Weekend At Eller Media Stadium Classic Tournament

This past weekend, my family and I were at Eller Media Stadium, home to UNLV Softball.

The UNLV Rebels hosted Drake, Florida Atlantic University, Loyola Marymount, and Wright State at the Eller Media Stadium Tournament. It ran from February 26 to March 1.

The Rebels had a chance to sweep the tournament, but fell a little short in the last game on Sunday, finishing the weekend with a 5-1 record.

I didn't attend the opening game on Thursday night. My children were acting up, so we didn't go to the game.

The Rebels won 3-2 over Drake. I read about the game on unlvrebels.com. Jaci Hull broke out of her slump and hit a monster 2 run homerun. Brittany Meade added a homerun as well to seal the win. Rebels' ace, Traci Odegard came into the game in the 6th inning to get the save, her first of the year.

On Firday, The Rebels played two games.

In the first game, the Rebels rolled over Wright State, 9-0 in a 5 inning mercy rule shorted game. This was a wonderful team effort. Kendall Fern and Bri Barnardi are looking great after returning from injuries last year. Jaci continued her strong hitting, and seem to really be on track now. It wonderful that she back to fighting form.

In the second game, pitching ace, and the belle of the staff, Traci Odegard took to the circle. The Rebels won 3-1. The team was off to a slow start on this one, but recovered nicely. Marissa Nichols made a very rare error. She is only human, but it did lead to a run. The error aside its great to have Marissa back and scaring the other teams.

On Saturday, it was two more games.

In game 1, the Rebels beat Drake, 4-3. Pitcher Stephanie Bregante who been struggling hard this year, seem to get things going right, with her second straight win within the circle. Marissa and Kendall are lighting up the offence, showing real leadership. Jaci Hull and rest of the team are responding well. It great to see the team working together, everyone is stepping up.

After dropping of my children off for a night with grandpa, I returned to watch game 2. the always lovely Traci again got the start and win from the circle. It was Odegard's fifth win, and third shoutout. This was in a 8-0 win over Layola Marymount in a 5 inning shortened mercy rule game. Marissa Nichols got things started early, as she hit her second home run of the day. This shot came in the first inning and landed beyond the fence in left field. Laura Briones got hot driving in a few RBIs in this game. Elena Fata and Brittany Bolinger are getting very hot as well.

On Sunday, we had a chance to sweep the tournament. We had already won it, by having the best record of the weekend. The sweep would have been the icing on the tournament.

Freshman, Jessica O'Connor got the start within the circle. I understand that the coaching staff want to have your new players learn how to get themselves out of trouble. To me, it was very clear she didn't have it on this day, and they stayed with her to long into the game. This choise may have cost the win and sweep. With that said, Jessica is a sold player. She will do great things for the Rebels, but on this day, she was getting lit up.

Fellow freshman, Amber Petersen came in relief, and with her five strikeouts, she gave the Rebels a chance to come back and win this game. Amber really impressed me, showing toughness, and a super skill level.

Kendall Fearn, Jaci Hull, Laura Briones, and Elena Fata really got the offence fired up, but it fell just a little short.

As Florida Atlantic University beat us, 5-4.

One area of concern is that Marissa Nichols was taken out of the game. After the game, I talk with her about it. Marissa told me she had sore knees, and they were playing it safe. She said, she getting used to playing every game again. Nichols feels she back. This can only be great for the Rebels as they head into Mountain West Conference play, and a run for the championship.

At this tournament, I handed out the web address to my blog. I'm hoping to get more readers, and publicity. I gave the address to some parents, coaching staff members, and players. I was surprised to find out one player had stumbled unto my blog, and was a regular reader.

Undergraduate Assistant Coach, Stephanie Bean, is helping me to get my media guide signed by players and the coaching staff. This means so much to me. Stephanie is a former player, who my family and I enjoyed watching.

Head coach, Pete Manarino and his staff of assistant coaches, Panita Thanatharn, and Maggie Lavreri, along with Stephanie, are a giant breath of fresh air for the program.

The UNLV Rebels have a real chance to win the Mountain West Conference, go to regionals, and the NCAA Women's World Series this season.

The team members are great role models to my children. It shows my daughter that she can be anything she wants, if she puts in the needed work. They also show my son just how strong a woman can be as well as being very femine.

I enjoy my time at the Eller Media Stadium. I know its pretty special to my children as well. We cheer loud, and long for the Rebels. My families loyalty to the team is without question. They know that I'm there for them, and no other teams. My family and I buy the tickets, food, shirts, and media guides. I try my best to support the team, and program in any way that I can. I would never do anything to hurt or embarrass the program.

The Rebels will be back in action this coming weekend. They will host the UNLV Invitational Tournament. This will be the last home tournament before the start of play within the Mountain West Conference in early April.

A Weekend At The Louisville Slugger Desert Classic

UNLV Rebels hosted the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic this weekend at Eller Media Stadium and the Fields at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.

College Teams from Cal State Fullerton, DePaul, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Nevada - Reno, Northwestern, Oregon, Oregon State, Portland State, Saint Louis, South Dakota State, Southern Miss, Southern Utah, UC Davis, UCLA, Virginia, Mountain West Conference rivals Utah, and BYU were all participants.

UNLV played 5 games over the three day tournament. They had a record of 2 -3 for the weekend, and a record of 5 wins and 4 losses over all.

My children and I attended the first game on Friday, before going to the Dollhouse Meetup. On Saturday, I attended the game alone, as the children were with their grandpa Johnson. My children and I watch both games, today.

On Sunday, I was able to buy a UNLV Softball Media Guide. After the games, I gave it to couch Bean, to get the team and staff to autograph it. You never know if it will be a collector item in the years to come. It's also fun to look back and have the memories of years and teams past.

UNLV's ace pitcher, Traci Odegard had 2 starts, and freshman, Jessica O'Connor (pictured above) had 3 starts, and it seems that are these women they look to started them off inside the circle. The rest of the staff seem to come in for relief. Pitcher Stephanie Bregante has had great control problems this year, and only comes into the game when the outcome of game is well known.

One area for concern is Jaci Hull. Last year, at her first at bat she hit a home run over both fences at Eller Media Stadium. But this year I don't think she gotten a hit yet, and only on base from a walk. It seems something is distracting Jaci off the field. Her defence is only 50-50 according to the other season ticket holders who sit around me. Coach Manarino will face a tough decision if Jaci continues not to deliver at the plate and in the field.

With a little tweaking here and there the Rebels will be ready for a championship run in the Mountain West Conference, and the College Softball World Series.

The Rebels are back in action next weekend, as they hit the road for the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. UNLV will open up the Classic with a 3:30 pm, game vs. Nebraska on Feb. 26. The team will play a total of five games at Big League Dreams Complex.

The Manarino Era Begins at UNLV Softball

Today, was opening day for UNLV Softball. We, as a family were so fired up. Jenna had her cheerleader dress on, and a special nail polish design of a softball on both ring finger nail, and sparkling red polish on others. Both children had big red wigs on. They along with myself were in full Rebel gear.

When you walk into Eller Media Stadium, you could see and feel the changes right away. The scoreboard had a fresh coat of paint, and the snack bar was up and running with wonderful smells.

On the outfield fence was two new banners. One with a list of NCAA Regional appearances, and the other a list of College World Series appearances. It is a clear message their is a new era for this program.

In UNLV's first game, which was the second game of the Sportco Kick-Off Classic Tournament, they played Marshall.

It was great to see one of my favorite players, Traci Odegard gets the honor of pitching the first game of the season. This couldn't of happened to a sweeter woman. She pitched a two hit, mercy rule shorten game. The Rebels won, 8-0, in five innings.

In this game, both Marissa Nichols and Kendall Fearn serve up notice to the softball world that they were back from injury, and health as they hit back to back home runs. This can only be great news for UNLV as we move on throughout the season.

In UNLV's second game, they faced Illinois - Chicago.

This game was a bit of a surprise challenge for UNLV, it was tied twice at 2-2, and 5-5. But in the end the Rebels win 7-5.

The winning 2 - run home run came from the bat of Kendall Fearn in the bottom of the 7th inning.

It took 3 pitchers to get through this game. Freshman, Amber Petersen struggles in her first start as a Rebel. Also Stephanie Bregante has some issues in relief. Freshman, Jessica O' Connor came into the game, and got the win.

This was a team effort to get this two wins. The stars, starter and bench players came together.

I'm looking forward to and very excited about this season of UNLV Rebel Softball.

The Sportco Kick-off Classic will continue tomorrow and on Sunday.

Play Ball: Looking Forward to UNLV Rebel Softball

This Friday, UNLV will open it 2009 Softball Season. The Rebel's are playing in and hosting the Sportco Kick-Off Classic. I, as I have been for last four season will be there as a season ticket holder.

Many questions seem to be around the team. It clear they have the talent, with All-American, Marrissa Nichols, returning from injury, along with two other teammates. They have the pitching lead by Traci Odegard.

Another question is how the Rebels will respond to new Head Coach, and the new staff. I didn't have a chance to see the fall games, so I don't know. I do know there is always a period of adjustment to learn the new style and ways.

We have a lot of seniors on the team, so this the chance to win a Mountain West Championship, a NCAA National Championship, and / or impress scouts for overseas softball leagues.

The following is a review/ preview of up coming season. it is from http://www.unlvrebels.com/

""The Rebels begin their season on Feb. 6, as they host the Sportco Kick-Off Classic (Feb. 6-8) at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV will welcome Marshall, Illinois-Chicago and Seton Hall to Las Vegas for the weekend.

The Sportco will be played in a true tournament format. The teams will play a total of three games, once against each other. Following the set schedule, the squads will be seeded and will play in a #1 vs. #4, #2 vs. #3 format on Saturday afternoon.

The tournament will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 8, when the two winners from Saturday's games play at 9:00 am, while a consolation game will be played at 11:15 am, between the remaining two teams.

The Rebels will stay home for the second weekend of the season and host the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic (Feb. 12-15). The LSDC is one of the premier collegiate softball tournaments in the country, as well as, one of the largest boasting 21 teams this season. The games are split between two complexes: UNLV's Eller Media Stadium and Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.

The UNLV Rebels were selected to finish third in the 2009 Mountain West Conference Preseason Softball Poll, according to a vote of the league's six coaches. The Rebels tallied 15 points, while 2008 NCAA Tournament participants BYU and San Diego State tied atop the standings with both garnering three first-place votes and a total of 23 points.

UNLV, who will be led by first-year head coach Pete Manarino, welcomes back 13 letterwinners from the 2008 squad that went 25-40-1 overall and 5-15 in conference play. The Rebels return all three of their all-conference performers (Brittany Bolinger, Ashli Holland and Jaci Hull), while two former All-MWC honorees (Kendall Fearn and Marissa Nichols) jump back into the lineup after missing last year.

San Diego State notched its fourth MWC regular-season title last year with a 15-5 league mark, en route to a 44-17 season. The Aztecs return 12 letterwinners, including Erin Floros, Brittany Knudson and Lindsey Marquez. The trio earned All-MWC recognition last season.

BYU picked up its fourth straight 40-win season in 2008 with its 44-20 showing. The Cougars finished one game behind SDSU in the final 2008 MWC standings with a 14-6 tally. Last season's freshman of the year, Kristin Delahoussaye, returns to the Cougar roster and will be joined by fellow All-MWC members Angeline Quiocho and Amanda Vance.

The Utah Utes, Colorado State Rams and New Mexico Lobos round out the six-team poll. The Utes were tabbed to finish fourth with its 14 points, while the Rams notched 10 to the Lobos' five.

The 2009 Rebels will have a new look this season in more ways than one. There is a new coaching staff, some returning faces are back in the lineup and a plethora of newcomers dot the roster.

The biggest change is the introduction of Pete Manarino to the Rebel family. Manarino comes to UNLV after spending 23 years as the skipper of the Long Beach State program, where he won over 800 games and made 17 NCAA postseason appearances with the 49ers.

Manarino replaces Lonni Alameda, who spent the previous five seasons as the Rebel head coach. Alameda left UNLV to become only the second softball head coach in Florida State's history. She replaces Dr. JoAnne Graf, who won over 1,400 career games as the Seminoles head coach.

Manarino filled out his staff with Panita Thanatharn and Maggie Livreri. Thanatharn and Maggie Livreri. Thanatharn spent the past seven years at LBSU as either a student-athlete (2002-05) or coach. Liveri begins her first year as a full-time assistant coach after spending the past two as a volunteer assistant coach under Alameda at UNLV. Liveri played for the Rebels her final two years of collegiate softball (2005-06).

Besides the coaching change, the Rebel program will welcome back three familiar faces (Marissa Nichols, Kendall Fearn and Bri Bernardi) to the diamond.

Nichols was an all-everything performer for UNLV in 2005. She was instrumental in snapping a nine-year drought in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman. She was tabbed an NFCA All-America and All-West Region selection, while being named to the MWC All-Conference Team and the league's Freshman of the Year.

Unfortunately, she has been absent from the Rebel lineup since midway through the 2006 season. She sat out the last two years, due to injuries.

Fearn and Bernardi joined Nichols on the "Disabled List" last year with injuries of their own. Fearn, a 2008 all-conference representative, will return to her first base position, while Bernardi looks to jump back behind the plate.""

I have felling this is going to be a very exciting season UNLV Softball and Thier fans. UNLV, GO, Fight , Win !!!!!