Today the UCLA softball team will open its 2008 season at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament at Easton Stadium.
It will be a busy day for the 10th-ranked Bruins as they play two games, first against Nevada at 10 a.m. and then No. 5 Oklahoma at 12:30 p.m.
The Bruins will face UC Santa Barbara and Santa Clara on Saturday and then play Oklahoma again Sunday.
From last season, the Bruins return nine players, but they also have nine freshmen to replace the nine seniors who left. The outlook on the season and this weekend remains positive.
Senior outfielder Krista Colburn looks at the freshmen as a source of motivation.
“When you have new players coming in, they are young and they are excited,” Colburn said. “They are a very vibrant youth. It’s nice. It reminds me why I want to do this.”
“We’ve been focusing on team unity,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “I expect the freshmen to come in and play softball and the seniors to lead.”
Inouye-Perez is in her second season as head coach and is looking toward improving upon her first-year finish, when the Bruins suffered an early exit in the NCAA Regionals.
“I look forward to getting back to the foundation of UCLA softball,” she said.
The freshmen may be young in terms of college play, but they have had plenty of other amateur experience.
“I had four of my freshmen and one sophomore play for the ASA ball National Championship,” Inouye-Perez said. “When it comes down to it, it’s softball. It doesn’t change because your uniform changes.”
The matchup against Oklahoma is a big one for the Bruins. Both teams have the talent to reach the Women’s College World Series. The Bruins’ strategy involves responding to how Oklahoma plays in the first game.
“I think just learning from what they throw at us the first time ““ taking that all in and seeing how that game goes ““ and (seeing) how we can adjust to counter (will help us),” said Colburn.
The Bruins’ pitching will be a key factor against Oklahoma, and the other teams, this weekend.
“We could put any of our four pitchers on the roster up against Oklahoma this weekend and still be successful,” sophomore pitcher Megan Langenfeld said.
Playing at home for the opening tournament has provided some comfort to the UCLA softball team.
“You’re in this environment that you’ve been practicing in for months now,” Colburn said. “Since we do have so much young talent, I think it’s better because now they are playing in an environment they are really used to.”
The team also takes a similar view on the fact that it is playing five games over the course of the weekend. “We’ve grown up with this format in travel ball,” Inouye-Perez said. “This next month is (about) being able to manage the schedule.”
At this point, the weekend is looking positive for the Bruins.
“The girls are conditioned better than they ever have been,” Inouye-Perez said. “We’re in good shape for being able to play our game.”
PRESEASON AWARDS: Colburn and fellow senior Anjelica Selden were named to the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
“I think it’s an honor to be added to the watch list along with my teammate,” Colburn said. “I don’t do this for myself; I do this for the team.”