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Monique Mejia and the Bruins are the favorites to win the Pac-10. All eight teams in the Pac-10 a

There is no dispute as to which conference is the toughest in collegiate softball. The Pac-10 stands well above the competition as all eight participating teams are ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and ESPN Top-25 polls.

Last year the conference sent seven teams to the NCAA regionals and from that group, four teams made it to the Women’s College World Series. Cal, who finished fourth during the conference season, won its first national title by beating Arizona 6-0, further asserting Pac-10 dominance in collegiate softball.

This year looks to be similar as the first three spots in both polls are occupied by UCLA, Washington and Arizona.

“What’s unique about the conference is the experience, the athleticism and the versatility that all the teams have that makes our conference what it is,” UCLA head coach Sue Enquist said.

Despite its No. 1 ranking, Enquist does not feel that teams are going to be specifically gunning for the Bruins.

“I know we have a target on our back, so do Washington and Arizona,” Enquist said. “But Stanford and Arizona State, even the Oregon schools can beat us.”

In spite of these comments, there does look to be a strict dichotomy in the conference.

UCLA, Cal, Washington and Arizona are ranked in the top 10 nationally and should finish in the top half of the conference. Stanford, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State comprise a bottom half that, due to the strength of the conference, will compete for two or three spots in the NCAA regionals.

This fact does not mean that the conference is locked into this position. Stanford and Arizona State have teams that, if things break their way, can displace one of the top four.

“That’s one of our goals. With the strength of the conference it’s hard to predict where everybody will finish,” Stanford coach John Rittman said.

The main difference between the top and bottom halves of the conference is balance. UCLA, Cal, Washington and Arizona earned top-10 status with team batting averages near .300 and at least one pitcher with an ERA under 1.00.

Stanford has very strong pitching but a team batting average near .250, while Arizona State does not have a star pitcher but has a team average of over .300.

Oregon and Oregon State have not shown the team hitting or pitching that would allow them to compete for a top spot in the conference.