Oregon Softball against UCLA

Sammie Puentes: Fast and Fearless

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Ducks were facing their second loss in two days: Top of the seventh, down 4-1 to the No. 10-ranked UCLA Bruins. With one runner out, Sammie Puentes, Oregon’s base-running specialist, stood on second base. The next batter, Koral Costa smacked a single into the outfield and the 5’2″ Puentes flew around third and streaked for home where the beefy Bruin catcher, Stephany LaRosa, …

DeForest Buckner: Defensive Stalwart

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Sweeney of FishDuck.com was at the Hatfield-Dowlin complex on Friday covering week one of spring practice for the Ducks where defensive lineman DeForest Buckner talked about his rehabilitation process. It’ll be a long spring for Buckner, the Oregon D-lineman who had arthroscopic surgery performed on his knee over the summer. The crutches have been stowed in the closet, but he’s …

Ducks Take Heart in Loss to the Huskies

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

We made too many wrong mistakes – Yogi Berra Loud is the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments in Eugene: the Ducks lost a run-rule shortened game 10-2. Even worse, the loss was to the No. 19 Huskies. From an Oregon perspective, it was an ugly game. Washington scored four unearned runs in an eight-run fourth inning explosion — …

Geri Ann Glasco: The Next Babe Ruth?

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Geri Ann Glasco is the rare ball player than can hit and pitch equally well. Yankee great, Babe Ruth could do both, but even he had to stop pitching to concentrate on his hitting. Glasco one-ups the all-time great by performing both roles at the same time. Against Utah Valley, Glasco allowed only three hits in a run-rule shortened 9-1 victory. …

Dana Altman and His Band of Unsung Heroes

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Surrounded by three beefy Cowboys, Casey Benson leaped for the rebound and popped from the scrum with the basketball. Midway through the first half with Oklahoma State, Benson had provided an essential stop in the game. His stat line for the contest wasn’t impressive—two rebounds and a steal, no points, but Benson was an unsung hero in the game. He …

Ducks Play Aggressive Ball: The Beavers Crumble

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Before the game with the Beavers, Oregon Coach Mike White told his star pitcher Cheridan Hawkins to “be aggressive.” White is a wise man; he knows that aggressive teams win ballgames. Hawkins followed White’s instructions throwing a no-hitter while blanking Oregon State 10-0 in a run-rule shortened game. The no-no was Hawkins’ fourth at Oregon, making her one of the best players …

Mike White: Defining the Standard of Excellence

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What makes Oregon softball so great? With rainy springs and aging facilities, the deck seems stacked against the Ducks, but they have a secret weapon: Coach Mike White. The Duck softball squad rides high these days, ranked No. 1 for much of last season and currently sitting in second place nationally, they have become a force in collegiate softball. White, …

Ducks Dominate Millrose Games

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Oregon athletes, past and present, ruled the Millrose Games last weekend. Oregon alum Matt Centrowitz won his second Wanamaker Mile as he out-sprinted Nick Willis to the tape, taking the race in an excellent time of 3:51.45. Centrowitz lost the 2013 Wanamaker Mile by a nose in 2013, and the loss still rankled him. “To this date, that still holds a …

Oregon Duck Sports Calendar: Feb. 18 to Feb. 24, 2015

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Oregon Duck Sports Calendar—February 18 to February 24, 2015 2/18/15 Women’s Softball Oregon vs Sam Houston State – College Station, TX 12:30 p.m. Media: Live Streaming:   CBS College Sports (subscription) Oregon vs Texas A&M – College Station, TX 2:30 p.m. Media: ESPN 3 The No. 2 ranked Ducks continue their trek through the Lone Star State with a game against …

Duck Softball Treks To Texas

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Great teams like great people are tempered in the crucible of fire and the Oregon softball team is stepping into this proverbial crucible: Nine games far from home in six days, eight of those games compacted into four double-headers, four against ranked opponents. Last week the Ducks started the season strong, winning six straight in Arizona at the Kajikawa Classic. …