SOFTBALL UCLA WON'T TAKE ANOTHER OKLAHOMA TRIP FOR GRANTED.Byline: George Schroeder Special to the Daily News OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm - Another Memorial Day weekend, another trip to the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's College World Series The Women's College World Series (WCWS) is the final portion of the NCAA Women's Softball Tournament for college softball in the United States. The tournament is conducted in an eight-team, double-elimination format. . But the UCLA Bruins The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I-A as part of the Pacific Ten Conference. Athletic alumni Jackie Robinson, Rafer Johnson, Yang Chuan-kwang (C.K. say there's nothing ho-hum about returning. And there's nothing easy about defending their national title, either. Fourth-seeded UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX plays fifth-seeded Alabama in the first round today at 12:30 p.m. It's Alabama's first appearance. UCLA has been here so often the Bruins should register to vote in Oklahoma. UCLA is playing in its 17th Women's College World Series. The Bruins have won eight titles, including last year, and finished second four times. But it's still a thrill to be here. ``If you're not excited, something's wrong,'' senior third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Julie Adams said. And Adams said none of the past glory will mean much when the first pitch is thrown. ``It's something we can put in our well and draw from,'' Adams said, ``but it's a new day. We can't live in the past.'' As usual, the Women's College World Series has a distinctive Pac-10 flavor. UCLA is joined by Washington, Arizona and Cal. Oklahoma, DePaul and Southern Mississippi round out the field. And whatever the benefit of past experience, history says inexperience is a definite hindrance. In the last 10 years, teams without Women's College World Series experience are 4-21 in first round games. Alabama, which has reached softball's largest stage in the program's fourth season, hops to defy that trend. ``You can't just be happy to be here,'' coach Patrick Murphy
There's no question UCLA belongs. But coach Sue Enquist said winning this weekend will come down to which team is hottest. Alabama (65-12) appears to qualify. The Crimson Tide won four regional games at Tempe, Ariz., by a combined six runs. Before the regional, Alabama was 0-8 against Pac-10 teams, including 0-2 against UCLA. But Alabama beat Arizona State twice on its home field to advance. And the Crimson Tide did it with a power surge - nine home runs in the regional. ``The clutch hitting is what really caught my eye with Alabama,'' Enquist said. ``They've got that mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. that they can get it done.'' UCLA (43-11-1), which was ranked third in the NFCA/USA Today poll, won four straight regional games last weekend, too. And the Bruins had an easier time of it, outscoring opponents 31-6 at Easton Stadium. |
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