By Greg Lewis
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
With the 2000 season behind them, the UCLA softball team can
look back on the roller coaster ride that got them to the NCAA
championship game.
First, UCLA learned that its two best offensive players, Stacey
Nuveman and Christie Ambrosi, would spend the season training for
the Sydney Olympics. Nuveman was a first-team All-American and the
best hitter in the country the year before. Ambrosi was a
first-team All-American in centerfield and the nation’s best
leadoff hitter. Between the two of them, the Bruins lost 185 hits,
41 home runs, 139 RBI’s and a lot of clubhouse
leadership.
Despite this, UCLA, bolstered by a strong recruiting class, was
voted No. 1 in the Pac-10 and the country in the preseason
polls.
But the Bruins, who went undefeated out of the conference in
1999’s championship run, lost four games before the Pac-10
season began.
The Bruins fell out of the top spot in the polls after dropping
three games to relatively weak opponents: Hofstra, Sacramento State
and Illinois State.
Then UCLA found out it would lose last season’s Pac-10
Pitcher of the Year, first-team All-American Courtney Dale, who
would be out for six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury. Dale
went 33-1 in 1999 and established herself as a team leader with
Nuveman and Ambrosi gone.
The Bruins rebounded from this, starting the first three weeks
of the conference season in first place before losing to Arizona,
Arizona State and Washington. Despite a nationally televised win
over Washington in Seattle, UCLA finished third in the Pac-10.
The Bruins (44-11) ended up sweeping their own regional and
making it all the way to the season’s final day before losing
the title game to the Oklahoma Sooners.
As the season ended, so did the careers of the three Bruin
seniors, Julie Adams, Lyndsey Klein and Julie Marshall. All three
were All-Americans at least once in their careers.
Marshall ended her career as the Bruins’ all-time RBI
leader, the only Bruin with over 200. Marshall and Adams finished
second and third in career home runs behind Nuveman. Klein, a
junior college transfer, played only two years, but was a prolific
hitter and base stealer. Adams will forever be remembered for her
1999 post-season heroics. Riding a hot streak as the Most
Outstanding Player in the NCAA Regionals, Adams dislocated her
shoulder in the first game of the World Series, then played the
remaining three games with a sling, batted .667 in the Series, and
again earned the MOP award. Adams will play in the WPSL this
summer.
Marshall was one of the Bruins’ best power hitters, and
was one of the steadiest catchers and first basemen ever to play in
Westwood. Her strong work behind the plate helped develop Dale and
Amanda Freed through their first two years of regular duty. Despite
being drafted by the WPSL, Marshall has decided not to play
professional softball.
Klein, who head coach Sue Enquist has said was the best hitter
to have at the plate if the game was on the line, was one of the
Bruins’ all time best clutch performers. A quick second
baseman, she was a key contributor on the “˜99 championship
team and the Bruins’ best hitter in 2000. Klein, who will
also play in the WPSL this summer, will return as an undergraduate
assistant coach next season.
Despite the loss of three infield starters, the Bruins have
substantial talent returning. Freed, an alternate on the Olympic
team, proved that she is capable of carrying the Bruins through the
postseason by herself, going 7-1 in the playoffs this year.
Stephanie Swenson became the second pitcher when Dale went down,
and eventually earned All-Pac-10 honors. Dale should be back at
full strength after undergoing surgery in the off-season.
Freshman Natasha Watley earned first-team All-America honors,
led the team in batting with a .426 average, and broke
Ambrosi’s career stolen base record in just one season. She
also developed into a rocket-armed shortstop after some
early-season miscues.
After a solid but unspectacular regular season at the plate,
freshman Tairia Mims showed her mettle in the post-season, earning
All-World Series honors along with Freed and Marshall. Mims learned
to play first base on the fly this season but will most likely be
moved back to third next year.
Freshmen Monique Mejia and Toria Auelua played solidly in the
outfield, and Auelua proved a capable backup at catcher as
well.
Looming on the very near horizon for the Bruins is another
stellar recruiting class. Pitcher Keira Goerl was ranked No. 1 in
the country at her position, and would be ready to pitch right away
if necessary. More likely, Goerl will take on the starting role in
her second season, as Dale and Swenson will both have used up their
eligibility.
Claire Sua, a pitcher and first baseman in high school, will
most likely start right away at first. Sua is the sister of UCLA
shot put and discus thrower Seilala, the only NCAA track and field
athlete to win the same event four years in a row.
Stephanie Ramos, a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, is
considered the top-hitting outfielder in the country. Marcel Torres
is one of the most versatile players in the nation, capable of
pitching or playing the infield and outfield.
Although much could change before next February, here is one
likely 2001 lineup: Dale, Freed and Swenson will pitch to Nuveman.
Sua will play first, Mejia will move in to play second, Watley will
stick at short and Mims will play third. The outfield will consist
of Freed, Crissy Buck, Auelua, Lupe Brambila ““ who has not
made an error in two seasons ““ and possibly Dale, Torres and
Ramos.
With Pac-10 champ Washington graduating six seniors, including
its two starting pitchers, the Bruins will likely be voted Pac-10
preseason No. 1.
Arizona, with pitching aces Jennie Finch and Becky Lemke
returning, will be the main competition. Oklahoma, who defeated
UCLA in the championship game, graduates only one significant
player and will battle UCLA, Arizona and possibly Fresno State for
the preseason national No. 1 ranking.