May 05, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

Cardinal softball hosts NCAA regional

by Rick Eymer

Stanford senior catcher Jessica Allister has always been a vocal leader for the women's softball team. Now she's speaking volumes with her bat.

Allister is a major reason why seventh-ranked Stanford (10-5, 40-13) continues to enjoy one of its finest season in school history.

In fact, the senior class has had a major impact and most of the time all they're doing is playing catch.

Senior pitcher Dana Sorensen threw a two-hitter as the Cardinal knocked off top-ranked Arizona, 2-1, in Tucson on Sunday. It's the second straight year Stanford has beaten the Wildcats (12-2, 48-3) on their home field, where they don't lose often. Sunday's home loss was Arizona's first of the season.

Stanford, which will host one of eight NCAA Regional tournaments May 20-23, is looking for just its third winning conference season.

"Arizona is a juggernaut and they are so tough to beat at home," said Stanford coach John Rittman. "We stepped up to the challenge like we have all year. One of the keys was keeping their one and two hitters off base all day. They have a lot of speed at the top of the lineup."

The Wildcats were held to their season-low in hits, while pitcher Alicia Hollowell allowed a career-high 12 hits.

Stanford lost to Arizona, 4-0, on Saturday after beating host Arizona State, 7-6, on Friday.

While Sorensen continues to rewrite Stanford's record books in every pitching category - she's the first Stanford pitcher to record over 1,000 strikeouts in her career - Allister has suddenly become an offensive force, and has already established career bests in hits, doubles, triples and stolen bases. She'll likely exceed runs, batting average and RBI before the year is out.

"She has been a model of consistency for the program for all four years she's been here," said Rittman. "She's our leader on the field. She sets the defense and calls a good game. This year her offensive numbers are up a little bit. She's just a winner."

Rittman understated her offensive numbers. Entering Friday night's game against visiting Washington at 7 p.m., Allister has a .344 batting average. She came into the season with a .262 career mark. She has 18 doubles, which appropriately enough, doubles her output from all of last year, and she hit her first triple. With 39 RBI, she's two off her career best of 41 in 2002.

Defensively Allister already owns the two best fielding percentages in school history, setting a record with her .997 fielding percentage in 2002. And that's playing the most demanding position on the field.

When things are going right, it's almost like there's no one else besides Allister and Sorensen, who has 1,058 career strikeouts. Allister has been behind the plate for most of them.

Sorensen (25-7, 1.32) is or will be at the top of every pitching category in the school annuals by the time her career is completed.

"She has preserved through a lot and is capable of beating anyone in the country," said Rittman. "She's a smart kid, and a competitor. She understands the game."

Sorensen sat out the 2002 season with a torn ACL, and sustained a herniated disc during last year's regional.

"Batting through those injuries has made her more mentally tough," said Rittman. "She's special." Allister was involved in both scoring rallies in the win over the Wildcats. Her bunt single advanced Lauren Lappin, an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team, and set up Leah Nelson's RBI single in the second.

Allister opened the fifth with a double and eventually scored when Hollowell couldn't handle Katherine Hoffman's infield grounder.

Allister, Jackie Rinehart, Heather Shook, and Meghan Sickler each collected two hits for the Cardinal.

In Friday's win over the Sun Devils. Catalina Morris went 2-for-4, including a home run.
Women's lacrosse

Stanford lost to host Georgetown, 12-3, in a nonconference match on Saturday.

The Cardinal (8-8) are the top-seeded team in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament and will play in Saturday's 5 p.m. semifinal in Denver against an opponent to be determined.

Stanford, which played the toughest schedule on the west coast, should be prepared for the tournament after losing to the seventh-ranked Hoyas (11-4).

Georgetown scored the game's first six goals and never looked back.

Claire Calzonetti, Megan Burker and Abbi Hills scored for the Cardinal.
Women's crew

The first varsity turned in their fastest time of the season in finishing seven seconds behind the pace second-ranked California on Saturday at Redwood Shores.

The varsity four, in just their second race of the season, was in second until the final 500 meters of the race and finished just out of range of the Bears.

"I am really pleased with how this team has stayed positive throughout this challenging season," said coach Aimee Baker. "It is exciting to see their hard work start to pay off with improved speed in the V8 and by closing the margin on California.. This performance will give us confidence heading into the Pac-10 Championships."

Seniors Wendy Hoeveler, Melissa Haury, Jenny McColloch, Molly Loeb, Ashley Maloney and Grace Bull Tail competed in their final home race.

The Cardinal head to the Pac-10 Championships on Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova on Sunday, May 16.

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