Arizona shortstop Kristie Fox has battled a right elbow injury this year, one of several distractions the Wildcats have faced during the first half of the season.

david sanders / arizona daily star 2007

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The first half of the Arizona softball season has featured more melodrama than a telenovela:

● Highly touted freshman pitcher Amanda Williams has yet to take the mound because of academic problems.

● On March 7, freshman catcher Stacie Chambers was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policy.

● Shortstop Kristie Fox has battled right elbow problems that have caused her to play out of position.

● No. 2 pitcher Sarah Akamine has a right biceps tendon injury; UA coach Mike Candrea said it is "hard to say" who the team could plug in to take her place.

● The Wildcats have lost seven games, four fewer than they did all of last season.

"It's been a struggle, it really has," Candrea said. "Whether it's stuff on the field or off the field, I don't think there's been a day that I've felt like we've come out here and everyone's ready to practice and everyone's healthy and everyone's ready to go.

"When you go through seasons like that, you never know what's around the corner."

The 21-7 Wildcats begin a three-game homestand against 7-10 New Mexico tonight, their last series before the Pac-10 season begins next week.

The UA is ranked No. 5 in the country. Anywhere else, it would be considered an enormous success.

"I think that's what makes Arizona Arizona, looking at that and being ashamed," catcher Callista Balko said.

Center fielder Caitlin Lowe said: "We have such higher standards here."

The Wildcats reached the final of last week's Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., before losing to Oklahoma 11-0.

The No. 6 Sooners beat the UA twice in the same tournament, including the five-inning skunk that ranks among the team's worst losses in years.

After the loss, Candrea gave his team two much-needed days off.

"I think Coach knows exactly when we've had too much of each other, too much of the game," Lowe said. "It was the right time to take a little break."

The Wildcats were worn out, physically and mentally. Candrea said the off-the-field issues had carried onto the diamond.

"It does have an effect on everything," he said. "You can't kid yourself. When people don't take care of business and don't do the right things, it affects the entire team.

"That's one thing about a team — you count on one another. The trust you have in one another, I think, is very important.

"When you start losing that trust because people aren't doing the right things, then it gets tough. It affects your play. It affects your preparation. It affects your attitude. It affects a lot of things."

The team, which Candrea calls "a little hard to figure out," should learn a lot about itself this weekend.

"It's good this wake-up call is coming early in the season," Lowe said.