Injuries not a problem in softball's sweep of Oregon
The excitement and energy levels of the UA softball players were at their peaks for the opening of Pacific 10 Conference play this weekend, but their health was questionable.
"Injuries have been a problem for us," UA head coach Mike Candrea said at practice last Thursday, before the Oregon schools paid a visit to No. 2-ranked Arizona.
Although a number of key players were nursing some previous playing wounds, Candrea made it clear that it would be almost a full roster on the field to challenge the No. 16-ranked Ducks Friday night and No. 12 Beavers Saturday night, both in doubleheaders at Hillenbrand Stadium.
"Oh, they'll all be out there this weekend," he said.
Only one injured player was not slated to start in the Oregon series, nor will she appear for the remainder of the Wildcats' season. Senior shortstop Micelle Churnock broke her leg in a collision with a Tennessee player Feb. 26.
The Wildcats lost their only senior in Churnock's fall.
"As far as leadership, we're still looking," Candrea said, "and it doesn't always have to fall to the duties of a senior. Anyone out there, at anytime, can be our leader.
"It's that someone who sets an example. So, we'll let the actions speak for themselves."
Not only was the remainder of the disabled list suited in uniform and out on the playing field, they were making it clear in their actions and on the scoreboard that their injuries were not an issue.
The Wildcats had a clean sweep over Oregon 9-1,11-6. But the second game did not prove to be an easy sweep, as the Wildcats fell behind 5-0 in the first inning.
Sophomore third baseman Toni Mascarenas, who has been dealing with tendonitis flare-ups, had a key ground-out RBI in the fourth. This was followed by another ground ball hit by sophomore left fielder Lauren Bauer on which an Oregon error led to two runs scored. Bauer was recovering from an earlier shoulder injury.
Mascarenas was also the revenge element in Saturday's second Oregon State game, as she crossed the plate as the winning run in the 3-2 victory, after making it to first on an error and second on a sacrifice.
She was able to score off sophomore shortstop Felecity Willis' single in the seventh inning. Willis inched the Wildcats out of their losing record with the Beavers. OSU had back-to-back wins against Arizona for the first time since Pac-10 play began in 1987. The Wildcats fell to OSU last weekend at the Kia Klassic in Fullerton, Calif., 3-2.
Though this was Willis' first mainstream action in the '99 softball season, after completing the basketball season as point guard and seeing limited playing in the Fullerton tournament due to a shoulder injury, the lack of playing time went unnoticed, as Willis scored three runs with three RBI and three hits against the Oregon schools.
"I haven't hit a softball since last fall, and need to practice swinging the bat," Willis said before the games. "You just can't come out right away and pick up where you left off last season."
Candrea didn't seem to lack confidence going into the games with Willis at bat. Though he commented she needed playing time, it seemed he was confident she could pull off the winning single, as well as a triple in the OSU game.
"Felicity just needs playing time," he said. "The repetition will train her (back to where she was last season).
"I have confidence in her, she's a good athlete and gives 100 percent."
Willis also filled in for Churnock defensively, relieving Mascarenas, who had slid over from her usual third base position for the Fullerton tournament.
"I'm more comfortable at third," Mascarenas said. "But if I've got to play short, I can do that. Wherever the team needs me, I'll be."
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