A Ringing Finish for Dalton, Gomez

Jenny Dalton and Krista Gomez have been appointed to the task of designing championship rings for the University of Arizona softball team, which is only appropriate.

After all, they were among the leading architects of what became the Wildcats’ blueprint for winning three NCAA Division I championships in four seasons, including the 1996 title after a 6-4 victory over Washington.

Dalton, from Glendale High, and Gomez, from Alemany, helped Arizona post a 232-26 record during their careers, from 1993 through this year.

Dalton, a second baseman, completed her eligibility as holder of six NCAA hitting records, starting her career with a grand slam and capping it with a three-run home run in the championship game against Washington.

Gomez, who played several positions during her tenure, lived outside the headlines.

As freshmen, they waged a spirited battle for the starting nod at second base.

“People thought we didn’t like each other but that wasn’t the case at all,” Gomez said. “We stayed together as friends.”

Dalton won the position and became a three-time All-American. But the real winner was Arizona and Coach Mike Candrea, who benefited from Gomez’s versatility.

“You don’t replace great athletes and great people,” Candrea said. “I’m going to miss them, but I look forward to having them around next year.”

Neither player is certain about her future aside from marriage--both are engaged--but Dalton and Gomez have each decided to return to the Wildcats next year as student assistant coaches while they finish undergraduate studies.

“I have a daughter who is entering high school next fall,” Candrea said. “I would love for her to be just like them.”

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Dalton, powerful at 5 foot 7, made heads turn with her right-handed compact swing in her first college at-bat.

She hit a grand slam.

By the time she was through, Dalton set NCAA career records with 328 runs batted in, 1.3 RBIs per game, 178 walks, 293 runs and a slugging percentage of .815.

She set an NCAA single-season record for walks with 64 this season while also becoming the Pacific 10 Conference’s first triple crown winner. She batted .469 with 25 home runs, 109 RBIs and had 19 stolen bases in 20 attempts.

Considered the front-runner for the Honda Award as college softball’s player of the year, Dalton finished with a career batting average of .411 and 76 home runs.

Dalton attributes her power numbers to the livelier ball the NCAA instituted before her freshman season.

“I hit 28 home runs last year, and I hit 28 my whole high school career,” she said. “I just tried to be a role player and fit the mold people wanted for me. [Home runs] were never my role.”

Dalton had a solid career fielding average of .966. She tied for the team lead in assists this season with 187.

“Jenny’s been a force in college softball,” Candrea said. “We knew she would be a very fine player.”

Dalton almost didn’t go to Arizona. As one of Southern California’s top high school recruits, she had her sights set on UCLA.

“I was headed to UCLA,” she said. “But after my visit, I didn’t feel right there.”

Dalton signed a letter of intent to Arizona late--during the spring of her senior year--and only after another player dropped out of the program, providing a scholarship.

Candrea believes the U.S. Olympic softball team is missing out. Dalton didn’t make the final cut.

“She could bring a lot to the team,” Candrea said.

Dalton said Team USA coaches didn’t think she was versatile enough.

“They were looking for players who play multiple positions and could fill a void in case of an injury,” Dalton said. “I played shortstop and third base for a couple of tryouts, and my expertise wasn’t in all of them--it was second base. I think I displayed my talents as well as I could.”

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Lucky for Arizona that Gomez didn’t know Dalton also was coming to Tucson. Gomez would have signed with Fresno State instead.

Candrea, sure that he had lost Dalton to UCLA, started recruiting Gomez in October.

At Alemany, Gomez had a career .475 batting average. Her 161 hits ranked third, her 20 home runs fourth and her 127 RBIs sixth on the Southern Section career list.

“I was a second baseman, and my main goal was to start,” she said. “But with Jenny coming in, I thought the chances were slim.”

With Dalton out because of an ankle injury, Gomez played 27 games at second base as a freshman, batted .294 and was selected to the all-tournament team at the Women’s College World Series after batting .313 to help the Wildcats win the title.

With Dalton healthy the following season, Gomez moved to left field, where she handled 72 chances without an error and batted .311 as Arizona repeated as World Series champion.

Last year, Gomez moved to third base, fielded at a .973 clip and continued to improve at the plate, batting .377 with 39 RBIs.

As a senior, Gomez made third base her permanent position, but shuffled between leadoff, No. 2 and No. 6 in the batting order.

She proved unflappable, batting .400 with 41 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a team-leading 13 sacrifices. All were career highs.

“No matter where you put her, she did the right things,” Candrea said.

Gomez, a career .357 hitter, didn’t like the utility role but considers the experience valuable since she may go into coaching.

She even laughs about it.

“It took me a while to learn where to throw the ball in certain situations,” she said. “To this day, I think sometimes I don’t know where to throw the ball.

“It was a different role for me, but I was glad I was that person. I learned a different mind set, and I’m proud of the way I played third.”

Gomez made the all-tournament team at the World Series three times. She was chosen All-Pac-10 for the first time this season. But the best Gomez rated on the All-American squad was second team.

“It’s OK,” she said. “ . . . The championships are better.”