Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Softball Favored to Win 2000 WAC Title
1/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 25, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - The Western Athletic Conference released its 2000 softball preseason coaches poll this afternoon and selected two-time defending champion Fresno State as the league favorite for the sixth consecutive year in the conference race.
In a vote by the league coaches (coaches cannot vote for their own teams), Fresno State received all five possible first-place votes for a total of 25 points to lead the WAC poll. Hawai'i, which finished second in the WAC last two seasons, tallied one first-place vote and four second place. San Jose State was tabbed third (14 pts.), WAC newcomer Loyola Marymount was picked fourth (13 pts.), Tulsa was voted fifth (10 pts.) and league newcomer Portland State finished sixth (7 pts.).
Fresno State is coming off a record 65-10 year and notched its 10th 50-win season in the last 13 years. The Bulldogs, who went 24-0 in conference play a year ago, advanced to the NCAA Women's College World Series for the 12th time in the program's history.
Fresno State returns 11 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's team, including five All-Americans in seniors Amanda Scott (Clovis) and Angela Cervantez (Madera), junior Becky Witt (Reseda), and sophomores Kristen Hunter (Portland, Ore.) and Lovieanne Jung (Westminster).
In addition, 15th year head coach Margie Wright enters the 2000 season as the NCAA's all-time active winningest coach by victories. She is 13 wins shy of reaching the 900 career win plateau and will be only the second coach in Division 1 history to accomplish that feat. Still further, Wright is 27 wins shy of becoming the NCAA's all-time career win leader.
Wright has guided the Bulldogs to the NCAA Women's College World Series in 10 of the last 13 seasons and has collected 10 outright or shared conference titles, 10 regional championship crowns, and 14 straight NCAA postseason appearances. With an NCAA title and three national runners-up trophies to her credit, she has averaged 53 wins a year and has coached 42 All-Americans and eight GTE Academic All-Americans.
The 2000 USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Coaches Top 25 preseason poll is scheduled to be released tomorrow, Jan. 26.
Fresno State opens its 2000 season on the road, Feb. 11-13, at the ASU Fiesta Bowl. The three-day 18 team tournament field will have the Bulldogs squaring off against Kansas, Mississippi State, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Arizona. The Bulldogs' first appearance of the season at Bulldog Diamond will be a non-conference doubleheader at 6 p.m. against Pacific on February 23.
The public can get a sneak peak of the 2000 Fresno State softball team on Thursday, Jan. 27, at Selland Arena during halftime of the Fresno State-Rice men's basketball game. The Bulldogs will be introduced and will give a team demonstration.
The following weekend, fans can meet the Bulldogs on Saturday, February 5, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Fashion Fair Mall (in front of Macy's for men and children). Posters, schedule cards, autographs, games, prizes, and pictures with "Time-Out" will be available to the public free of charge.
In addition, fans can dine with the Bulldogs the following afternoon at the annual "Meet the Team" dinner and silent auction on Sunday, Feb. 6, 12 p.m., at TorNino's. Reservations ($20 tickets) may be made by phoning Dorothy Hunter at (559) 439-0605.
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL(January 25, 2000)
School (1st place votes) Points1. FRESNO STATE (5) 252. Hawai'i (1) 213. San Jose State 144. Loyola Marymount 135. Tulsa 106. Portland State 7
* Coaches cannot vote for their own teams
Bulldog Softball Bus Tour UCLA, Feb. 26 & Loyola Marymount, Feb. 27
For the first time a bus tour has been formally organized for fans to travel and watch the Bulldog softball team in action. The tour bus will leave Fresno at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26 for the UCLA doubleheader. The bus will stop for lunch before arriving to the game. After the doubleheader, fans will check in at the Radisson Hotel in Sherman Oaks. In addition, there will be a shuttle to take the Red Wave to nearby Universal Studio's Citywalk. On Sunday, the bus will head for Loyola Marymount the conference doubleheader opener and will return to Fresno after the games. The escorted tour includes round trip motor coach to Los Angeles, one night stay at the Radisson Valley Center, and game tickets for both doubleheader dates. The cost is $149 per person (double occupancy, separate rates available for singles and families. For reservations or additional information, call Tim Schiller at (559) 225-3164.
Upcoming Events:
Thu., Jan 27 Meet the Team @ FS-Rice MBKB halftime,
Fri., Feb. 4 Media Day @ Bulldog Diamond, 3 pm,
Sat., Feb. 5 Meet the Team @ Fashion Fair Mall, 11 am,
Sun., Feb. 6 Meet the Team Dinner @ TorNino's, 12 pm
