Tournament Notes
The University of Hawai'i softball team (18-9) continues its month long homestand with the 2010 Chevron Spring Fling Tournament, starting on Wednesday, March 17th through Saturday, March 20. Lipscomb Lady Bison and the No. 13 California Golden Bears will be in the islands for the three-team tournament. This is the last non-conference tournament before the 'Bows begin their Western Athletic Conference schedule.
The Rainbow Wahine went 6-1 this past week, sweeping a midweek doubleheader against Troy before winning the 2010 Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament with a 4-1 record. The 'Bows defeated perennial Big East power DePaul, 4-1 in the title game, avenging an earlier tourney loss to the Blue Demons. Hawai'i sophomore pitcher,
Stephanie Ricketts, went 3-0 and was voted Most Outstanding pitcher in the tournament, while freshman centerfielder,
Kelly Majam hit .375 with four home runs and was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player.
Melissa Gonzalez,
Jenna Rodriguez, and
Jessica Iwata all had strong offensive showings and were selected to the all-tournament team.
Head coach
Bob Coolen is in his 19th season with the Rainbow Wahine. He has a 685-421-1 record at UH and is 757-514-1 overall.
CHEVRON SPRING FLING TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
When: Wed.-Sat., Mar. 17-20, 2010
Where: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium - Honolulu, Hawai'i (1,200)
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Television: Hawai'i's games on Wednesday and Thursday will all be televised live on KFVE, The Home Team. Jim Leahey will handle the play-by-play and Lori Santi as the color analyst.
Promotion: Ballpark Bingo! Chevron, the tournament sponsor, will be giving out Victor E. Vans as the Ballpark Bingo prizes for this week!
2010 CHEVRON SPRING FLING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
4:00 pm California vs. Lipscomb
6:00 pm HAWAI'I vs. LIPSCOMB
Thursday, March 18, 2010
3:00 pm Lipscomb vs. California
5:00 pm HAWAI'I vs. CALIFORNIA
7:00 pm HAWAI'I vs. LIPSCOMB
Friday, March 19, 2010
4:00 pm Lipscomb vs. California
6:00 pm Hawai'i vs. California
Saturday, March 20, 2010
12:00 pm Hawai'i vs. Lipscomb
2:00 pm Hawai'i vs. California
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS...
LIPSCOMB LADY BISON
2010 RECORD: Overall 19-2/ Atlantic Sun: 0-0
The Lady Bison of Lipscomb roll into Hawai'i with an impressive 19-2 record. Last week, their 17-game win streak was snapped by Evansville this past week at home. Head Coach Kristin Ryman is in her fifth season at her alma mater, Lipscomb, with a 124-104-1 record.
OFFENSE
The Lady Bison are hitting a healthy .339 as a team and have thoroughly dominated their opponents, 138-27. Seven Lipscomb players are currently hitting over the .300-mark, with three hitting .400 or better. Senior infielder, Kellie Sirus leads the team with a .407 average (24-for-59), two triples, 22 RBI and is tied with 23 runs scored. She also has six homers and five triples. Senior infielder, Abby Keese has also lit up opponents with a .400 average, with a team-high 26 hits--including six doubles and seven home runs. Whitney Kiihnl, the sophomore pitching ace, is also hitting .400 (18-for-45). Look out for Mackenzie Tucker who is tied for the team lead with 23 runs scored and Courtney Billington who has amassed 11 doubles already this season.
PITCHING
Lipscomb's ace and reigning Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week, Kiihnl, has imposed her will on teams, giving up just one earned run this season for a 0.08 ERA in 83.0 innings pitched. Kiihnl has held opponents to a scant .051 batting average and is perfect on the year with a 13-0 record. She's tossed five shut-outs and struck out 139 batters while issuing just 22 walks. Senior Christen Campbell is second on the team with a 1.24 ERA and a 4-0 record. She has thrown 22.2 innings and has walked just two batters while fanning 18.
SERIES
This is the first meeting between Hawai'i and Lipscomb.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
2010 RECORD: Overall 19-4/ Pacific-10 Conference 0-0
The powerful No. 13 California Golden Bears return for their annual appearance in Hawai'i. This year head coach Diane Ninemire has her club firing on all cylinders and has Cal on a 10-game winning streak. Ninemire is in her 23rd season at Cal, is very close to joining the elite 1,000 win club in Division I softball. Currently, she has a 989-481 career record--all with Cal.
OFFENSE
Cal's offense comes to Hawai'i with a .333 team batting average. They have overpowered opponents, outscoring teams 140-43. There are six starters that have started all 23 games played this season--all six are hitting over .340. Leading the charge is sophomore transfer, Jace Williams, who is hitting .444 (24-for-54) has scored 16 runs, with seven doubles and 17 RBI. The speedy sophomore, Jamia Reid is a force on the bases, swiping 31-of-35 bases thus far. Reid is hitting .430 (37-for-86) and has scored 17 runs with a double, two triples and six RBI. Dual threat, junior Valerie Arioto, has not only been the ace for Cal's staff, but is also hitting .420 (21-for-50) with five doubles and a team-high six home runs. She has also scored 24 runs and driven in 22. Also hitting over the .400 mark is senior infielder Shannon Thomas, who has a .403 average (25-for-62) leads Cal with 26 runs scored and is second on the squad with 15 stolen bases.
PITCHING
The Golden Bears' staff has a 1.60 ERA and has held opponents to a .186 average. Cal is led by Arioto, who is 10-2 with a 1.57 ERA coming into this week. She has completed seven games out of nine started with four shut-outs. Arioto has thrown 71.1 innings and has 28 walks with 110 strike outs while holding opposing hitters to a .147 average. Freshman Jolene Henderson is 7-2 in with a 0.72 ERA in 58.2 innings with 10 walks and 70 strike outs, while senior Marissa Drewrey is 2-0 in 14.0 innings with 12 walks and 20 K's.
SERIES
UH and California have faced off 23 times, with the Golden Bears winning 15 in the series, including the last two match-ups. California won 10-1 in five innings in last year's Chevron Spring Fling Tournament.
