The last few days, Stacie Chambers has been feeling sick. So sick, in fact, that she canceled a trip to Hillenbrand Stadium to watch Arizonaβs marquee matchup against Oregon.
Chambers wanted to go, even if it meant she was surrendering her claim to UA softball fame.
See, Arizonaβs Katiyana Mauga is on the verge of tying, and breaking, Chambersβ career home run record of 87. Chambers has been watching Maugaβs record-setting pace from afar β well, New Mexico β while she plans a move to Phoenix.
βI havenβt been able to watch too many games, but I see it,β Chambers said. βI think itβs awesome that sheβs doing that well. If I get passed by anyone, Iβd rather it was a Wildcat than anyone else. Iβm rooting for her because I know that feeling when youβre doing that well, itβs a great feeling.β
Chambers played five years at Arizona, missing her first year dealing with a concussion, and Mauga should accomplish the feat in four. Once Mauga passes Chambers on Arizonaβs career list, sheβll set her sights on the NCAA record of 95, set by Oklahomaβs Lauren Chamberlain in 2015.
Maugaβs chase for power-hitting supremacy has been discussed all season long, but the San Diego native has never been one for self-adulation.
On Wednesday, Mauga was asked about the home run chase for the umpteenth time.
She smiled but shrugged it off. Like she always does. Maugaβs teammates are excited, the fans are in a state of suspense and the media wonβt stop asking. Saturday and Sundayβs games will broadcast nationally on ESPN2, too.
The power-hitting prowess of Arizona third baseman Katiyana Mauga, who measures 5 feet 2 inches tall, has made her the subject of fascination at Hillenbrand Stadium. Above, she conducted a red-carpet interview at McKale Center on Wednesday.
All the same, Mauga just wants to win. Arizona needs the wins too β the Wildcats (43-3, 13-2 Pac-12) are battling with the Ducks for Pac-12 supremacy.
βI mean, itβs there. Itβs always going to be there,β Mauga said of the chase. βIβm trying not to think about it and just going out there and trying to get on base for the team and produce, either getting base hits or walks, not so much home runs. If it does go over, it goes over.β
It tends to go over quite a bit, and with a consistency that college softball has never witnessed before. With Maugaβs next home run, sheβll be the first player to ever hit 20 or more home runs in all four seasons of her career.
βThat stat in itself, I think, puts her in the discussion of who is the best home run hitter of all time?β said Pac-12 analyst Kenzie Fowler, a former Canyon del Oro High School and UA standout. βSheβs in that discussion.β
Mauga hit 20 long balls as a freshman, 26 as a sophomore, 21 as a junior and currently has 19 with nine regular-season games remaining. She is not the typical all-or-nothing power hitter, either β Mauga has struck out only 12 times in 111 at-bats this season after only striking out 22 times in 167 at-bats last season.
Seemingly each βMauga bombβ has meant something β 32 of her home runs either tied the game or gave the Wildcats a lead. She has five career walk-off home runs.
All of that together, and Maugaβs power-hitting prowess has made her something of a cult hero at Hillenbrand Stadium.
When she steps up to the plate, the crowd shouts βMAUUUUGAβ in unison.
Mo Mercado, Arizonaβs senior shortstop, has played with Mauga since they were both 13 years old.
βSheβs always been the same slugger,β Mercado said. βI used to get mad at her because Iβd be like, βI practiced five times this week whatβd you do?β And sheβd be like βOh, uh, Iβm here, ready to go.β β¦ And then (sheβd) go and hit like four bombs.β
βΎοΈTop sluggers in NCAA HistoryβΎοΈ
With one more home run, Arizona third baseman Katiyana Mauga will tie Stacie Chambers for the most home runs in Arizona history. Where does that put Mauga in NCAA History? Here's a closer look.
1. Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma (2012-15): 95 home runs
2. Stacey Nuveman, UCLA (1997-2002): 90 home runs
3. Stacie Chambers, Arizona (2008-11): 87 home runs
4. Katiyana Mauga, Arizona (2014-present): 86 home runs
5.Laura Espinoza, Arizona (1992-95)/Leah Braatz, Arizona (1994-98): 85 home runsΒ
Fowler pitched in the games when Chambers, a catcher, hit both the record-tying and record-breaking home runs in May 2011. Fowler was also a redshirt senior at Arizona in 2014 when Mauga was a true freshman.
Fowler still remembers what she thought the first time she met Mauga.
βWhen that (2014) class was coming in we were hearing about her and Mo (Mercado) and we heard some things about how, you know, this Kati girl, she could really hit it,β Fowler recalled. βSo she comes in and if you look at Kati, sheβs not tall at all.
βWhen she came on campus, sheβs small in stature so you look at her and itβs like βthis is the home run hitter?β Then you see her in BP and you say, βWow! She hits it.β She uses every inch of her body.β
Consider: Chamberlain hit 95 home runs at 5-9; UCLAβs Stacey Nuveman, 6 feet tall, hit 90. Chambers is 5-11, and Arizonaβs Laura Espinoza hit 85 at 6 feet tall.
Mauga is listed at 5-2.
βSheβs not even 5-5,β Fowler said, βand she hits the furthest balls Iβve ever seen.β
This weekend, and every game until the season is over, there will be a lot of eyes on Mauga, tracking her every at-bat. The added pressure that comes with that hasnβt seemed to bother her so far, and UA coach Mike Candrea doesnβt think itβll start any time soon.
βIβm happy for her,β Candrea said. βSheβs done a good job so far of not letting it overwhelm her. I donβt want another Roger Maris thing to happen, so I check her hair every week to make sure itβs intact. β¦
βSheβs a special kid.β
Chambers certainly knows that feeling.
All the questions, the attention, over this one statistic.
βHonestly, when I was playing, all I tried to do was go out and play my best. Itβs not something you really think about,β Chambers said. βItβs there, we know itβs there. Itβs a great honor to even be on that great list, especially with all the names that are on there. β¦You can tell she has her head on straight.β
Chambers doesnβt remember much of anything about her record-breaking home run, which came in an NCAA Regional game against Harvard at Hillenbrand. She hit No. 87 the next day against New Mexico State.
Even though it was the postseason, Arizona was expected to win those games, and the Wildcats did. For Mauga, it wonβt be easy. Oregonβs pitching staff is stellar, and itβs possible the Ducks will prevent Mauga from breaking the record for at least one more week.
But Chambers thinks itβll happen soon. She wonβt be there to watch the UA-Oregon series but wants to attend Arizonaβs games against Arizona State next weekend.
Whenever her record is broken, Chambers will be just fine with it.
βKati, you canβt really question it β¦ sheβs kicked butt,β Chambers said. βItβs just a matter of her being focused. Sheβs on a roll, and I think sheβs going to keep going. Sheβll be on track to not only pass me up, and I have no issues with that whatsoever.β
Watch the game:
Who: No. 6 Oregon (37-4, 10-4) at No. 3 Arizona (43-3, 13-2)
When: Friday, April 21 at 5 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 23 at noon.
Where: Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium, 1700 E. 2nd Street. Find tickets here.
TV: Pac-12 Arizona. Saturday and Sunday's games will also be broadcasted on ESPN2. Check your local listings.Β
