New Orleans site of next test for Wildcats

Robert Henry Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat Lety Pineda makes contact with a pitch during a recent game at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Arizona softball team will compete in New Orleans this weekend.

This weekend it will be on the campus of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, home of the Louisiana Classics softball tournament.

There, No. 1 ranked Arizona (10-0) will face Alabama, Baylor and host No. 7 USL.

During tomorrow's marathon three-game schedule the Wildcats' toughest opponent may be the crowd.

"They (USL) will definitely be bringing a big crowd, and we have to be ready for that," UA assistant coach Amy Chellevold said. "As long as we can get ahead and shut the crowd down we will be on solid ground."

This will be the second of back-to-back road tournaments for Arizona. Last weekend they won five straight in the ASU Coke Classic at the Cave Creek Sports Complex in Phoenix.

"We're looking forward to it," UA head coach Mike Candrea said. "A lot of the players haven't been in a tournament like this. Right now we're playing a lot of different people and we need to prepare for Pacific 10 play."

Sophomore Lisa Pitt may get her first pitching opportunit. Pitt was brought into the starting rotation last season to replace the injured Nancy Evans. Putting up victories over notables like Washington, UCLA, Florida State and Iowa, Pitt was critical to Arizona's national title run. Recently, Candrea moved Pitt into the infield in an attempt to keep her potent bat in the line-up.

"Lisa is looking to come in in relief," Candrea said. "With three games on Saturday, I would be surprised to see her come in and pitch against Louisiana State."

Over the last 10 games the Wildcats have scored 98 runs, 17 of which have come from the bat of catcher Leah Braatz-Cochrane.

Lety Pineda has also been an important offensive factor, hitting seven home runs over the last ten games. Initially considered to play as a designated hitter, she has been playing third base after being replaced by Braatz-Cochrane behind the plate.

Arizona will play three games tomorrow in a round robin format. On Sunday the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds will meet at noon, and the winner will play the winner of the 2-3 seed game for the championship at 2 p.m.