Parra captures top award

Arizona Daily Wildcat

In probably the week's most ironic bit of sports news, the biggest team player in Arizona softball history got the sport's biggest individual award.

Susie Parra was named winner of the Honda Softball Award as the nation's best softball player in 1994.

She will be honored at the Honda Awards dinner on Jan. 9 in San Diego, Calif.

In addition to pitching Arizona to its third NCAA Championsip last May, Parra did not allow an earned run in three College World Series victories, including a one-hit, 13-strikeout performance in the Wildcats' 4-0 win last year in the championship game.

Coach Mike Candrea likened the award to college football's Heisman Trophy, and expressed that Parra's accomplishments made her a very deserving candidate for the award.

"I'm very excited that they have finally recognized Susie's accomplishments," Candrea said. "Not many people can sit back after four years and say that they've got three national championships, and that they finished second the other year.

"I'm really happy for her because Susie definitely meant a lot to our program and the thing that's so neat about her is that she's a very unselfish kid who always put the team ahead of her individual honors. I think that's a great tribute to her as an individual and as an athlete. I'm really pleased that she's going to get the recognition that she deserves."

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The UA women's golf team finished in fourth place in the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational Wednesday. The 54-hole tournament was held at the Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Wash.

Arizona finished with a team total of 947.

UA freshman Heather Graff finished in the top 10 for the third time in as many tournaments, shooting a 229, good for a tie for seventh place. Sophomore Brenna Cepelak finished in tenth at 230. Sophomore Kelly Heffer had an off week, and came into the clubhouse in 20th with her 239.

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The Arizona women's tennis team heads north this weekend to compete in the Arizona State Invitational. The event will be held at the ASU Tennis Center and runs Oct. 14-16.

Competing for Arizona is senior Allison Grace, sophomore Melody Falco and freshmen Vicky Maes and Betsy Miringoff.

While the 1994-95 season doesn't officially open until January, competitive play starts well in advance. The preseason tournaments allow UA coach Becky Bell to evaluate her team's talent and provide the players with valuable experience before league play begins.

The Wildcats played their first tournament two weeks ago in the National Clay Court Championships, Jackson, Miss. Arizona's top doubles team of Angela Bernal and Stephanie Sammaritano reached the third round of the main draw doubles before being eliminated from the championship by Texas's Lucie Ludvigova and Kelly Pace 6-3, 6-2.

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