OFFENSE
continued from page 7
kid brings a different element — we
have some who are speedy, some who
see the ball well, and others who have
their own specialties. A lot of kids are
putting last year's experiences to good
use."
As a team, the Ducks have im
proved their batting average from last
season's .258. Through Sunday, Ore
gon is batting .284.
Home, home on the road
At both Washington and UCLA, the
Ducks had a reasonable cheering sec
tion in the stands. Four Oregon play
ers call the state of Washington home,
while at least three California natives
had family at the UCLA games. Pitch
er Ani Nyhus, from White Rock,
British Columbia, even got a surprise
visit from her mom at Friday's game.
"She hasn't seen me pitch in about
four years," Nyhus said. "She took a
day from work to come to the game."
First baseman Kristi Leiter, from
Lake Stevens, Wash., scored the first
run for the Ducks on Friday with a
home run to the bleachers in right
field.
"In front of her high school team,
her summer team and her friends and
family," Arendsen said. "She hit a
home run in her first game at home.
That's just the thrill of a lifetime."
Leiter, Nyhus, third baseman
Ashley Richards, outfielder Dani Baird
and outfielder Suzie Barnes all had
family at the Husky game. Julie Jaime,
Beth Boskovich and Breanne Sabol
each had family at the UCLA games.
Pitching her way up
In Friday's victory, Nyhus threw 11
strikeouts against the Huskies. Add in
her six k's Saturday and one Sunday
and the transfer junior is already up to
128 strikeouts this season. That puts
Nyhus at No. 10 on Oregon's all-time
career strikeout list. The 128 strikeouts
also put her at fifth all-time for a sin
gle season with 14 regular season
games remaining.
Contact the senior sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.
HAGER
continued from page 7
early and see the shoot around. Bet
ter yet, stand behind the glass and
flinch as each puck flies toward you
during warmups. Know it won't hit
you, but pretend. Practice those re
flexes, stay limber.
Just remember what it was like
when you were young, when your in
nocence was more than a forgotten
memory.
I know when that exact moment
struck me.
As much as Barry Bonds has had a
cloud fly over him for the start of the
2004 season, seeing him hit No. 660
for his career was cathartic. He did
something that only three other play
ers in history had ever done. That
dates back to 1876 when the National
League was officially formed.
That's more than 125 years. Think
about it. Digest it.
Can you really tell me now that
steroids are too much of an issue for
you to stand in amazement at what he
did? Is it possible to let that scandal sit
in your head long enough to keep from
enjoying what may be the most signifi
cant record in our lifetime?
1 hope not.
I was never a huge Bonds fan, not
until recendy. I had heard the stories
about him being rude, selfish and just
generally a bad person.
It drove me away from liking the
man, even though I grew up a San
Francisco Giants fan.
Then I realized it all didn't matter.
It came back to me. I remembered
what it was like to sit in the stands and
watch batting practice as baseballs
flew more than 400 feet toward the
center field seats.
I remembered my days at Candle
stick Park, how I swore I would never
call it 3Com Park.
Those were the days when base
ball was baseball. And when foot
ball players went to the trenches and
the beauty of a spiral thrown by
John Elway, Dan Marino and Joe
Montana was a thing of beauty ri
valed by no other.
1 remembered all those things last
week as I watched Willie Mays em
brace Bonds. Everything came back
to me.
The good old days.
And how they can come alive again.
Contact the sports editor
at hankhageri@dailyemerald.com.
His opinions do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald.
BACKUPS
continued from page 7
defense, if you're the guy in the gap,
then you're going to make the tackle, (if
not) we're in trouble. We still have to
play harder and faster."
With Rodney Woods out of practice
Monday because of an elbow sprain
suffered before the scrimmage, Gip
son practiced with the No. 1 defense
for most of the afternoon.
It is expected, however, that Woods
will be practicing with the team as the
week progresses. J.D. Nelson, who
missed the scrimmage because of a
concussion, practiced Monday.
What was that sighting?
The injury bug that hit Oregon dur
ing the 2003 season has evidently
continued and claimed some special
teams talent.
Before the Ducks scrimmaged Sat
urday, they practiced special teams
situations. Seen snapping during
punts at one point was Leaf.
The situation seemed even more
dire during the scrimmage when Mar
ques Binns blocked a Jared Siegel 35
yard field goal attempt. The snap ap
peared to be high on the play and
could have affected Siegel's timing.
Later on, Clemens found Kause for
a two-point conversion after the snap
on the point after the touchdown
was misplayed.
"We have some issues in the kicking
game right now with our snapping,"
Bellotti. "Again, a couple of our field
goal snappers were out (Saturday) due
to injury or academic suspension. Ob
viously we were down to our third
string snapper and we didn't have good
continuity in terms of snap and hold."
One of the first couple of snaps
from Leaf?
Errant, of course.
Contact the sports editor
at hankhager@dailyemerald.com.
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