May 1, 2012
Weekly Release 13 - Oregon State 
Friday, May 4
3 p.m. PT - No. 1 Cal (45-3/16-2 Pac-12) at No. 22 Oregon State (33-16/8-9 Pac-12)
OSU Softball Complex - Corvallis, Ore.
Series Record Versus the Beavers - 71-34
Last Meeting With OSU - W 4-0 in Eight Innings (May 8, 2011)
Coverage: GameTracker, Twitter
Saturday, May 5
Noon PT - No. 1 Cal (45-3/16-2 Pac-12) at No. 22 Oregon State (33-16/8-9 Pac-12)
OSU Softball Complex - Corvallis, Ore.
Coverage: GameTracker, Twitter
Sunday, May 6
11 a.m. PT - No. 1 Cal (45-3/16-2 Pac-12) at No. 22 Oregon State (33-16/8-9 Pac-12)
OSU Softball Complex - Corvallis, Ore.
Coverage: GameTracker, Twitter
Just the Basics
The No. 1 California softball team heads north once again, this time to No. 22 Oregon State for the second-to-last Pac-12 series. The Golden Bears (45-3, 16-2 in the Pac-12) and Beavers (33-16, 8-9 Pac-12) square off Friday, May 4 at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 5 at noon and Sunday, May 6 at 11 a.m.
Cal Quick Hits
• Cal brings a four-game winning streak into this weekend after sweeping UCLA
• Diane Ninemire earned career win No. 1,100 on April 20 - making her the 12th coach in the history of collegiate softball and sixth in Division I ball to hit the 1,100 mark
• Cal notched its sixth Pac-12 series victory last weekend - beating UCLA 3-0, 8-0 (in six innings) and 10-3
• Cal is ranked first in the country in the latest edition of the RPI and No. 1 in both polls
• The Bears swept the Beavers last year in Corvallis
Bears Quick Hits
• Jolene Henderson is this week's Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week
• Valerie Arioto paces the starters, hitting .410 with an incredible 1.029 slugging percentage thanks to her 20 homers
• Arioto set a new Bear program record with her 20th homer of the year on April 22
• Danielle Henderson is next in line in homers with 13, while Breana Kostreba has 11
• Jamia Reid has a team-high 42 stolen bases, going 42-for-44
• Arioto leads the Bears in RBI with 54, Jace Williams is second (41), Kostreba is third (36) and Danielle Henderson is fourth (34)
• Jolene Henderson (1.12 ERA, 180.2 IP, 220 SO, .183 b/avg) and Arioto (1.31 ERA, 117.2 IP, 22 ER, .187 b/avg) split the pitching duties
Cal Records
Overall: 45-3
Pac-12: 16-2
Nonconference: 29-1
Home: 12-1
Road: 10-2
Neutral: 23-0
Ranked Opponents: 17-3
Pac-12 Standing: First
Streak: Won four
Last Five Games: 4-1
Last 10 Games: 8-2
Last Week: 3-0
ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll: 1
USA Today/NFCA Poll: 1
RPI: 1
Cal Tops RPI
In the latest edition of the RPI - released April 30 - the Bears continue to be first in the nation. Pac-12 rival Arizona State moved from third to second in this week's rankings after jumping from fifth to third last week. Eight of the nine Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top 30 with Oregon seventh (up a spot from last week), Arizona 10th (down a spot), UCLA 13th (up two spots), Washington 15th (down two spots), Stanford 22nd (down two), Oregon State 22nd (down one spot). Utah moved up two spots from 71st to 69th following the Utes' first Pac-12 victory.
Echavarria Paces Bears En Route to Victories
Frani Echavarrialed the Bears in batting (.500), slugging (.750) and on-base percentage (.778) to lead No. 1 California to three important wins (3-0, 8-0 in six innings, 10-3) over Pac-12 foe UCLA over the weekend. Whether it was a single, a double or a walk, Echavarria was willing to help out her team in whatever way she could. She scored a team-high four runs across the three wins and notched an amazing three walks on Sunday. Additionally, Frani made four key catches in center field for a flawless fielding percentage. On the season, Echavarria is third in hitting (.391), second in on-base percentage (.489) and second in hits (45).
Pac-12 Rankings Watch
The Pac-12 continues to dominate the rankings with eight of the nine teams owning spots in the polls. Two of those eight teams are in the top 10 - No. 1 Cal and No. 2 ASU - with No. 12/13 Oregon, No. 13/15 Arizona, No. 15/14 Washington, No. 17 UCLA, No. 21/19 Stanford and No. 23 Oregon State rounding out the competition. OSU is receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA rankingsm while Utah is unranked in both polls.
Pac-12 Standings Watch
Cal and ASU are the sole teams with only two conference losses. According to winning percentage, the Bears sit atop the leader board at .889 (16-2), while the Sun Devils are not far behind at .875 (14-2). Oregon owns third place at 11-8 (.579). At .500, UCLA (9-9) and Arizona (9-9) are tied for fourth. Oregon State is sixth (.471, 8-9), Washington (.350, 7-13) is seventh, Stanford (.333, 6-12) is eighth and Utah owns ninth (.056, 1-17). Last week, Utah earned its first-ever Pac-12 victory, beating the Beavers in Salt Lake City to avoid the series sweep.
Two Wins, Save Merit Henderson Pac-12 Honor
Having a hand in each of Cal's three wins over No. 14/15 UCLA over the weekend, Jolene Hendersonwarranted the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week decoration. Henderson pitched in all three of Cal's wins over UCLA last week, going the distance on April 27 and 29 while notching her fourth save of the season with two innings in April 28's 8-0 win. Overall, Henderson posted a 1.31 ERA, fanning 19 while allowing just three earned runs across 16.0 innings. Henderson moved into a tie for second on Cal's single-season saves list and sits one shy of tying for first. She is also third on the career saves chart with eight. Henderson has a Pac-12 best 1.12 ERA this season, holding hitters to a .183 average. This is Henderson's second consecutive laurel, her fourth of the 2012 season and 10th of her already storied Cal career. It is the 79th weekly conference award for the Bears.
Scouting Oregon State
• OSU is 7-3 at home, 33-16 overall and 8-9 in Pac-12 play
• The Beavers earned a series victory over Utah last weekend, beating the Utes 10-3 and 5-4 but losing the middle game 8-6
• The loss to Utah was the Utes' first Pac-12 victory of the year
• The wins over Washington were OSU's seventh and eighth over a ranked opponent this season, and were its most over top-25 teams since its 2007 squad claimed eight such victories
• Three starters are hitting above .300 with Elizabeth Santana leading the way by hitting .359 and slugging .532
• Three pitchers almost equally split the hurling - Tina Andreana (105 IP, 4.00 ERA), Marina Demore (93.1 IP, 3.07 ERA), Paige Hall (83.0 IP, 2.45 ERA)
Last Year's Series Against Oregon State
The Golden Bears kicked off the 2011 series against Oregon State with a 9-0 win in six innings thanks to four RBI from Lindsey Ziegenhirt and two RBI apiece from Jolene Henderson and Jace Williams. overpower the Beavers. After run-ruling the Beavers on the day before, Cal only needed one run to down OSU 1-0 in the second game. Lindsey Ziegenhirt was Cal's sole scorer, coming home in the top of the second, courtesy a fielder's choice by Victoria Jones. In the final game of the series, it took eight innings in two hours and 23 minutes, but Cal pulled out a 4-0 win over Oregon State. In that game, Jace Williams hit the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth and Ashley Deckerupped it to 4-0 with a double to power the Golden Bears to the series sweep. After Henderson pitched 21.0 innings for three complete-game performances against OSU in which she did not allow a single run, she earned Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors.
Cal Continues No. 1 Reign in Rankings
For the sixth week in a row, the California softball team is the top team in the country, just one vote shy of the unanimous No. 1 pick. The Golden Bears received all 20 first-place votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings and 29 of the possible 30 in the USA Today/NFCA poll to rule the rankings' roost. This week's rankings mark the sixth consecutive week Cal is No. 1in both polls and the 11th time this season that the Bears have been the top choice in at least one poll. This is the third time the Bears are the undisputed top team in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings and have garnered 29 of the 30 votes in the NFCA/USA Today poll.
Vincent Balances Softball with Double Major
To say that sophomore catcher Taylor Vincent was destined to become a Golden Bear is slightly hyperbolic. But only slightly. During her freshman year at Pleasanton's Foothill High School, former Cal greats Vicky Galindo and Lindsay Jamescoached Vincent in fall ball. Soon after, teacher Chris Gibbons, a centerfielder for the Bears baseball team from 1982-83, ignited in Vincent a passion for physics.
To read the full feature on Taylor, please click here.
Arioto, Ziegenhirt Visit Sheldon High School
Senior utility Valerie Arioto and junior catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirtspent their the morning of April 30 connecting with Ziegenhirt's roots with a trip to Sheldon High School in the Sacramento Valley, where Lindsey's mother Laura Ziegenhirt teaches. The elder Ziegenhirt's classes have been collecting toiletries for Arioto's community service project and voting for Val daily for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. All season, Arioto and her Golden Bears have been collecting unopened toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash to donate to a local women's shelter. Ziegenhirt challenged her students to bring in items and the Huskies collected over 900 items in just one week.
Senior Q&A With Elia Reid
With Senior Day just a couple weeks away, CalBears.com is catching up with all of the seniors, and today's Q&A participant is Elia Reid. Last season, Reid was named an All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention and the March 7 Player of the Week. During conference play her sophomore year, she led the Bear starters by hitting .327, playing primarily in right field. Meriting 52 starts as a freshman in 2009, she was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team after racking up 26 steals, 27 RBI and six homers. Elia Reidgraciously lent her time to CalBears.com to talk about her time with the Bears.
To read the Q&A with Elia, please click here.
Cal Versus the Pac-12
Batting: third (.330)
Slugging: third (.548)
On-base percentage: third (.430)
Runs scored: second (341)
RBI: third (304)
Home runs: third (68)
Total bases: third (685)
Sac flies: tied for third (13)
Stolen bases: second (75)
Fielding percentage: first (.982)
Cal Pitching Versus the Pac-12
ERA: first (1.25)
Opposing batting: first (.187)
Batters struck out: first (372)
Batters struck out looking: first (93)
Wins: first (45)
Hits allowed: first (206)
Runs allowed: first (66)
Earned runs allowed: first (55)
Walks allowed: first (77)
Home runs allowed: first (8)
Bears in the Pac-12
Hitting: Arioto - seventh (.410); J. Reid - eighth (.393); Echavarria - ninth (.391)
Slugging: Arioto - first (1.029)
On-base percentage: Arioto - first (.636)
Runs scored: Arioto - tied for second (54); J. Reid - tied for seventh (42)
Hits: J. Reid - third (66)
RBI: Arioto - fifth (54)
Home runs: Arioto - first (20); D. Henderson - tied for eighth (13)
Walks: Arioto - first (66); Williams - tied for eighth (30)
Bear Pitchers in the Pac-12
ERA: Henderson - first (1.12); Arioto - third (1.31)
Opposing batting average: Henderson - second (.183); Arioto - third (.187)
Batters struck out: J. Henderson - second (220); Arioto - ninth (142)
Batters struck out looking: J. Henderson - first (68)
Wins: J. Henderson - second (25)
Saves: J. Henderson - tied for second (4)
Home runs allowed: Arioto - first (1); J. Henderson - tied for third (5)
Senior Q&A With Jamia Reid
With Senior Day just a couple weeks away, CalBears.com caught up with senior outfielder Jamia Reidto reflect on her time in Berkeley. From the get go, Reid left her mark on the Golden Bear program by breaking the single-season steal record as a freshman. In 2010 as a sophomore, she catapulted her way to the All-Pac-10 first team and the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region First Team. After owning a team-high .497 slugging and 31 steals and second-best .394 batting average, Reid became an All-American. Heading into this weekend against UCLA, Reid ranks second in batting .397 with an incredible 38 steals.
To read the full Q&A with Jamia, please click here.
Next Week on the Diamond
Cal hosts Pac-12 rival No. 2 Arizona State for the final conference series of the season. The Bears and Sun Devils get things started Thursday, May 10 at 3 p.m. The middle game - Friday, May 11 at 3 p.m. - will be Cal's inaugural StrikeOut Cancer game. The Bears bid adieu to their senior class of Valerie Arioto, Frani Echavarria, Elia Reid, Jamia Reid and Jace Williamson Saturday, May 12 at noon.
Selection Show Set for Sunday
The Golden Bears will learn their postseason fate on Sunday, May 13. ESPNU will televise the NCAA Selection Show beginning at 7 p.m. PT.
Last Week on the Diamond
Cal dished out its 22nd shutout of the season with a 3-0 win over No. 14/15 UCLA on April 27 under sunny skies in Berkeley. Ashley Decker drove in the first two runs with a single in the third and then Cheyenne Cordesplated another via a sac fly in the sixth. On April 28, thanks to six runs in the bottom of the fifth and a wild pitch in the sixth, the Bears mercied No. 14/15 UCLA 8-0 in six innings. With 10 runs on eight hits and eliciting season-high 11 walks out of the UCLA pitching staff, the No. 1 California softball team bested No. 14/15 UCLA 10-3 on April 29 to sweep the Pac-12 series. The sweep marks the third time this season the Golden Bears have broken out the brooms and the sixth Pac-12 series victory.
Cal To Host StrikeOut Cancer Game on May 11
In partnership with the NFCA and the American Cancer Society, Cal is set to host its inaugural StrikeOut Cancer game on May 11 against Arizona State. At that game, the Golden Bears will don pink hair ribbons and encourage all fans to wear pink. Those fans who do wear pink will receive giveaways such as Silly Bandz and foam sticks. In addition to collecting general fan donations, Cal softball will be selling pink hair ribbons as a fundraiser for the ACS. Fannie Wallace - two-time cancer survivor and grandmother to current Golden Bear Jordan Wallace- will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Since starting the StrikeOut Cancer initiative more than 10 years ago, the NFCA has raised thousands of dollars to support the fight against cancer.
Ninemire Nets Career Win No. 1,100
Head coach Diane Ninemirehit yet another milestone - notching career win No. 1,100 thanks to the 8-1 victory over then-No. 14/18 Oregon on April 20, 2012. Entering the 2012 season with a career record of 1,059-509 in 24 complete years at the helm of the storied Golden Bear program, the Bears' epic success this year powered Ninemire to the necessary 41 wins to hit the next platform. As of April 22, 2012, only 12 coaches in the history of collegiate softball and only six in Division I ball - including Ninemire - had hit the 1,100 mark.
Arioto Breaks Homer Record
Valerie Arioto not only drove in three RBI across four games to power her top-ranked Bears to a Pac-12 series victory over No. 14/18 Oregon and a 10-2 nonconference decision over Santa Clara, but she also broke her own single-season record for homers. She was previously tied - both in 2010 and 2011 - with Veronica Nelsonfor first place on the Cal program record for homers in a season at 19, but she blasted a shot in the Sunday game against Oregon to propel her to the top. After starting the season third on the career homers list, Arioto is now in second place with an astonishing 51 homers. She needs to hit the 55 mark to tie Nelson for first and 56 to own it outright. She also spread four hits across the four games and accumulated five walks for she is the most feared batter in the country. She hit .444, slugged .778 and rocked a .643 on-base percentage.
Cal Adds 704 Bleacher Seats to Levine-Fricke Field
Cal Athletics has installed 704 more seats at Levine-Fricke Field. With the addition of the new seats - which are in the outfield - crowd capacity at Levine-Fricke Field more than doubles. Adult tickets are $8 and seniors (age 65 and above) are $4. Cal students and youth 12th grade and under get in free to all softball games. Gates open at Levine-Fricke Field one hour before first pitch. Tickets can be purchased on game days starting an hour and a half before the start of the game. Ticket booths are located at the front entrance of Levine-Fricke Field.
Three Bears Make Player of the Year Top-25 List
Valerie Arioto, Jolene Henderson and Jamia Reidhave the utmost honor of being named three of the 25 finalists for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the Amateur Softball Association announced April 11. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The three Golden Bears were also named to the top-50 watch list, and Cal is just one of two schools with three student-athlete representatives.
Cal Kids Days Return
Join us every Sunday during the Pac-12 season for your chance to run around the bases and get autographs from the team after the game! All youth 12th grade and below receive free admission to every Cal softball game, including Cal Kids Days!
The Bears Versus Ranked Competition
After sweeping, the Bears are now 17-3 against ranked competition this season: -Feb. 10: No. 3/4 Cal vs. No. 9/14 Tennessee - W 13-5
-Feb. 19: No. 1/3 Cal vs. No. 25 LSU - W 14-3 (5)
-March 14: No. 1/2 Cal vs. No. 21/22 Texas A&M - W 3-0
-March 15: No. 1/2 Cal vs. No. 6 Texas - W 6-3
-March 15: No. 1/2 Cal vs. No. 19/18 Hawaii - L 3-1 (10)
-March 23: No. 2 Cal at No. 9 Stanford - W 9-0
-March 25: No. 2 Cal at No. 9 Stanford - W 4-3
-March 25: No. 2 Cal at No. 9 Stanford - W 8-0
-March 30: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 3 Washington - W 2-1
-April 1: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 3 Washington - W 5-3
-April 1: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 3 Washington - W 6-4
-April 13: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 13 Arizona - W 2-0
-April 14: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 13 Arizona - L 8-3
-April 15: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 13 Arizona - W 6-0
-April 20: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 14/18 Oregon - W 8-1
-April 21: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 14/18 Oregon - L 1-0
-April 22: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 14/18 Oregon - W 10-0 (6)
-April 27: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 14/15 UCLA - W 3-0
-April 28: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 14/15 UCLA - W 8-0 (6)
-April 29: No. 1 Cal vs. No. 14/15 UCLA - W 10-3
2012 Honor Roll
Valerie Arioto
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist (April 11)
NFCA Player of the Week (March 27)
Pac-12 Player of the Week (March 26)
Chevron Spring Fling All-Tournament Team (March 17)
Pac-12 Player of the Week (Feb. 21)
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Pac-12 Player of the Week (Feb. 14)
USA Softball Player of the Week (Feb. 14)
Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 13)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Cheyenne Cordes
USA Softball Junior of the Year
Frani Echavarria
Chevron Spring Fling All-Tournament Team (March 17)
Jolene Henderson
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (April 30)
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (April 23)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist (April 11)
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (April 2)
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (March 26)
Chevron Spring Fling Most Valuable Pitcher (March 17)
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (March 13)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Jamia Reid
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist (April 11)
Pac-12 Player of the Week (April 2)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Britt Vonk
Chevron Spring Fling Most Valuable Player (March 17)
Opening Day Thanks to the 13-5 win over Tennessee to start the 2012 season, Cal has now won 33 of its year openers. In five of the past seven lid lifters, the Bears have scored 10+ wins.
