10 sent all eight teams to the national tournament for the third time and had three teams in the Women's College World Series: the UA, UCLA and Cal. For the 10th time, the national championship was an all-Pac-10 affair, with the Bruins and Golden Bears squaring off.
The league also has all eight teams ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate poll, voted on by coaches and media.
The other poll, by the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association, is due out next week.
Schultz to reunite with high school teammate
More than the usual junior college versus university bragging rights will be on the line this weekend for Phoenix College sophomore outfielder Melissa Neiman when the Lady Bears play the UA this Saturday.
Neiman went to the same high school as Arizona sophomore utility player Shelly Schultz: Greenway High School in Phoenix.
For the Demons, Schultz was Arizona Player of the Year 2002, state Gatorade Player of the Year 2002, first-team all-state, NW Valley Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and holds Greenway's single-season hit record of 48.
Schultz started at first base most of last year and is contending for the spot at first, at second and in the circle this year. She made one relief pitching performance last year, earning a win over No. 8 Washington.
