2001 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
For the sixth time in 11 years, Arizona walked away with the NCAA Softball Championship. The Cats defeated the Bruins 1-0 in the title game. An amazing pitching performance by junior Jennie Finch and a fourth-inning home run by senior catcher Lindsey Collins paved the way for the Wildcats. Finch improved her season record to 32-0 and extended her pitching winning streak to 40 consecutive games.
The title came as no surprise. Arizona was ranked No. 1 or No. 2 for much of the year. The Wildcats came into the season with a 31-game winning streak and ended the year with a 26-game winning streak. For most of the season the Cats led the Pac-10 in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and runs scored. Arizona's fielding percentage (.981) led the nation and was the third best in NCAA history. The Cats also had 126 home runs to break the previous NCAA record of 100 set by the 1995 UA team. The record of 1.83 home runs per game also was an NCAA record.
Arizona's talented team earned a number of individual awards. Pitcher Jennie Finch received the Honda Award as National Player of the Year along with first-team All-America honors and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year accolades. Senior third baseman Toni Mascarenas, freshman designated player Leneah Manuma and senior outfielders Lauren Bauer and Nicole Giordano also earned All-America nods.
Coach
Mike Candrea earned Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors for the seventh time in his career.
2001 ROSTER
| # |
Name |
Year |
Position |
Hometown (Last School) |
| 0 |
Becky LemkeAC2 |
Sr. |
P |
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Horizon H.S.) |
| 2 |
Teresa Demeter |
Sr. |
P |
Glendale, Ariz. (Deer Valley H.S.) |
| 4 |
Nicole GiordanoAA3, AC2 |
Sr. |
OF |
Saugus, Calif. (Saugus H.S.) |
| 7 |
Erika Hanson |
Sr. |
OF/1B |
Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Thousand Oaks H.S.) |
| 8 |
Lisha Ribellia |
So. |
INF |
Moses Lake, Wash. (Moses Lake H.S.) |
| 9 |
Leneah ManumaAA1, AC2 |
Fr. |
1B |
San Diego, Calif. (Serra H.S.) |
| 15 |
Jenny Gladding |
Fr. |
P |
Palm City, Fla. (Martin Country H.S.) |
| 20 |
Candace Abrams |
Fr. |
INF |
Tucson, Ariz. (Flowing Wells H.S.) |
| 24 |
Lauren BauerAA1, AC1 |
Sr. |
INF |
Santa Ana, Calif. (Foothill H.S.) |
| 25 |
Allison Andrade |
Sr. |
INF |
Morgan Hill, Calif. (West Valley C.C.) |
| 27 |
Jennie FinchAA1, AC1 |
Jr. |
P/1B |
La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada H.S.) |
| 31 |
Kim Balkan |
Fr. |
P/OF |
Chino Hills, Calif. (Pacifica H.S.) |
| 32 |
Toni MascarenasAA1, AC1 |
Sr. |
3B |
Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacifica H.S.) |
| 42 |
Lindsey Collins |
Sr. |
C |
Fountain Valley, Calif. (Fountain Valley H.S.) |
| 52 |
Mackenzie VandergeestAC2 |
Fr. |
C/INF |
Thousand Oaks, Calif. (LaReina H.S.) |
|
|
|
|
|
| HC: |
Mike Candrea (16th season) |
|
|
|
| AC: |
Stacy Iveson (7th season) |
|
|
|
| AC: |
Nancy Evans (1st season) |
| Game 1 (May 17) |
(1) Arizona 4, Saint Peter's 2 |
Box Score |
| Game 2 (May 18) |
(1) Arizona 8, Texas Tech 0 (5 innings) |
Box Score |
| Game 3 (May 19) |
(1) Arizona 5, Cal State Fullerton 4 |
Box Score |
| Game 4 (May 20) |
(1) Arizona 6, Southwest Texas State 2 |
Box Score |
WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
| Game 1 (May 24) |
(1) Arizona 3, (8) California 2 |
Box Score |
| Game 2 (May 25) |
(1) Arizona 5, (5) Oklahoma 4 |
Box Score |
| Game 3 (May 27) |
(1) Arizona 1, (6) Stanford 0 |
Box Score |
| CHAMP (May 28) |
(1) Arizona 1, (2) UCLA 0 |
Box Score |
