In Reply to: thoughts on the softball team posted by barrya on May 11, 2024 at 15:41:39
At its finest, softball is not very viewer friendly. Why? Because it's
a game of pitch and catch, not pitch, hit, and field.
Whoever has the best pitcher(s) wins.
No one could hit UCLA's Debbie Doom. Lisa Fernandez, Rachel
Garcia (and others), Tennessee's Monica Abbott, Texas' Cat Osterman,
or Arizona's Jennie Finch. No-hitters, one-hitters, two-hitters all
all the place.
Softball is my favorite women's college sport (basketball is a close
second). The players are exceptional, generally stick around for
four years (although that's changed somewhat too; Jordy Bahl
from OK to Nebraska; Bruins have some transfers this year). Very
little, if any, trash talk; no flagrant fouls.
It helps that UCLA is usually in the Top Ten every year.
But not in 2024.
The first month of the season was brutal. The team was 8-6,
including a 16-0 loss to Texas.
Inouye-Perez was pitching Cecil (she took the Texas loss);
neither Tinsley not Terry was consistently effective. The
bats saved Terry time after time.
Once the team started Pac-12 action, things changed. Maybe
the competition wasn't quite as tough.
But the hitters started to hit and Inouye-Perez settled on
Tinsley and Terry (no mas Cecil). Both of them started to
click - and were named Pac-12 Pitchers of the Week.
Then what happened? Tinsley went AWOL without an explanation.
Now she's back.
The Bruins' hitters are capable of miracles: see the comeback from 7-0
vs. Arizona, and the comeback from 4-0 last night vs. AZ.
I am in agreement with barrya on all his points: Primarily that this
may not be a title year. But it's been highly entertaining - and after
the 2 AZ games I mentioned, anything is possible.
Brady is a Bruin for the ages.