Thursday, February 19, 1998
Rookies step up to the plate with confidence
Team unites, shares leadership duties for surprising success
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
"Its the end of the world as we know it," could have been the
theme song this year for the UCLA softball team.
But a funny thing happened in between the tear-jerking loss to
Arizona in the World Series last year and the opening game of this
year’s probation season.
An influx of rookies showed up in Westwood to complete the REM
song, "and they feel fine."
This year could have been the nail in the coffin for a program
which appeared to be hit with the bats they were playing with. The
NCAA ruled to let the Bruins finish last year but this year they
can’t make the play-offs.
The alarm went off at UCLA and many of the all-stars on the team
decided to redshirt, and the freshman phenom, Christa Williams,
transferred and took with her 218 strikeouts.
But when the dust settled back onto the basepaths, nine new
players were waiting to show the world what UCLA pride was about.
With a bit of senior leadership, the Bruins are 6-0 heading into
this weekend’s tournament.
The seniors may have started out the season carrying the team
but now the leadership is taken over by new players each game.
"As the team meshed, different people have shown leadership in
different areas," pitching sensation Lindsey Gayer said.
The new players had to pick up some of the leadership roles
because they have to pick up right where the team last year left
off. With a past filled with stories like UCLA softball, every year
is remembered and every team is aiming to beat the Bruins.
"The new players have to come into the program following
phenomenal athletes and it is overwhelming," Nicole Odom, senior
shortstop, said. "But they have done a great job … every time
they are on the field they are representing UCLA, but they handle
it because they are fighters."
One of the toughest fighters can be found behind the plate,
Carissa Millsap, catching for three new UCLA pitchers to an ERA of
under one.
"Millsap has done an excellent job with the young pitching staff
and carries a little pop in her bat," assistant coach Kelly
Inouye-Perez said.
That power was exhibited against Saint Mary’s when she cranked
her first UCLA homer. But things aren’t as easy as they seem for
Millsap, as her average has fallen to a paltry .111 through six
games.
"It is hard coming in because I came from a different system
with different coaches," Millsap, a Hofstra transfer, said. "But
this team is unshakable. Whatever is thrown at us we just pick it
up and take it in stride."
Three pitchers who have had the most pressure placed upon them
have stepped up, blazing through opponents’ bats, collecting an ERA
under one.
The oldest pitcher is a transfer student, Erin Weiler, who has a
3-0 record. Trying to fill the shoes of a pitching staff last year
that won 49 games, had 1.60 ERA, and compiled 403 strikeouts, and
are all no longer on the team has been hard.
"It has been great because there has been no special
expectations put on us but last year’s (pitchers) are always at the
back of our minds," Weiler said.
Helping to relieve the pressure off of Weiler has been one of
the biggest surprises in the camp, Stephanie Swenson. Swenson is a
true freshman from San Clemente who was not even recruited by UCLA
and signed late with the Bruins. Swenson is on an amazing tear,
racking up 11 strikeouts and three wins.
"We used to have a lot of stoppers who would come in and throw
heat but now we don’t have that … Gayer and Swenson are our
hardest throwers," Inouye-Perez said. "Swenson has been our biggest
surprise because coming out of high school we didn’t know what she
was about but she has stepped up and been real effective."
With new pitchers, strong defense is a must in order for the
Bruins to win. At third base, Jenny Gardner has impressed, gobbling
up every thing hit her way.
"It has been a dream since I was playing softball at the age of
six to come in and play at UCLA," Gardner, who is batting
respectably at .263, said.
Her dream has come true as she has become one of the consistent
new performers to the team.
Filling in last year’s shoes the rookies have come out playing
with a lot of confidence and that has helped them lead by
example.
"I didn’t expect confidence in a lot of the new girls," Laurie
Fritz, senior lead-off hitter, said. "But they have shown
confidence and confidence is everything in this game."
One player with a basepath full of confidence is left fielder
Casey Hirawiwa, who has jumped all over opposing pitchers for a
.308 batting average. Playing stellar defense, Hirawiwa is the
ultimate example of a Bruin.
"Hirawiwa swings a good stick … She is a little thing but hits
the ball hard consistently," Inouye-Perez said. "She has a terrific
gameface, and plays solid defense even though she is an infielder
converted to the outfield."
The new players have enough confidence in their game to help
lead the way for a great Bruin team. Through the sharing of the
leadership role, the team has meshed and has relieved the pressure
of coming into UCLA and having to make an impact.
"Geese fly in a V shape and the head goose absorbs 72 percent of
the wind. When the goose gets tired it goes to the back of the
formation," Gayer, who has one victory under her belt, said about
sharing the leadership.
"When the head goose goes to the back a new goose steps up and
it is a continuous action to keep the head geese from wearing
out."
The leadership is transferred from game to game, from outspoken
inspirational leaders to extreme Laurie Fritz hustle. This has
eased the tension this year and has made the softball diamond fun
again for the Bruins.
With a lot of heart and great team chemistry the team has put
behind it the armageddon created by last year’s fiasco.
The returners and rookies have come together to surprise the
softball world.
The Bruins may have to hibernate from postseason this year but
with such a talented squad earning experience this year, the Bruins
will be ready to party "like it’s 1999."