Rainbows softball pitcher Oronoz back better than ever

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

When it comes to being resilient, Sheri Oronoz fits the bill.

After a year off from pitching because of a broken ring finger, Sheri Oronoz has achieved a 3-1 record and 1.19 ERA for the Rainbows. Advertiser library photo

Oronoz, a junior right-hander, broke the ring finger of her throwing hand in a freak accident last season. She was doing soft tosses when the bat of a teammate accidentally whipped into Oronoz's hand. After making 16 starts as a freshman, she was limited to just three last year.

Still, after the injury, she managed to play. Although she couldn't pitch, she could still hit. So she played the outfield and batted .292 with two home runs.

"It's not fully healed yet," Oronoz said of her injury. "It's something I have to deal with. I try not to think about it, but after I pitch, it's still kind of sore, but it's OK."

OK enough to help her achieve a 3-1 record and 1.19 ERA.

The perspective gained away from the pitching rubber might have helped Oronoz, UH coach Bob Coolen said.

"The year off sort of gave her a little more zest to pitch," Coolen said.

Coolen said when Oronoz came in as a freshman, she was basically a "thrower." She has since picked up the nuances of pitching.

"Her ball is moving and that's what's helping her," Coolen said. "She's gaining more and more confidence with her game each and every game she pitches."

Oronoz helped the Rainbows finish 4-0 to win the Aztec Invitational last weekend in San Diego after they were swept in two at Long Beach State and split with California-Riverside.

	6th Chevron Paradise Classic
•	WHO: Hawai'i, Long Beach State, Mercer, Texas-Arlington
•	WHEN: Tomorrow through Sunday
•	WHERE: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
•	TICKETS: $6 for adults, $4 for ages 65-older, $2 for ages 4-18 and UH students with IDs. Ticket packages for four days are $20 for adults, $14 65--older and $7 for ages 4-18 and UH students with IDs.
•	SCHEDULE Tomorrow — Long Beach State vs. Mercer, 4 p.m.; Texas-Arlington vs. Hawai'i, 6 p.m. Friday — Texas-Arlington vs. Mercer, 3 p.m.; Texas-Arlington vs. Long Beach State, 5 p.m.; Long Beach State vs. Hawai'i, 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's schedules to be based on seedings from round robin.

Oronoz could not have picked a better time to find the right stuff. She was pegged to be the No. 2 starter before last year's ace Felicity Witt decided to play with the Australian national team, which is expected to play in the 2004 Olympics.

"With a refocus on having to be No.1, she's really stepped it up and done a nice job for us," Coolen said.

For this weekend, Oronoz hopes to avenge the 1-0 loss to the 49ers.

"We should've beat them and we're going to beat them this weekend," she said. "We're going to come out strong, with a lot of intensity, really try to win this game."

Joining the Rainbow Wahine in the Paradise Classic are Long Beach State (8-4), Texas-Arlington (5-6) and Mercer (4-6).

The 49ers, of the Big West Conference, are led by freshman right-hander Meredith Cervenka. Last week, she was 3-1 with a 0.55 ERA. During a span of 33 innings, Cervenka struck out 26. She was named Big West Pitcher of the Week.

Texas-Arlington's losing record is not indicative of its pitching. Starters Kelly Rhodes (3-2, 1.47) and Katy Cox (2-4, 2.03) have combined for 80 strikeouts in 76 innings. The Mavericks, of the Southland Conference, are led by infielder Sheri Wardlow (.353).

The Mercer Bears, from Macon, Ga., play in the Trans America Athletic Conference. Their top pitcher is right-hander Stephanee Finger (2-1, 1.11) and their top hitter is Stacy Nagel (.333, 3 home runs, 10 RBIs).

UH officials announced yesterday that bags will be checked upon entering the stadium.