Posted on: Tuesday, March 5, 2002

Rainbow Wahine open WAC play tonight

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Coming off a 3-4 road trip, the University of Hawai'i softball team will open its Western Athletic Conference season against Loyola Marymount in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. today at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Rainbows (13-10) will send junior right-hander Sheri Oronoz (7-4, 1.86) and freshman right-hander Melissa Coogan (4-4, 2.17) against the Lions (11-11), whose regular starters are Jennifer Heliotes (6-2, 1.76) and Corianne Rogalsky (3-9, 3.41).

Although the Rainbows were preseason favorites to win the WAC and the Lions were picked to finish third, UH coach Bob Coolen expects a challenge from his counterpart, Gary Ferrin.

"He's played a tough schedule, played a lot of tough teams," Coolen said. "They always play us tough. It's never easy when we play them."

The Rainbows took three of four last year, but two wins came from Felicity Witt, who elected to pitch for Australia's national team.

Coolen said the team needs to rally around Coogan.

"Sheri's been doing a good job for us, keeping us in ball games," Coolen said. "When the others are on the mound, we seem to lose some confidence. That's what's happening to Coogan."

Oronoz has completed 9 of 11 starts, while Coogan has completed 4 of 8.

The Rainbows' leading hitters are their two Australian imports, first baseman Stacey Porter and shortstop Kate Judd. Porter leads the team with seven home runs, 14 runs and 18 RBIs with a .314 batting average. Judd has a team-best .333 batting average and seven doubles. She is second on the team in homers (4) and RBIs (14).

The Lions' top hitters are outfielder Christy Ceredes and third baseman Sami Strinz. Ceredes, the WAC Player of the Week, is tied with Strinz for the team lead with four home runs. Strinz, Ceredes and Danielle Kaminaka lead the team in RBIs with 17, 15 and 10, respectively. Ceredes and Kaminaka lead the team in batting at .338 and .291, respectively.

The Rainbows returned from a trip to Arizona, where they were swept at Arizona State and finished 3-2 in the Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational.

Hawai'i will play host to the four-team Chevron Malihini Tournament on the Horizon, which runs Thursday through Sunday. Oregon State, Loyola Marymount and New Mexico State complete the field.