Mike Candrea had to be told his Arizona Wildcats were picked No. 13 in Tuesday's ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 preseason poll.
"Didn't even look at it," he said. "Our big goal with this team is just to think about now."
That will, eventually, include a parade of ranked teams. The poll listed seven Pac-12 teams: No. 3 Cal, No. 4 Arizona State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 16 Washington, No. 19 UCLA, No. 20 Stanford and Arizona. The UA will play 23 games against preseason Top 25 teams this year.
Alabama, which beat Oklahoma in the Women's College World Series finals, was ranked No. 1. OU was second.
Pendley joins Sooners
Shelby Pendley, the first-team All-Pac-12 shortstop who transferred from the UA in December, landed at a familiar spot: Oklahoma.
The sophomore enrolled this month and will play this season for the Sooners, who knocked the UA from the playoffs the past two years.
"I have made all the comments I want to make," Candrea said of Pendley.
Inside pitch
• UA catcher Chelsea Goodacre could miss the Feb. 8 opener and the rest of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Candrea said, after having treatment performed to lessen pain in her right, throwing elbow.
• Center fielder Hallie Wilson could start the season at first base, Candrea said, praising the left hander's good hands and quick-release throws on bunts.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Preseason Top 25
Overall poll
The preseason top 25, with first-place votes in parentheses:
1. Alabama (13)
2. Oklahoma (7)
3. California
4. Arizona State
5. Tennessee
6. Oregon
7. Missouri
8. Georgia
9. Texas
10. South Florida
11. Louisiana-Lafayette
12. LSU
13. Michigan
14. Arizona
15. Florida
16. Washington
17. Texas A&M
18. Louisville
19. UCLA
20. Stanford
21. North Carolina
T22. Baylor
T22. Hofstra
24. Florida State
25. Hawaii
Finley's poll
Star reporter Patrick Finley votes in the poll. Here's his weekly ballot:
1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Cal
4. Arizona State
5. Tennessee
6. Oregon
7. Texas
8. Missouri
9. LSU
10. Georgia
11. Florida
12. Louisiana-Lafayette
13. Arizona
14. Texas A&M
15. South Florida
16. Washington
17. UCLA
18. Louisville
19. Michigan
20. Stanford
21. North Carolina
22. Baylor
23. Florida State
24. Hawaii
25. Hofstra
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