Huskies softball team opens NCAAs today

Washington's softball team will take on an unfamiliar role when it heads to Houston for the NCAA Regional — underdog.

"It's the first time since I've been here that we haven't been a No. 1 seed," said senior pitcher Caitlin Noble. "We look at it now, that we're kind of an underdog. And we can be on the attack. There's a little less pressure. We have big expectations for ourselves, but we can be loose."

When the second-seeded Huskies face third-seeded Texas at 3 p.m. PST today at Cougar Softball Stadium in the NCAA Houston Regional, it will be the first time since 2001 that UW won't be a No. 1 seed.

With the graduation of key players from last season's squad that finished tied for third in the country coupled with injuries this season, an up and down year for the No. 24 Huskies (28-23-21) wasn't a huge shock.

Washington is without two All-Americans from last year's College World Series team — pitcher Danielle Lawrie, who is redshirting while preparing to play for the Canadian national team in the Olympic Games, and senior infielder Ashley Charters, who is out with a hip injury.

"Those are huge holes to fill," said fourth-year Huskies coach Heather Tarr. "We're playing without three of our top-round draft picks. I don't know any other team in the country who's doing that."

Washington, which makes its 15th straight trip to the NCAAs, is familiar with Texas.

The Longhorns (28-21-2) swept the Huskies in the 2006 Super Regionals, behind its three-time National Player of the Year, pitcher Cat Osterman, who graduated. The Huskies defeated Texas 4-0 last season, behind a no-hitter from Noble.

"We feel like we kind of know what we're heading into," said Noble, the team's lone active senior. "We know what we want to do."

Also in the regional is Houston and Delaware State.

The Huskies have needed production from younger players, with many freshmen and sophomores playing key roles.

None may be more important than freshman pitcher Aleah Macon (16-15, 2.00 earned-run average), who might start today and Thursday was named with Huskies infielder Jace Williams to the All-Pac-10 Freshman Team. Tarr is likely to decide today on starting Macon or the senior Noble (12-8, 2.54 ERA).

Six Huskies earned All-Pac-10 honors. Junior catcher Alicia Blake and Williams made the second team. Macon, Amanda Fleischman, Bailey Stenson and Morgan Stuart were honorable mention.

The Huskies have advanced to the Women's College World Series eight times. They've never won a World Series title but were in the championship game in 1996 and 1999.

Will the tradition continue?

"We expect every year to go to the regionals," said Noble. "And we expect to go to the regionals to do something. We're not just happy to be there."

UW track to Pac-10s

The Washington track and field teams are in Tempe, Ariz., for the Pac-10 Championships today and Saturday.

Last year, the men placed sixth at the Pac-10s. The women were ninth.

Washington junior Jordan Boase is the national leader in both the 200 and 400 meters. He set a UW record of 44.82 seconds in the 400 last month.

Senior jumper Norris Frederick won the Pac-10 long jump in 2006 and placed second last season. Frederick will also be a favorite in the high jump for the No. 26 Huskies.

Sophomore Katie Follett and seniors Amanda Miller and Michelle Turner rank near the top from the women's 800 to the 5,000.