players of the year - arizona...

ARIZONA SOFTBALL 2003 - 39

Players of the YearDDDDDiamond Siamond Siamond Siamond Siamond Sporporporporports/NFCAts/NFCAts/NFCAts/NFCAts/NFCACatcher of the Catcher of the Catcher of the Catcher of the Catcher of the YYYYYearearearearear

- 1998 - Leah Braatz- 1997 - Leah Braatz

Braatz is Arizona’s only four-time first-team All-American selection and completedher career in superb fashion in winning back-to-back national honors for her position.Braatz tied former UA great Laura Espinoza(1992-95) in 1998 for the NCAA career leadin home runs with 85. She hit .410, hercareer best, with 25 home runs and 100 RBI,becoming only the third player in NCAAhistory to drive in more than 100 runs alongwith former teammates Espinoza (128 in1995) and Jenny Dalton (109 in 1996). Her322 career RBI are No. 3 on the NCAAchart behind those two players. Her careerbatting average of .381 is No. 5 on theArizona charts. On the UA career charts sheis No. 1 in doubles, No. 2 in walks and RBI,and No. 4 in hits and runs scored. Defen-sively she was one of the best in the gameand opponents were able to steal only 66bases and were thrown out 27 times.

- 2002 - Jennie Finch - Pitcher of the YearLovie Jung - Newcomer of the Year

2001 - Jennie Finch - Pitcher of the Year- 1998 - Alison McCutcheon- 1997 - Alison McCutcheon- 1996 - Jenny Dalton- 1995 - Laura Espinoza- 1994 - Susie Parra

UA centerfielder Alison McCutcheon wasnot an easy choice for Pac-10 Player of the Yearin 1998 (or 1997) because of the outstandingyears turned in by teammates Nancy Evans andLeah Braatz in 1998 or those two and LeahO’Brien in 1997. But, once selected, none couldquibble with her credentials. She collected morethan 100 hits for the second year in a row (asingle-season record 132 in 1997 and 117 in1998) and stole 67 bases in 70 attempts, plusscored 97 runs. Her career hits total is the topfigure in NCAA history at 405 – the only playerever to eclipse the 400 mark. She is Arizona’scareer leader in hitting (.534) and in seasonhitting (.466 in 1997), in career stolen bases(148) and single-season SB (67)... Arguably thebest leadoff hitter in America, she was clearlythe most consistent onbase threat in the game

for two years. Her ability earned her three first-team All-America honors.

Shortstop Laura Espinoza was the first ofthe nation’s sluggers with the advent of the newball and set a remarkable record with 37 homeruns and 132 runs batted in during her seniorseason. Her career mark of 85 home runs wasthreatened only by Braatz and well could standin that tie for some time. She was a three-timefirst-team All-America selection and one of theWildcats’ five players (Amy Chellevold, LeahBraatz, Leah O’Brien, Jenny Dalton) to earnfour-time, first-team All-Pacific-10 Conferencehonors. During her reign as the clean-up hitterfor the Wildcats, she was the leader behind anumber of team NCAA marks the Cats set,including 100 home runs, 629 runs, 1,216 totalbases, 287 walks and 565 RBI.

In 2000, the Pac-10 began awardingplayer, pitcher and newcomer of theyear honors. UA’s Jennie Finch won the 2001and 2002 Pitcher of the Year Awards andshortstop Lovie Jung won the 2002 Newcomerof the Year Award.

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Leah Braatz Alison McCutcheon Laura Espinoza


2001 NCAA ChampionsFor the sixth time in 11 years, Arizona walked away with the NCAA Softball Championship. The Cats defeated the Bruins 1-0 in the title game. An

amazing pitching performance by junior Jennie Finch and a fourth inning home-run by senior catcher Lindsey Collins paved the way for the Wildcats.Finch improved her season record to 32-0 and her extended winning streak to 40 straight games.

Arizona was ranked No. 1 and No. 2 for much of the year. The Wildcats came into the season with a 31-game winning streak and ended the yearwith a 26-game winning streak. For most of the season the Cats led the Pac-10 in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and runsscored. Arizona’s fielding percentage (.981) led the nation and is the third best in NCAA history. The Cats also had 126 home runs which broke theprevious NCAA record of 100 set by the 1995 UA team. The record of 1.83 home runs per game is also an NCAA record.

Arizona’s talented team earned a number of individual awards. Pitcher Jennie Finch received the Honda Award as National Player of the Year alongwith first-team All-America honors and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year accolades. Senior third baseman Toni Mascarenas, freshman designated player LeneahManuma and senior outfielders Lauren Bauer and Nicole Giordano also earned All-America nods.

2001 CWS Scores (Winning Pitcher)Arizona 3, California 2 (Finch)Arizona 5, Oklahoma 4 (Finch)Arizona 1, Stanford 0 (Lemke)Arizona 1, UCLA 0 (Finch)

2001 Arizona All-CWSJennie Finch, p ~ Most Valuable PlayerToni Mascarenas, 3bNicole Giordano, ofLindsey Collins, c

2001 All-AmericansJennie Finch, p, National Player of the YearToni Mascarenas, 3bLauren Bauer, ofLeneah Manuma, dpNicole Giordano, of, 3rd Team


1997 NCAA ChampionsArizona was ranked No. 1 much of the season and just decided to stay

on top, completing a remarkable 61-5 season with itsfifth NCAA Championship and second back-to-back effort. Effort pavedthe way, but talent helped. UA again was represented by five first-team All-Americans as selected by the nation’s coaches — pitcher Nancy Evans,catcher Leah Braatz, first baseman Leah O’Brien, third baseman LeticiaPineda and outfielder Alison Johnsen.

But individual honors were the gravy alone as the Cats stayed lockedon target throughout a focused season playing for all the marbles. Integrat-ing a number of young players with championship veterans, coach MikeCandrea kept his team playing hard the whole year. Hard enough for a 26-1 finish and Pac-10 Championship; hard enough for a 27-4 mark againstranked teams.

Johnsen set a lot of tone in the regular season, finishing with aUarecord .534 batting average and an NCAA-record 132 hits. O’Briencapped a remarkable career by using her talent at its best when all the chipswere on the table: she collected 9 hits and 6 RBI in the College WorldSeries and finished her CWS career with an incredible total of 31 hits and19 RBI in four different classics.

Evans, with an Arizona-record 36 pitching victories, also saved somebest for last. She threw all five Arizona games at the World Series andfinished the year with verve as UA topped UCLA 10-2 in a runaway title

game.

• 1997 CWS Scores (Winning Pitcher)Arizona 2, Massachusetts 1 (Evans)Arizona 2, No. 5 UCLA 0 (Evans)No. 4 Fresno State 3, Arizona 0 (Scott)Arizona 6, No. 4 Fresno State 3 (Evans)Arizona 10, No. 5 UCLA 2 (Evans)

• 1997 Arizona All-CWS Picks:Nancy Evans, p, - Most Valuable PlayerLeah O’Brien, 1bAlison Johnsen, of

• 1997 Arizona All-AmericansNancy Evans, pLeah Braatz, cLeah O’Brien, 1bAlison Johnsen, Pac-10 Player of the YearLeticia Pineda, 3b

2001 NCAA Champions at the White House


1996 NCAA Champions

1994 NCAA Champions

For the second time, Arizona followed a season (1992 and 1995) inwhich it won the Pac-10 title but finished as runnerup in the CollegeWorld Series... with a second-place finish in the league, but the NCAAtitle. Decent trade. Arizona got hot when it counted, ending the seasonwith a 17-game winning streak. There were numerous keys — everyoneon the team. Pinch-runners scored runs, pinch-hitters got hits, pitchersbattled whether ahead or behind, and Arizona once again put anawesome offensive attack on the field.

Jenny Dalton won the Pac-10 Triple Crown, the first player to doso, with a .469 batting average, 25 home runs and an incredible 109RBI. Leticia Pineda, put in the everyday catching role because of LeahBraatz’ redshirt season, hit 14 homers and drove in 96, plus batted .404.Carrie Dolan, carrying most of the pitching load because of NancyEvans’ medical hardship season, won a school-record 35 games against sixlosses, but freshman Lisa Pitt also came through with a dandy 19-3record, too. Outfielder Alison Johnsen put herself at the next level witha 94-hit seeason and a .450 batting average. Third baseman KristaGomez hit .400 and finished with the fourth-best career batting averagein UA history, .358, plus hit the career charts in hits, RBI, runs andstolen bases, among others. Arizona played in a regional out of the statefor the first time, but used it to pull together, and hit the road for 11days to bring back the trophy.

• 1996 CWS Scores (Winning Pitcher)Arizona 5, Iowa 2 (Pitt)Arizona 4, UCLA 0 (DolanArizona 10, Iowa 2, 6 innings (Pitt)Arizona 6, Washington 4 (Dolan)

• 1996 Arizona All-CWSJenny Dalton, 2b, Most Valuable PlayerAlison Johnsen, ofKrista Gomez, at-largeCarrie Dolan, pMichelle Churnock, at-large

• 1996 Arizona All-AmericansJenny Dalton, 2b; National Player of the YearLeticia Pineda, cAlison Johnsen, ofCarrie Dolan, p, 2nd teamKrista Gomez, 3b, 2nd teamBrandi Shriver, of, 2nd team

The Cats ‘chuck-and-duck’ hitting attack displays one of the mostawesome punches in the history of the college game. The Cats sock theirway to an NCAA-record 64 victories (against 3 losses), start the year witha school-record 27-game winning streak and end the campaign undefeated(7-0) in post-season play for the first time. Along the way, Arizona blasts93 home runs, led by junior shortstop Laura Espinoza’s jersey-number feat(30), 18 by freshman catcher Leah Braatz, 16 by soph second basemanJenny Dalton and 14 by senior Susie Parra, who capped a remarkablecareer with National Player of the Years honors by winning the HondaSoftball Award. Parra dominated from the pitching circle, completing a33-1 season. She did not allow an earned run in three CWS victories, plusstruck out 13 in the NCAA title game. She threw the seventh and eighthno-hitters of her career.

Junior first baseman Amy Chellevold hit .504 in the leadoff spot andsoph center fielder Leah O’Brien .416 batting second. Dalton hit .434.Arizona set a national record with its .380 team batting average. Espinozaknocked in an incredible 95 runs in 66 games. Freshmen pitchers NancyEvans and Carrie Dolan made marks with 17-0 and 11-2 records.

• 1994 CWS Scores (Winning Pitcher)Arizona 8, No. 19 Illinois-Chicago 0, 5 innings (Evans)Arizona 3, No. 6 Fresno St. 0 (Parra)Arizona 5, No. 5 UCLA 2 (Parra)Arizona 4, No. 3 CS-Northridge 0 (Parra)

• 1994 Arizona All-CWS picksSusie Parra, p; Leah Braatz, c; Amy Chellevold, 1b;Jenny Dalton, 2b; Leah O’Brien, of

• 1994 Arizona All-AmericansLeah Braatz, c; Amy Chellevold, 1b; Jenny Dalton, 2b;Laura Espinoza, ss; Leah O’Brien, of; Susie Parra, p


1993 NCAA Champions

1991 NCAA Champions

The Wildcats do not successfully defend their first conferencechampionship (16-2 in 1992), yet again come through with a solid post-season run to win the bigger title.

The power-hitting Wildcats win the NCAA home run title with 36roundtrippers in their 52 games, and run production leads the way to a 44-8 season and a 15-3 record for second place in the Pac-10. Pitching was nota problem either, as junior Susie Parra sparkled with a 28-3 record, 3 savesand an outstanding earned run average of 0.63. Freshman Leah O’Brienadded a 16-5 mark. Catcher Jody (Miller) Pruitt held opponents to 6 stolenbases, the Cats hit a then school-record .328 as a team. Sophomore LauraEspinoza hit the scene in a big way with 12 home runs and AmyChellevold led a solid group of hitters with a .379 batting average.

The Cats opened the year 22-2 to earn the school’s first No. 1 rankingand Arizona later proved it was an accurate peg with an NCAA title-gamevictory over another No. 1-ranked team, UCLA.

• 1993 CWS Scores (Winning Pitcher)Arizona 6, No. 7 Long Beach St. 0 (Parra)Arizona 2, No. 8 SW Louisiana 1, 10 innings (Parra)Arizona 1, No. 4 Oklahoma St. 0, 9 innings (Parra)No. 8 SW La. 1, Arizona 0, 8 innings, (Hall)Arizona 1, No. 1 UCLA 0 (Parra)

• 1993 Arizona All-CWSSusie Parra, pAmy Chellevold, 1bStacy Redondo, ofKrista Gomez, 2bJody Pruitt, c

• 1993 Arizona All-AmericansSusie Parra, pJamie Heggen, ofLaura Espinoza, ss, 2nd teamAmy Chellevold, 1b, 2nd teamJody Pruitt, c, 2nd team

Arizona wins its first women’s team national championship in anysport. Pitching (Debby Day 30-8, 0.50; Susie Parra 14-3, 0.43; Julie Jones12-5, 1.21) and defense (.970 team fielding percentage, Julie Standering187 assists at shortstop) were keys to the season. The Cats also stole 119bases. Jones (.350), Jamie Heggen (.330), Kristin Gauthier (.300),Standering (.296) and Jody Miller (.272) had outstanding seasons at theplate. The Cats beat No. 1-ranked UCLA twice at the College World Seriesto earn the championship, including a 5-1 victory in the title game. UA hadfour extra-inning games in the classic. The Cats used short-game tacticsmuch of the year and were led by Standering with 30 and Miller with 20stolen bases. Arizona finished the year 56-16 overall. The Cats werefrustrated in the tough Pac-10 Conference at 11-9 and a fourth-place finish.

• 1991 CWS Scores (Winning Pitcher)Arizona 1, No. 5 UNLV 0, 13 innings (Day)Arizona 1, No. 1 UCLA 0, 9 innings (Day)Arizona 1, No. 18 Long Beach State 0, 8 innings (Day)No. 2 Fresno State 1, Arizona 0, 8 innings (Carpenter)Arizona 5, No. 1 UCLA 0 (Day)

• 1991 Arizona All-CWSJulie Jones, 1bJulie Standering, ssKristin Gauthier, ofDebby Day, p

• 1991 Arizona All-AmericansJulie Standering, ssJulie Jones, 1b, 2nd teamDebby Day, p, 3rd team


Wildcat Pitching TraditionThroughout the years, Arizona has maintained itself as a pre-eminent

pitching ballclub, with a cumulative earned run average of 1.18 in 21 yearsof Division I softball play.

Three of Arizona’s five Honda Softball Award winners — Susie Parrain 1994, Nancy Evans in 1998, and Jennie Finch in 2001 and 2002 —were pitchers (though they contributed greatly in those honored seasonswith their bats as well).

In 2002, the one-two punch of senior Jennie Finch and sophomoreJenny Gladding struck out 576 batters. The duo combined for a 1.31ERA.

Finch was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year for the second consecu-tive season and finished 2002 with a 34-6 record and a 0.97 ERA. Her 34victories was a Pac-10 best. She struck out 366 batters in 273 inningspitched, which is No. 1 in the UA record book. Finch struck out a career-high 19 batters against Oklahoma on April 17, 2002. Finch also ended theseason with 14 double-digit strikeout performances.

Finch closed her Wildcat career with a 119-16 overall winningrecord, which moves her No. 2 on the UA record charts for most careervictories. She ended her career with eight no-hitters, tying Susie Parra asthe top UA blank artist. Finch finished her career with 1,028 strikeouts,No. 1 in the UA record book, and became only the fifth pitcher in UAhistory to win more than 100 games.

Gladding, who subsequently transferred from the program, had animpressive season in 2002, ending the year with a 21-6 record. She alsohad a 1.88 ERA and struck out 210 batters.

Evans threw three no-hitters in 1998 to give her five in her career,which included two first-team All-America seasons as a pitcher. Evans andParra are Arizona’s only repeat selections on the NFCA first-team All-America honor roll as pitchers.

Parra and Debbie Day threw two no-hitters in one day in 1991. Dayalso threw back-to-back no-hitters on successive days in 1992. Parra threwa perfect game against a powerful California club in April 1993 andagainst Oregon State a year earlier.

The 1995 season had a Wildcat pitching highlight when the duo ofEvans and Carrie Dolan matched the feats of previous pitchers Day andParra. Evans and Dolan combined for two no-hitters in one day in March1995 when Dolan beat New Mexico in five innings, and Evans turnedaround and defeated Pacific in five innings. Evans then continued on herhot streak when she threw a no-hitter the following day against NewMexico, matching a feat by Day, by throwing back-to-back no-hitters inconsecutive days. Dolan and Evans gave Arizona a first, though B threesuccessive no-hitters.

In 1997, Dolan threw the only no-hitter against Alabama inSouthwestern Louisiana’s Classics Tournament. Evans had three one-hittersin 1997, and Dolan threw one.

In 1998, freshman Becky Lemke turned in the best-ever record for anArizona newcomer, finishing with a 25-2 record. She tossed four one-hitters and three two-hit games, and she was unbeaten in league games at13-0.

Parra and Day combined to give UA a school record 41 shutouts in1992.

ArizArizArizArizArizonaonaonaonaona’’’’’s Cars Cars Cars Cars Career Neer Neer Neer Neer No-hitters:o-hitters:o-hitters:o-hitters:o-hitters:PPPPPitcheritcheritcheritcheritcher DDDDDateateateateate OOOOOpponentpponentpponentpponentpponentTonja Anderson 4/17/77 Northern ArizonaTonja Anderson 5/28/77 Arizona StateSandy Miramontes 4/17/82 Southern CaliforniaSheryl Kempkes 3/11/83 San Diego StatePam Stone 3/06/84 UC-Santa BarbaraSandy Miramontes 5/04/84 OregonTeresa Cherry 3/07/87 Central MichiganLisa Bautista 3/19/87 Oklahoma (5)Teresa Cherry 3/26/87 Fresno StateLisa Bautista 2/25/88 MinnesotaLeslie VanOver 3/12/88 Oregon StateLeslie VanOver 3/24/88 San FransiscoDoreen Juarez 5/06/89 CaliforniaJulie Jones 4/21/90 CaliforniaDebby Day 2/14/91 Pacific (5)Debby Day 2/22/91 UNLVSusie Parra 2/24/91 UC-Santa BarbaraJulie Jones 3/22/91 Colorado StateDebby Day 3/22/91 Oregon StateSusie Parra 4/05/91 St. Mary’s (5)Debby Day 4/05/91 St. Mary’sSusie Parra** 4/11/92 Oregon State (6)Debby Day 4/24/92 Oregon StateDebby Day 4/25/92 OregonSusie Parra 2/13/93 Texas-San Antonio (5)Susie Parra 2/19/93 Fresno StateSusie Parra** 4/18/93 California (8)Susie Parra 2/13/94 Texas A & MSusie Parra 4/23/94 Oregon StateCarrie Dolan 3/04/95 New Mexico (5)Nancy Evans 3/04/95 Pacific (5)Nancy Evans 3/05/95 New Mexico (5)Carrie Dolan 3/24/95 Texas A & MCarrie Dolan 2/23/97 Alabama (5)Nancy Evans 3/7/98 Texas Tech (6)Nancy Evans 4/19/98 Stanford (5)Nancy Evans 5/9/98 UCLAJennie Finch 5/21/99 Southwest TexasBecky Lemke 2/4/00 Southern Mississippi (5)Becky Lemke 3/11/00 Brigham YoungBecky Lemke 5/18/00 Middle Tennessee State (6)Jennie Finch 2/18/00 Tennessee State (5)Jennie Finch 2/25/00 Drake (5)Jennie Finch 5/21/00 NebraskaBecky Lemke 2/2/01 Florida AtlanticBecky Lemke 2/16/01 Bowling Green (6)Jenny Gladding 3/3/01 Indiana State (6)Jenny Gladding 3/6/01 Creighton (6)Becky Lemke 3/13/01 San Diego (5)Jennie Finch 4/1/01 Oregon StateJennie Finch 2/17/02 New Mexico State (6)Jennie Finch 3/2/02 Evansville (5)Jennie Finch 3/14/02 Notre Dame**Perfect game

ArizArizArizArizArizona Pona Pona Pona Pona Pitching Hitching Hitching Hitching Hitching Honors:onors:onors:onors:onors:HHHHHonda Sonda Sonda Sonda Sonda Softball Aoftball Aoftball Aoftball Aoftball Awarwarwarwarwarddddd - Nancy Evans, Susie Parra, Jennie Finch (01/02)

FFFFFirst-team All-Americairst-team All-Americairst-team All-Americairst-team All-Americairst-team All-America - Finch (00/01/02), Evans (97/98), Parra (93/94),

Carrie Dolan (95), Debbie Day (92)

SSSSSecond-team All-Americaecond-team All-Americaecond-team All-Americaecond-team All-Americaecond-team All-America - Dolan (96), Parra (92), Teresa Cherry (88),

Julie Jones (until, 90)

ThirThirThirThirThird-team All-Americad-team All-Americad-team All-Americad-team All-Americad-team All-America - Day (91), Becky Lemke (99)

College College College College College WWWWWorld Sorld Sorld Sorld Sorld Series MVPeries MVPeries MVPeries MVPeries MVP - Evans (97), Finch (01)

All-College All-College All-College All-College All-College WWWWWorld Sorld Sorld Sorld Sorld Serieserieserieserieseries - Evans (95/98), Dolan (96), Parra (92/93/94),

Day (91), Finch (01/02)

NCAA All-RNCAA All-RNCAA All-RNCAA All-RNCAA All-Regionalegionalegionalegionalegional - Evans (97/98), Finch (99/00/01/02), Jenny Gladding (02).

PPPPPacific-10 Pacific-10 Pacific-10 Pacific-10 Pacific-10 Playlaylaylaylayer of the er of the er of the er of the er of the YYYYYearearearearear - Parra (94), Finch (01)

USA NUSA NUSA NUSA NUSA National ational ational ational ational TTTTTeameameameameam - Evans (97), Parra (93/94/95), Finch (02).

All-PAll-PAll-PAll-PAll-Pac-10ac-10ac-10ac-10ac-10 - Lemke (’99/00), Finch (00/01/02), Evans (94/95/97/98),

Dolan (95/96/97), Parra (92/93/94), Day (91/92), Jones (90), Ginnie Scheller (90),

Cherry (88)


Arizona Alumni Letterwinners

(Active players in italic)

Abrams, Candace 01-02Acevedo, Barbara 78Acuna, Teresa Marie 99Adreon, Tonja 76-77Aguilar, Marcie 90-91Almhjell, Tracy 87-88Amado, Jeanette 85-86, 88Anazaldua, Vicky 75, 77-78Andrade, Allison 00-01Avery, Star 75Barash, Nan 80Amy Baray, 99Bauer, Lauren, 98-99-00-01Bautista, Lisa 86-89Bernstein, Lisa 8.-86Boodry, Krista 85-86Bomberger, Heidi 96Boutin, Trish 85-86Braatz, Leah 94-95, 97-98Butler, Deanna 80Buxton, Sarah 78Cardinal, Barbara 81Carson, Peggy 77Cassidy, Mary 79-82Castillo, Tersa 91Cawley, Gail 81-82Celey, Tammy 76-79Chellevold, Amy 92-95Cherry, Teresa 85-88Churnock, Michelle 96-99Coburn, Jaclyn 02Collins, Lindsey, 98-99-00-01Colvin, Amanda 92

Conner, Eillen 77Cookson, Janis 81-84Corrao, Barbara 81Dalton, Jenny 93-96Davenport, Gail 76-79Day, Debby 91-92Demeter, Teresa 98,99,00,01Dennis, Nicki 89-90DeSanta Valerie 80Dinota, Dee 81-84Dolan, Carrie 94-97Doty, Andrea 94-96Dougall, Jane 85-88Duarte, Susie 91-94Dyke, Juanita 81-82Engel, Stacy (Hill)86-89Espinoza, Laura 92-95Evans, Nancy 94-95,97-98Farhat, Tanya 96Farley, Crystal 02Fellenz, Karen 83-85Finch, Jennie 99-02Finnerty, Meaghan 02Fossatti, Courtney 02Foster, Betsy 75Gallego, Norma 75-76Garcia, Barbara 78-81Gault, Julie 75, 77Gauthier, Kristin 88-91Gil, Christine, 97-00Giocondo, Kathy 79-82Giordano, Nicole, 98-99-00-01Gladding, Jenny 01-02Glasser, Candy 86

Gomez, Krista 93-96Gonzales, Rachel 82-84, 86Guise, Lisa 90-93Hagen, Carrie 02Haggerty, Terry 76-79Halbwachs, Heidi 88-89Hammer, Susan 86-87Hancock, Jayne 79-80Hanson, Erika, 98-99-00-01Harrell, Kay 75-76Harris, Landa 83-84Hejduk, Tiana 96-98Heggen, Jamie 91-93Hicks, Kathleen 78Hirons, Denise 81Holm, Vivian 87-90Husk, Laura Jo 75-76Jackson, Sherry 75-76Johnsen, Alison 95-98Johnson, Jean 82-83Jones, Julie 89-91Juarez, Doreen 89-90Jung, Lovieanne 02Kempkes, Sheryl 83-86King, Robin 78Knox, Pam 79Koebensky, Karen 87-88Kuchan, Patty 82-84Lady, Suzie 88-91Langford, Kathy Jo 82-85LaRose, Kathleen 78-79Lemke, Becky, 98-99-00-01Lievens, Heidi 85-88Lim, Dana 76Loeper, Liz 76-77Longanecker, Jo 79-82Lopez, Gloria 76-77Manuma, Leneah 01-02Martinez, Jennifer 92Martinez, Michelle 93-94Mascarenas, Toni, 98-99-00-01Masi, Gail 75McBride, Mickie 87McDowell, Paige 84-87McKinny, Tammy 87-88Meek, Mary 79(Miller) Pruitt, Jody 90-93Miramontes, Sandy 82-84Moran, Cindy 83Mullins, Lindsay, 97Nelson, Robin 85Nobley, Sheryl 81-82Nuckolls, Debbie 80O’Brien, Leah 93-95, 97Ogg, Margret 80Overs, Julie 85-86Overstreet, Glenna 81Parra, Susie 91-94Peters, Gail 81-82Pineda, Leticia 95-98

Pitt, Lisa 96-97Pricer, Meghann 98-99Quiroz, Rebekah 02Rawson, Regina 79-82Redondo, Stacy 90-93Reed, Robin 75Reid, Nanci 75Reitan, Julie 95-97Ribella, Lisha 00-01-02Rice, Lindsay 00Richards, Marcia 75-76Riha, Toni 79Robinson, Lindsay 99-00Rosas, Renee 90-92Rosenbery, Kathi 79-80Rundquist, Julie 80Salcido, Stephanie 89-92Schade, Debbie 78Scheller, Ginnie 87-90Shriver, Brandi 94-97Sloan, Susan 76-79Springborn, Ann 83Standering, Julie 89-91Stedman, Catherine 90Stock, Chris 80Stone, Pam 82-84Swan, Katherine, 97-00Taylor, Cathy 75-76Tyndall, Dottie 78Vandergeest, Mackenzie 01-02VanOver, Leslie 88Von Liechtenstein, Allyson 02Welchert, Janice 75Wheat, Jamie 84 86-88Willis, Felecity, 98-99Winkleplek, Julie 79, 81Zepeda, Valerie 92-94Zingaro, Denise 85, 87

Nicole Giordano


Rita Hillenbrand StadiumArizona set softball school attendance records in Rita Hillenbrand

Stadium last season with a total draw of 49,140, a per game average of 1,755patrons and a single-game crowd of 3,161 for the April 7 UCLA game.

That growth and crowd support underscores the attraction of UA softballand its home field.

Obviously, one reason is the Cats’ typical home success – victories. UAhas played to a 310-18 record at home and last year the above game againstUCLA snapped a remarkable 70-game home field winning streak. Nonetheless,10 of the top 30 crowds in stadium history watched UA play ball in 2002.

Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium is one of many Arizona athleticfacilities supported by Mr. and Mrs. William G. Hillenbrand. Bill Hillenbrandand his wife, Doby (Delores D.), financed the $1 million stadium andlandscaping in memory of their late sister-in-law, Rita. The family latercontributed more funds to provide the wrought iron fencing surrounding thepark.

The family has provided tremendous support for a number of UA athleticprograms through gifts to develop and support the UA’s aquatic center, the

baseball stadium and Arizona’s football program. Another focal point in dailyWildcat athletics is the John W. Hillenbrand Meeting Center, named inmemory of Bill=s late father. That facility gives the athletics department a mainauditorium, a half-dozen classrooms and meeting rooms, and office space forthe athletics department’s Commitment to Athletes’ Total Success (CATS)program.

One thing for certain - the Arizona softball team finds its home field aproductive venue. The Cats have recorded a 241-17 record in Rita HillenbrandMemorial Stadium since its inaugural season in 1993.

The NCAA has found the facility to be a quality site for post-season playas well, with The University of Arizona playing host to NCAA Regionals in sixof the stadium’s seven years of existence.

Aside from the .938 home winning percentage, Arizona and visitingteams alike enjoy the facility for for an all-important reason: HillenbrandStadium easily boasts one of the best playing surfaces in collegiate softball.

And Arizona fans enjoy Arizona softball no matter which opponentshows up -- 13 different teams have been witness to the 30 largest crowds inHillenbrand Stadium. It is a facility the Wildcats find likeable -- in 1997 forthe first time, UA was undefeated at home with a 30-0 record. In 1998 theCats took a home winning streak to an NCAA-record 45 games. In 1999 UAwas 33-5 at home in 21 playing dates and attracted the second-largest crowd inHillenbrand history. In 2000 the Cats were 29-3 at home playing 26 dates.The Cats had the fifth largest crowd in Hillenbrand history .

Hillenbrand Stadium and its success in helping bring Division I collegiatesoftball into increased national focuses made it a national model in the early1990s for dynamic softball programs. As on-campus college softball facilitiesgo, it had elite status for several years until it engendered considerable copyingand today major universities around the country are putting their teams infacilities with style and substance.

But Hillenbrand maintains the one special feature, which makes it secondto none — the infield, outfield and foul territories provide one of the bestplaying surfaces in the country. Tucson’s climate and round-the-year mainte-nance keep the facility in game-ready condition more than 300 days per year.

The University of Arizona softball program moved into the facility seven

years ago, and went out andproved it was equal to thetrappings by winning twoconsecutive NCAA champion-ships and leading the nation inattendance in 1994 and 1995. UAadded another back-to-backNCAA title splurge in 1996 and1997. The outfield fence isfestooned with those and otherchampionship banners. UA alsohas won four Pac-10 titles sincemoving into Hillenbrand Stadium.

The Wildcats put together an 11-game winning streak the first year in thepark before dropping a game to Northern Illinois. Since then, Arizona has hadhome winning streaks of 45. 28, 26, and 29 at home. Only 11 teams havebeaten Arizona in 226 games in Hillenbrand — UCLA (three times, 1993,1996, 1999), Northern Illinois in 1994, Fresno State in 1996, Washington(twice, in 1996, 1998), UNLV in 1994, Oklahoma (1998), Texas Tech (1998),Cal State Northridge (1999), California (1999), Oregon State (1999) andMaryland (1999).

Several games against top competition have been cablecast regionally ornationally by ESPN or Fox Sports Net and all games attract a solid contingentof fans, area television and print reporters.

Hillenbrand Stadium offers clean line-of-sight views for all spectators, anexcellent stabilizer-red infield surface, an oversized backstop, a pressbox, a28-foot electronic scoreboard, recessed masonry dugouts, double-warmupbullpens, wheelchair access and seating areas, permanent six-foot outfield fence,permanent restroom, concession and ticketing facilities under the grandstand,and a memorial entryway. All permanent seats in the park are chair- orplank-back and outfield bleachers seating put fans on all sides of the field.

During its inaugural season in 1993, Arizona surpassed the initial seatingcapacity and averaged 734 fans per game in 12 home dates. In 1994, theWildcats led the nation in attendance with 1,316 fans per game. In 1995 UAled the nation with an average of 1,486. A record 2,890 watched the Cats playUCLA in March 1996 and that matchup also has drawn the Cats’ other threetop crowds. Arizona’s annual attendance is quite close to the stadium’spermanent seating capacity, listed at 2,500.

YYYYYearly Aearly Aearly Aearly Aearly Attendance:ttendance:ttendance:ttendance:ttendance:1993 8,808, 12 dates, 734 average1994 21,057, 16 dates,1,316 average**1995 25,261, 17 dates, 1,486 average**1996 20,748, 15 dates, 1,383 average1997 22,294, 14 dates, 1,592 average1998 28,651, 20 dates, 1,433 average1999 28,189, 21 dates, 1,342 average2000 34,581, 26 dates, 1,330 average2001 46,499, 28 dates, 1,661 average2002 49,140, 28 dates, 1775 average(**NCAA Leader)

30 30 30 30 30 TTTTTop Cop Cop Cop Cop Crrrrrooooowwwwwds in Hds in Hds in Hds in Hds in Hillenbrandillenbrandillenbrandillenbrandillenbrand1. 3,161 (4-7-2002, UCLA)2 3,004 (5-11-2001, UCLA)3 2,987 (4-30-2002, Arizona State)4. 2,890 (3-29-96, UCLA)5. 2,773 (4-5-2002, Washington)6. 2,751 (3-4-2001, Oklahoma)7. 2,739 (5-4-2002, Stanford)8. 2,746 (5-7-99, UCLA)9. 2,737 (3-17-95, UCLA)10. 2,686 (4-18-97, UCLA)11. 2,623 (4-13-2001, Arizona State)12. 2,606 (4-6-2002, UCLA13. 2,577 (5-5-2002, Stanford)14. 2,458 (4-22-2001, California)15. 2,431 (5-20-2001, Saint Peter’s-NCAA)16. 2,379 (4-20-2001, Stanford)17. 2,329 (4-5-00, Washington)18. 2,316 (5-19-95, Ohio-NCAA)19. 2,312 (5-18-2001, Texas Tech-NCAA)20. 2,306 (4-14-2001, Arizona State)21. 2,286 (5-19-2001, Cal State Fullerton-NCAA)22. 2,275 (4-29-95, Washington)23. 2,261 (5-3-2002, California)24. 2,245 (5-2-97, Oregon)25. 2,238 (4-10-98, Arizona State)26. 2,237 (3-31-96, Washington)27. 2,211 (4-27-2002, Oregon State)28. 2,171 (4-28-2002, Oregon State)29. 2,136 (2-24-2002, Cal State Northridge)30. 2,129 (5-15-99, Arizona State)Stadium Debut - 1,272 crowd, Feb.13, 1993, vs. Texas-San Antonio

ArizArizArizArizArizona Iona Iona Iona Iona In Hn Hn Hn Hn HillenbrandillenbrandillenbrandillenbrandillenbrandSeasons: 10Overall: 310-18Pac-10: 124-12NCAAs: 27-1Last Home Win: 6-1, Stanford, May 5, 2002Last Home Loss: 6-5 to UCLA, April 7, 2002Last Home Pac-10 Loss: 6-5 to UCLA, April 7, 2002Top Home Winning Streaks: 70 games, May 5, 2000 – April 6, 2002

45 games, 5-3-96 to 3-6-9829 (1995-96)28 (1993-94)26 (1994-95)


The University of ArizonaBorn on 40 acres of land donated by a saloon-keeper and two

gamblers, and funded by a $25,000 consolation prize in Tucson’scompetition for the Territorial capital, the University of Arizona rosefrom the dusty floor of the desert in true Wild West fashion. Nobodywanted it, and fewer believed it would last. Fortunately, they werewrong, and the bet laid down by E.B. Gifford, Ben C. Parker and W.S.“Billy” Read on Nov. 27, 1886, has paid off into one of the finestresearch institutions in the world.

When the first 32 students hitched their cow ponies to postsnear the only building on campus in 1891, they began a tradition thathas now entered its third century. The hitching posts may be gone, but“Old Main” remains as witness to the University’s growth into a 355-acre Research I institution with 185 buildings, more than 35,000students, and a faculty andstaff of 12,000. The UA isthe largest employer in PimaCounty and the fourth-largest in Arizona with apayroll of half a billiondollars.

It’s hard to believethat in the early days therewere more students in thepreparatory departmentfinishing the equivalent ofhigh school than there wereUniversity students. Thenumber of Universitygraduates never reachedmore than 10 per year until adecade of rapid expansionbeginning in 1910, whichsaw the Territory become astate and the small outpostin the Sonoran Desert grow into a true educational institution.

Today, the University of Arizona is one of the top 20 researchuniversities in the nation and has played a part in groundbreakingprojects ranging from the exploration of Mars to the development ofnew cancer treatments. UA’s observational, theoretical and spaceastronomy programs are ranked No. 1 in the country by the NationalScience Foundation (NSF) and recent U.S. News and World Reportrankings placed 17 of the school’s graduate programs among the top 20in the nation. In addition, the Nobel Prize, three Pulitzer Prizes and aNational Medal of Science have been bestowed upon Arizonaeducators.

Not to be forgotten, the University’s undergraduate programscontinue to flourish. The NSF considers Arizona to be one of the 10universities that best integrates teaching and research for undergradu-ates. The NASA-funded space grant program pays undergraduates towork in laboratories alongside faculty, and the Undergraduate BiologyResearch Program includes 43 departments, involves 200 facultysponsors and funds more than 100 undergraduate researchers eachsummer.

UA’s top-notch programs develop top-name graduates whohave continued on to success in their respective fields. The UAboasts a laundry list of graduates who have significantly impactedsociety. From the late U.S. Congressman Morris K. Udall to JoanGanz Cooney, founder of the Children’s Television Workshop, toEmmy Award winning actor/comedian Garry Shandling, UAgraduates have made their mark on the world. Other notable ex-Wildcats include Native American artist Fritz Scholder, the lateastronaut Richard Scobee, Arizona Supreme Court Justice StanleyG. Feldman and August Busch III, the CEO of Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

The UA also plays host to the world, with students represent-ing all 50 states and 130 countries. Nearly a quarter of the studentbody consists of under-represented racial and ethnic groups, and the

campus is located inone of the mostdiverse locations inthe country, with theinfluence of NativeAmerican andMexican culturesevident throughoutthe Tucsoncommunity.

The Univer-sity of Arizonaenters its thirdcentury of servicewith a continuedcommitment toproviding support toits undergraduatepopulation. Recentlycompleted andcurrent construction

projects are testaments to the fact that the UA is putting its moneywhere its mouth is. The Integrated Learning Center, locatedunderneath the grass Mall in the middle of campus, provides a homebase for freshmen, with classrooms and offices for easier access tofaculty and staff. In addition, the new Student Union, scheduled forcompletion this year, will contain the ambience of the Southwestwith shaded terraces and open-air walkways, while providing servicessuch as the bookstore and restaurants that serve the UA community.A new SALT (Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques) Center isunder construction to enhance aid to students with learningdisabilities, and the Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion, which includesa strength training center, medical services center, and the Jim ClickHall of Champions - a museum to showcase Arizona AthleticsHeritage and Tradition.

This commitment to excellence ensures that the Universityof Arizona will continue to grow from its auspicious beginnings as asingle-building outpost in the desert into a world-renowned centerfor knowledge and research well into the next century.


The University of Arizona’s athletic leadershipis in capable hands as the department embarks on its105th year and pursues success in 2002-03. JimLivengood became UA’s eighth athletics director inJanuary 1994. He has provided leadership that hasbrought an already successful program to new heightscompetitively and administratively, in addition tomaking considerable facility improvements, including

construction of the Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion. During his tenure,the UA has maintained its ranking among the best programs in thenation, finishing among the top 10 schools in the Sears Directors’ Cupstandings each of the last nine years. This record reflects success through-out Arizona’s broad-based program, highlighted by: participation in the1994 and 2001 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four; becoming1997 NCAA Men’s National Basketball Champions; winning the 1994,1996 and 1997 and 2001 NCAA Division I National Softball Champi-onships, along with the 1996 and 2000 NCAA women’s golf titles.

He is active on the national and regional level. Livengood becamechair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee in July 2002after serving on the committee since 1999. He is a member of the NCAAFellows (Pilot) Program to mentor new athletic directors and served onthe NCAA Peer Review team from 1994-99. This year, Livengood isVice President of the Pac-10 Conference, chairs the Pac-10 AthleticDirectors Revenue Sharing Committee, is a member of the Rose BowlManagement Committee, serves on the Pac-10 Men’s BasketballTournament Subcommittee, and is the Pac-10 AD’s Liaison to Men’sBasketball Coaches. In 2001-2002, he chaired both the Pac-10 Budget &Finance Committee and the Pac-10 Athletic Directors Committee TVSubcommittee, and also served on the Pac-10 Men’s Basketball Tourna-ment Sub-Committee.

He is among national leaders in gender equity issues, continuingthese efforts through his service to the Pac-10 Gender Equity Committee

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Kathleen “Rocky” LaRose begins her 24th yearat the University of Arizona, her ninth year as SeniorAssociate Director of Athletics and her 14th year asthe Senior Woman Administrator. Currently, sheoversees the operations of all 19 sports at the UA,being the first woman in her capacity to have day-to-day operational responsibilities over Division I-Afootball and men’s basketball programs.

As the Senior Associate Athletics Director,LaRose also oversees the compliance unit, heritage and the Hall ofChampions, public relations and special events, media relations andC.A.T.S. student-athlete services. She also chairs the department’s Equityand Title IX committees; and she directs the NCAA certification process.

LaRose joined the Arizona staff in 1979 as the UA softball coach andworked from 1980 until 1989 in various capacities including coordinatorof athletic special events and special projects, and as assistant athleticsdirector for fund development. LaRose is a past Vice President of thePac-10 Conference and is a current member of the Pac-10 Council,which governs and regulates all Pac-10 policies. On the national level,she was a member of the NCAA Management Council (the legislativebody of the NCAA) as the Pac-10 representative for four years and was

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(1997-98) as well as his continued diligent work to place the ArizonaAthletics program in a leadership role in gender issues.

On the national scene, Livengood served as president of the NationalAssociation of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 1998-99and continues to serve as a member of the NACDA Executive Commit-tee, the NACDA Finance-Management Committee, the NACDAStrategic and Long Range Planning Committee, and the NACDAPreseason Football Games Committee. He was president of the DivisionI-A Athletics Directors Association in 1998-99 and remains activelyinvolved with that association. Livengood’s hard work was recognized inthe spring of 1999 when he was named the National Association ofCollegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)/Continental Airlines DivisionI-A Athletic Director of the Year.

Born in Quincy, Wash., Livengood earned honorable mention all-state honors in basketball at Quincy High School. He attended Washing-ton State, Everett (Wash.) Community College and Brigham YoungUniversity, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education from BYU in1968. He completed his fifth-year education requirement for teachingcertification at Central Washington in 1972.

Washington State hired Livengood as its Cage Camp director in1980-81 and promoted him to assistant athletics director in charge ofCage Camp and high school relations in 1981-82. He was associateathletics director responsible for development and public relations in1982-85. Livengood became director of athletics at Southern IllinoisUniversity in 1985-87, where he oversaw a 20-sport Saluki program inthe Missouri Valley Conference and the Gateway Conference. He servedas President of the Gateway Conference in 1986-87. Washington Staterehired him as athletics director on September 1, 1987.

Livengood and his wife, Linda, have two grown children. Bothgraduated from The University of Arizona. Michelle graduated from theCollege of Law in May 2000, and Jeremy graduated in December 1999.

appointed Management Council liaison to the NCAA Student-AthleteAdvisory Board. She also has chaired various Pac-10 committees.

In 1990, LaRose developed the Commitment for Athletes’ TotalSuccess (C.A.T.S.), an educational approach used by student-athleteservices to better the student-athlete academically, athletically, andpersonally.

Raised in Phoenix, Ariz., LaRose received both her Bachelor ofScience and Master’s degrees from The University of Arizona. While inattendance, she competed on the UA softball team as a starting infielderand clean-up hitter, leading the Cats to their first-ever conferencechampionship title in 1979. She competed in the 1979 World CupSoftball championship as a member of the USA National Championshipteam. She also was a member of the Arete Society (UA’s AthleticsHonorary) and was the 1978 UA Homecoming Queen.

Arizona Athletics Administration

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