2008 Woodie Awards
Berkeley's Hammerin' Haley builds rep quickly
Alexandra May--Daily Californian (U. California-Berkeley)
Issue date: 2/12/03 Section: Sports
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(U-WIRE) BERKELEY, Calif. - Haley Woods knows how to make a memorable first impression.
Her first at-bat in a Cal uniform, representing the defending national champions could easily have been an intimidating experience.
Undaunted, she sent a home run soaring out of Levine-Fricke Field.
"To have your first college at-bat be a home run is amazing, but it also sets a precedent now," Woods says. "It gives me a lot to strive for, to do it more consistently."
Woods' tape-measure drive also sent an equally powerful message to opposing pitchers.
'You can't avoid Veronica forever.'
Woods' teammate, senior Veronica Nelson, has been getting the Barry Bonds treatment and then some. A .333 hitter with 42 home runs, the slugger owns the NCAA career walks record with 288.
With Woods hitting behind her in the Bears' lineup, opposing teams may have to rethink that strategy every time they see Woods emerge from the dugout.
"Haley's done an outstanding job thus far this year," says Cal coach Diane Ninemire. "She really answers the question of having another solid RBI type of hitter, she's done exactly that."
Although Woods hasn't hit a home run since her debut, she leads the team in hits (9), doubles (3) and RBIs (8).
That production has won the freshman a place in the line-up despite playing a position held by senior Courtney Scott, a All-Pac-10 pick at catcher last year.
Ninemire has gotten both players to the plate by alternating the two behind the plate and using the other as a designated player.
Woods has the kind of power to start talk of 'the next Veronica Nelson' emerging from the freshman class.
"I don't think that's fair for her," says Nelson. "She has to define herself. She's going to be a great player without being compared to me."
While Nelson should benefit from the extra protection in her final year, she sees Woods being successful long after Nelson is gone.
"She's going to make her name and people three years from now are going to say 'that's the next Haley Woods,'" says Nelson.
Her first at-bat in a Cal uniform, representing the defending national champions could easily have been an intimidating experience.
Undaunted, she sent a home run soaring out of Levine-Fricke Field.
"To have your first college at-bat be a home run is amazing, but it also sets a precedent now," Woods says. "It gives me a lot to strive for, to do it more consistently."
Woods' tape-measure drive also sent an equally powerful message to opposing pitchers.
'You can't avoid Veronica forever.'
Woods' teammate, senior Veronica Nelson, has been getting the Barry Bonds treatment and then some. A .333 hitter with 42 home runs, the slugger owns the NCAA career walks record with 288.
With Woods hitting behind her in the Bears' lineup, opposing teams may have to rethink that strategy every time they see Woods emerge from the dugout.
"Haley's done an outstanding job thus far this year," says Cal coach Diane Ninemire. "She really answers the question of having another solid RBI type of hitter, she's done exactly that."
Although Woods hasn't hit a home run since her debut, she leads the team in hits (9), doubles (3) and RBIs (8).
That production has won the freshman a place in the line-up despite playing a position held by senior Courtney Scott, a All-Pac-10 pick at catcher last year.
Ninemire has gotten both players to the plate by alternating the two behind the plate and using the other as a designated player.
Woods has the kind of power to start talk of 'the next Veronica Nelson' emerging from the freshman class.
"I don't think that's fair for her," says Nelson. "She has to define herself. She's going to be a great player without being compared to me."
While Nelson should benefit from the extra protection in her final year, she sees Woods being successful long after Nelson is gone.
"She's going to make her name and people three years from now are going to say 'that's the next Haley Woods,'" says Nelson.