Wednesday, 5/14/97 Briefs SOFTBALL:
Louisiana on their minds As the UCLA softball team prepares for
this week’s NCAA Regionals in Lafayette, La., the Bruins had better
be studying their Creole. According to NCAA seeding policy, the
teams selected for a regional site must not travel more than 250
miles to get there, with the exception of the No. 1 seed. So while
the No. 5 Bruins were happy to garner the top seed in Lafayette,
they definitely won’t have the home field advantage. UCLA faces
fourth-seeded Nicholls State of Thibodaux, La. in Friday’s opener.
The other first-round game will feature Northeast Louisiana and
host Southwestern Louisiana. Should the Bruins advance on Friday,
they will face the winner of that match-up Saturday. But after last
week’s NCAA ruling that almost kept them from playing at all, the
Bruins are just glad to be participating. Besides, UCLA is used to
travelling in the postseason. "We’ve had to travel every year for
four or five years," UCLA head coach Sue Enquist said. "After what
this team has been through, you appreciate just being a part (of
the tournament). It’s put a new perspective on everything." The
worst at No. 1? Could happen In years past, the NCAA re-seeded
teams for the College World Series after the eight regional
champions were decided. This year, however, the seeds are set going
into Regionals and will not change for next week’s CWS, regardless
of what teams emerge from a region. Under the new format, UCLA will
be seeded fifth if it wins its regional, regardless of who the
other teams in the World Series are. That means un-ranked Rider
University could plausibly be the top seed in the CWS if it pulled
out an upset over No. 1 Arizona. While that is unlikely, stranger
things have happened in college athletics. "I don’t like (the new
system) because I think it’s misleading, but I’m OK with it,"
Enquist said. "When you reach this point in the season, just bring
on the next opponent." Pac-10 dominates playoff draw Once again,
the Pac-10 will be well represented in the postseason. Five of the
eight teams in the conference were awarded spots in regionals,
three as No. 1 seeds. In addition to the Bruins and Wildcats,
Washington is the top seed in the Oklahoma Regional. California is
seeded fourth in Fresno and will face top-seeded Fresno State in
the first round. The most surprising Pac-10 entrant may just be
Arizona State, which lost five of its last six regular season
games, including a sweep last weekend by UCLA. The Sun Devils are
the third seed in Tucson and could face Arizona if they get past
Nebraska in the first round. Notes compiled by Melissa Anderson,
Daily Bruin Staff.