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Obscure Sports Weekly
“School's Out for Summer”
by: Soren Hansen
School is done for the year but there’s one group that never takes time off and that’s the staff here at www.rauraur.com. I was going to make a joke about all the unsuspecting college students that take internships and work for free all summer, when it occurred to me that I write these articles for free. So as Ryan Reynolds says in “National Lampoons Van Wilder,” “we will be accepting donations in the form of cash, visa, and full frontal nudity.” Barrett as a contributing editor not only will your donations not be accepted they’re not encouraged so please keep your pants on. For that matter keep your shirt on, after seeing your thicket of body hair, which can only accurately be described as a sweater, I’m now afraid to watch “Harry and the Hendersons.” I have nightmares whenever I hear John Lithgow. But enough joking around though cause while many students have left the Old Pueblo some will be there well into the dog days of summer, the baseball and softball teams, as both gear up for the postseason.
The softball team struggled down the stretch losing two of their final three games at home to fellow Pac-10 foes UCLA and UW and were in danger of losing three straight when first baseman Sam Bannister stepped into the batters box, cue “The Natural” music, and hit a walk-off homer in the 8th to give the ‘Cats a victory on senior day. The ‘Cats had already clinched the Pac-10 title and the losses did little to impact their seeding heading into the NCAA tournament as they were named a No. 1 seed. Actually the defending champs were named The No. 1 seed in the pool of 64. Coach Candrea must have taken some pointers from Lute as the two are models of consistency as they always seem to be in the postseason. Tucson and the softball team will be hosting a regional for the 13th time in 15 years and I’m sure you all know Lute extended his streak of consecutive March Madness appearances to “forever” earlier this year. The ‘Cats will be taking on MEAC champs Howard in the first round Friday afternoon and will be joined in Tucson by Mississippi State and Pacific in the double elimination regional. So for those of you still in the Old Pueblo, come on out to support the ‘Cats as they try and defend their title. Coach Candrea said “I truly believe we have the best fans in the country, and it’s a privilege to have the chance to play in front of them at home for another week.” With so many students already having fled campus we’ll need everyone to come out as we don’t want to prove coach wrong. And if you needed anymore incentive to come out, did I mention I will be Wilbur Wildcat for the game? Watch out ladies I’ll be on the prowl and it’s sure to be hot. Seriously though, it’s supposed to be 95 degrees, I might die.
The softball team wasn’t the only ones to struggle at home over the weekend where it’s “safe” to say the baseball team hit a little “slide” of their own. (Sorry that wasn’t even remotely funny. Quirky perhaps?). Even playing at home last weekend the team couldn’t prevent a golden opportunity from slipping away. The squad lost their first home series of the year to USC after dropping 2 of 3 and the ‘Cats now find themselves in third place in the Pac-10, 3 games behind leading ASU and a game behind second place UCLA. ASU swept UCLA over the weekend and had the ‘Cats not stumbled at home would have found themselves in a dead heat with our rival atop the standings. Coach Andy Lopez was to say the least frustrated, "You don't work all year to get to this weekend and then disappear." In fact Lopez held the team for an hour and 45 minutes after the game to give them what we’ll call a “pep talk,” stressing intensity. The team has its last home stand of the year this weekend with UW coming to town Friday and finish the season at ASU. This is a big weekend and the ‘Cats will need to step up and gather some momentum heading into that last weekend in Tempe, which could decide the Pac-10 title. Their struggles of late can be attributed mainly to the offense which after scoring 8 and 15 runs in the first two games of a series at Stanford have gone cold as the ‘Cats haven’t scored over 5 in any of their 10 conference games since. Look for the team to come out “swinging” in more ways than one this weekend as we try to gain ground before the conference ending showdown.
Speaking of Tempe and swinging the men’s golf team will be up there this weekend competing in the NCAA West Regional at Karsten Golf Course Friday-Sunday. After a disappointing 6th place finish in the Pac-10 championships in Eugene, OR the team looks to rebound when it matters most. The 32 team field is chalk full of familiar Pac-10 foes (everyone but WSU) and the ‘Cats will need to finish in the top 10 if they plan on advancing to the NCAA Championships. Arizona has finished tied for first, tied for eighth, third, and second in its last four NCAA Regional appearances and because history has a way of repeating itself I fully expect the ‘Cats to be in Williamsburg, VA May 30, when the Championships tee off.
As always be sure to check back in next week to catch up on the weekends’ action and if you’re in the old pueblo be sure and make it out to the diamond.
Bear Down
Soren
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