Catcher Stacie Chambers drove in 14 runs and hit five home runs, including two grand slams, to grab her third Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Week award.
She touted a .571 batting average this past weekend.
In the first weekend of the season at the Kajikawa Classic, Chambers had one home run, four RBI and was batting .176. The increased production in only a span of a week stems from hitting adjustments, according to Chambers.
“”Me and coach just kind of talked about having my eyes more on the ball,”” Chambers said. “”The first weekend I was kind of pulling my head out and didn’t really have my eyes on the ball.””
Head coach Mike Candrea said the senior’s success at the plate so early in the season wasn’t surprising and the adjustments were the majority of the reason.
“”We got her eyes down a little more and seemed to be tracking the ball a little better, Candrea said. “”That’s 90 percent of the hitting is getting good information and putting a good swing to it.””
Chambers chasing history
While she’s getting national recognition for her weekend success at the Hillenbrand Invitational, Chambers is looking to etch her name permanently in the Arizona and NCAA record books.
She needs just 12 more homeruns to own the Arizona all-time home run record and 17 to claim the NCAA record.
If Chambers continues her home run pace, as she has in the past two years, she’ll stay on pace to break both records with 45 games remaining on the Wildcats’ regular season schedule.
As a freshman in 2008, Chambers smashed 15 home runs. Chambers and Brigette Del Ponte tied for the team leader in home runs in 2010 with 21. But in 2009 — the year Arizona broke the then-NCAA home run record with 143 homers — Chambers knocked 31 long balls out of the park.
She is currently the only active NCAA player with more than 60 home runs and has hit six jacks in 11 games so far this season.
Searching for a shortstop
Two weeks into the season, the Arizona Wildcats still don’t have a starting shortstop. Candrea said he still hasn’t decided who will be the regular shortstop for the Wildcats and will continue to try out a few players at the position.
“”Alex (Lavine) has done a good job there and she’s been very solid,”” Candrea said. “”Ashlee (Brawley) has played well at times.””
Lavine and Brawley split time during the Hillenbrand Invitational. Lavine started against Drake University and in both games against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. Brawley got the start against Kennesaw State and the University of the Pacific.
“”They’re young and they make some mistakes,”” Candrea said. “”We’re going to continue doing what we’re doing right now and see.””
