The UCLA softball team, which was one win away from its third
straight NCAA Championship this past season, may be getting even
stronger with a boost to its roster for next year. Krystal
Lewallen, the 2005 Division II Athlete of the Year, has decided to
transfer from Northern Kentucky to a Division I school. She has
narrowed down her choices to either UCLA or Louisiana-Lafayette,
according to the Cincinnati Enquirer and has already looked into
how her NKU coursework would transfer to UCLA. Lewallen informed
NKU coach Kathy Stewart of her intentions last month, and was
granted a release which allows other schools to contact her.
“I feel like I’ve reached a peak at this level,”
Lewallen told the Enquirer. “I want to play with some of the
best teams in the country.” Multiple attempts by the Daily
Bruin to reach Lewallen at her home in Crestwood, Ky., failed, as
did attempts to reach Stewart, who is out on a recruiting trip.
UCLA coach Sue Enquist could not comment on the possible transfer
due to NCAA rules. Lewallen went 32-1 for NKU this past season with
an miniscule ERA of 0.36, while compiling 335 strikeouts in 232 and
a third innings. She led Northern Kentucky to the Division II World
Series, where the Norse lost in the championship game. UCLA already
has two solid pitchers in Anjelica Selden and Lisa Dodd, with
Selden considered to be among the best in the country. But those
are the only two pitchers the Bruins have on their roster, with
most teams carrying 3 to 4 pitchers. If she went to UCLA, Lewallen,
who would be a senior, would likely compete with Dodd to be the
second pitcher on the depth chart and provide much-needed
protection in the circle for the Bruins in case of an injury. In
February, when the Bruins had a stretch of doubleheaders and Dodd
was out with an injury, UCLA had to turn to Kristen Dedmon and
Krista Colburn to pitch, though neither had pitched since high
school. Reportedly, one of the hold-ups to Lewallen transferring to
UCLA is how her courses from Northern Kentucky would transfer to
UCLA, and she is awaiting word from the school on the
transferability of her college credits.
BRUINS PLAY IN CANADA CUP: Three current members of the UCLA
softball team, Krista Colburn, Kristen Dedmon and Danielle
Peterson, played in the Canada Cup this past week. The Canada Cup
is one of the premier international softball tournaments over the
summer, with 10 national teams from around the world competing. But
what makes the Canada Cup unique is that seven club teams were also
included in the tournament field, and the three Bruins played for
the Schutt Hurricanes. As one might expect, the club teams were
generally overmatched when facing the international teams, with
only one advancing out of round-robin pool play into the
quarterfinals at the Canada Cup in Surrey, British Columbia.
“The international players they bring in are coming from
organizations that treat them like they’re professional
athletes,” Enquist said. “Their level of execution is
amazing, as is their defensive expertise. It’s a great
experience for my players to play in the Canada Cup.” All
three Bruins started every game for the Schutt Hurricanes, but all
played a role they hadn’t at UCLA. Dedmon pitched three
different games at the Canada Cup after primarily playing first
base and designated player for the Bruins. “Dedmon will do
whatever it takes for her team to win,” Enquist said.
“Her No. 1 priority was to hit for us. Her No. 2 priority was
to play first base. Pitching was only her No. 3 priority for our
team.” Colburn, who played in the outfield all year for UCLA,
played some shortstop and second base for the Schutt Hurricanes and
was one of the team’s leading hitters, hitting .416 for the
Canada Cup (10-for-24). Peterson started every game for the Schutt
Hurricanes despite having only 12 at-bats for UCLA all of last
season.