As the regular season comes to an end, the UCLA softball team
couldn’t possibly be in better shape. The team is 42-5,
ranked No. 1 in the nation, and sits comfortably atop the Pac-10
standings with three more games left to play. All of this in a team
that has a nearly identical makeup to last season’s club,
which ended the regular season 30-16 and tied for fifth place in
the Pac-10. So what has been the difference? “Last year our
team had a lot of separation between starters and non-starters and
we didn’t really mix well,” junior pitcher Lisa Dodd
said. “This year is totally different. Every one is all about
the team, non-starters are in it just as much as the starters, and
everyone contributes.” In addition to the newfound team
chemistry the team has this season, the numbers on the stat sheet
add up to the story of the team’s improvement This season,
through 47 games, the team’s RBI and home run totals are
virtually identical to the team’s numbers through 60 games
last year; but the team’s average, on-base percentage and
slugging percentage have all improved dramatically from last season
to this season. “I think that the number one thing is that
we’re making better decisions at the plate,” coach Sue
Enquist said about the team’s offensive improvement.
“The number two thing would be when you have a team
that’s playing with a lot of confidence, they’re
relaxed at the plate and they’re patient.” The increase
in production isn’t the result of a few players’
dramatic improvement. Rather, the numbers indicate everyone has
improved a little bit and that has combined to make a big
difference. That fact is one Enquist has been most proud of and is
something she feels has to continue if UCLA plans on returning to
the title series. “We’re going to beat people with team
offense,” she said. “We’re not going to beat
people with one hero. I’m just convinced of that from here on
out. We’re going to have to have a collective effort against
every team we face from here until the end of the season.
PAC-10 CHAMPS … ALMOST: If UCLA wins one of
its three games against California or Stanford this weekend, or if
Arizona loses one of its four with Oregon and Oregon State, the
Bruins will clinch the Pac-10 title. “I see Pac-10 as a
preparation for post-season,” junior shortstop Jodie Legaspi
said. “But I think having a senior class that has already two
national championships, but no Pac-10 Championships, I think that
would be a great send-off for them to be able to have that under
their belt.” And while Enquist does think a Pac-10 title
would be a confidence booster and a “feather in their
caps,” she doesn’t put that much stock into it.
“I don’t really focus a lot on the title at all,”
Enquist said. “I’ve never focused on a title, and
I’ve never focused on a (national) championship. I’m
just not that way. I’m focused on “˜Did we get 1 percent
better today?'”