UCLA Bruins
Overall Rank: #3
Conference Rank: #3 PAC 12
UCLA Team Page
Perennial power UCLA will look to rebound in 2012 with an eye on returning to the Women’s College World Series. For the second time since 2007, the Bruins failed to reach the NCAA Tournament Super Regional round of the tournament losing to Florida in the Gainesville Region Final, which for this program, is noteworthy. Head Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez will move into her sixth season at the helm of the most successful program in NCAA Softball history. Coach Perez returns 14 letter winners, an All-American, seven All-Conference picks and six of her top eight hitters for the spring of 2012.
2011: 36-19, 9-12
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Kelly Inouye-Perez
Field Players:
Seniors Andrea Harrison and Katie Schroeder are experienced veterans and will need to lead a quality group of underclassmen. Harrison led the team at the plate last year hitting .409, and slugged .709, with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. She was named First Team All-American. Schroeder, a red shirt senior, hit .324, was second on the team in hits (57) and was an All-Conference selection. Shortstop Kellie Fox and leftfielder B.B. Bates each mashed 11 home runs in 2011. Both were All-Conference selections. Sophomores Alyssa Tiumalu and Talee Snow both made the PAC-10 All Freshman squad. Tiumalu, a catcher, hit .302 with nine home runs. Second baseman Snow made just five errors in 140 chances, fielding .966.
Pitchers:
Three quarters of the UCLA pitching staff comes back in 2012. Sophomore Jessica Hall was 16-9 with a 2.59 ERA and should be the ace of the staff. Hall was also on the PAC-10 All-Freshman team. Juniors Aleah Macon and Destiny Rodino were a combined 6-0 and will again provide solid backup. With one of the most competitive pitchers in the history of the game, Lisa Fernandez, working with the staff, they will be better in 2012.
Who to Watch:
Freshman Ally Carda comes in with high expectations, both in the circle and at the plate. The USA Junior National Team star and Under Armour High School All-American has a wealth of high level experience and will give the Bruins two solid starters. Carda is one of the top pitchers in her class and can also produce at the plate. Freshman shortstop Stephany LaRosa was tabbed by The Los Angeles Times as the most feared hitter in high school softball. She hit .514 as a senior, was an ESPN Rise All-State member and was second-team all-CIF.
Final Projection:
UCLA has consistently competed on the biggest stages in college softball. The standard by which programs measure themselves, UCLA brings back an experienced coaching staff and large group of tested talent. With the addition of Carda, UCLA has the pieces in place to get back above .500 in the first season of PAC-12 play and make their usual deep run in the NCAA Tournament with a solid chance to return to OKC.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: B.B. Bates, LF, 174; Katie Schroeder, CF, 174
Hits: Andrea Harrison, 1B, 67
Home Runs: Andrea Harrison, 1B, 15
RBIs: Andrea Harrison, 1B, 52
Runs: Katie Schroeder, CF, 44
Stolen Bases: B.B. Bates, LF, 7
Wins: Jessica Hall, P, 16
Innings Pitched: Jessica Hall, P, 137.2
Strikeouts: Jessica Hall, P, 114
Saves: Jessica Hall, P, 2; Aleah Macon, P, 2
Madness 2012 NPF Draft Rankings:
#1 Andrea Harrison
Madness 2012 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#3 Allyson Carda
#37 Stephany LaRosa
