Huskies are headed back to OKC!

What a couple of weekends for the Huskies! Huskies went 3-0 in their Regional last weekend. In fact, Bryanna Walker no hit Hawaii and they ruled them 8-0 in the last game of the weekend! Offense wasn't a little sluggish in the first 2 games but they found their groove in the 3rd game. They fought, clawed and battled the whole weekend and came up with 3 great team wins! They set themselves up for a rematch in Supers with Mizzou. I honestly didn't know what to think about this weekend. I knew Mizzou is a good team and they have a fabulous pitcher in Chelsea Thomas. I was nervous about it. But I had a good feeling. Despite what a LOT of people seem to think this is not the same team from 2011. Kaitlin Inglesby is not the same pitcher, Bryanna walker is 100% and pitching as well as she has probably in her entire career, Huskies D has been lights out all season, and the offense has been clutch. I never doubted the talent was there but I wondered if everything would  come together.

Yesterday Kaitlin got the start and it was pretty much a pitching dual between her and Chelsea Thomas until the bottom of the 6th when Mizzou got on the board. It really seemed like that would be enough... But the Huskies had other ideas. Kaitlin got on and was lifted for a PR. The PR was able to move up to 2nd on a wild pitch and senior Shawna Wright knocked her in with a single to tie up the game. Bryanna came in and sat Mizzou down in order in the 7th. Kelli Suguro hit single and reach 2nd on a bad throw to start the 8th and Victoria Hayward hammered a ball to the outfield for a double to bring Kelli home for the go ahead run and Bryanna shut them down to win the game!

I felt the Huskies had a very good chance to win and advance today. But I also felt that with Chelsea Thomas in the circle for Mizzou anything was possible! I normally have this superstition of not wearing my national championship shirt on game day. The few times I have they always lost. But this morning I was feeling it! There was no other shirt I wanted to wear more today and so I put it on and this time it worked! Kylee Lahners robbed a 2 run HR in the top of the 1st and Victoria Hayward hit a solo HR in the bottom of the 1st and that was pretty all that was needed. Bryanna and Kaitlin again combined for a great game. The defense was stellar! Not just these 2 games but the whole season! One of the best defenses the Huskies have ever had and one of the best in the country I'd say.

I just could not be more happy for them right now! This group of girls are very very special! I think about last season and I think we got a little taste of what these girls were made of in pre-season. But when Pac-12 season started things fell apart. I look back at those blogs and I remember how frustrating it was the watch and I remember the frustration I could see on their faces. But the beauty is those are the games where the biggest lessons come from. It's very interesting to me the thing that was maybe the worst part of the game for the Huskies is now the best, not just for this season but the best defense the Huskies have had in a long long time... maybe ever. The defense last season was no where near the top, they were a hot  mess. But this year the experience, the chemistry, the talent, and the right combination of players has led to an extremely strong defense which in turn leads to better pitching. When a pitcher know she can count on her defense to back her up, she is going to be more relaxed and it opens up her pitch availability. But all around this team is more well rounded. Coach Tarr has done a fantastic job with these girls! But it took alot of disappointment, alot of hard lessons, and even more practice to get here.

At the end of the game Kaitlin Inglesby and Bryanna Walker hugged for a long time and it was probably the most beautiful and emotional moment for me. If there are 2 pitchers who have fought through more adversity  than those 2, I don't know who they are! Kaitlin is 80% deaf, has Graves disease, and was smashed in the face with a ball off of Hooch Fagaly's bat leaving her with 47 breaks in her face(you don't even have 47 bones in your face). She also had issues with injuries last season and pitched almost every inning her freshman season. Bryanna Walker broke her leg her freshman year and had to have a rod put in it(it's purple btw lol). And what few people know is she also lost her father. But they both just kept pushing on! They are the co-leaders of this team! The trials of their early careers have made them strong, confident competitors and leaders. The taste of defeat in Super Regionals the last 2 years that both experienced has put a fire in their bellies! I read a blog earlier that referred to them as a two headed monster lol. The blog was poorly written and frankly didn't give enough credit to these two women for what they've accomplished but I think the person who wrote it got that right! They are a great 1-2 punch and are such different pitchers that it's really hard for hitters to adjust! I know this was sweet revenge for Kaitlin. I remember how upset she was when they lost in 2011. You could just see she was putting the full blame on herself. The smile on her face and Bryanna's face was just... priceless!

Two more players who I think are leaders for this team and strong competitors are Shawna Wright and Victoria Hayward. Shawna's bat has not always been the best but as a catcher she is one of the best! She is also a great leader! I love watching her with the pitchers. She is always smiling and always able to get them to smile and take a deep breath. The thing about Shawna was that there was no easing into the role. She came in right after Alicia Blake graduated and was expected to catch Danielle Lawrie, probably the best division 1 pitcher in the country at the time. You might think she would be a little intimidated but if she was she never showed it. She stepped in there and caught Danielle like she was a Senior too. The next year she took on an even bigger challenge, catching a freshman when she herself was still pretty inexperienced and on top of that new pitcher was 80% deaf! She's done great though! The Huskies have 4 pitchers(plus one other player who can pitch) and she has caught all of them. Shawna is a senior and no matter what happens in OKC 2 thins are certain about her career. First off it will draw to a close and second off she's left her mark all over this program! I will miss watching her play for the Huskies. I'll miss that big smile and the passion she plays with.  Victoria Hayward has always been a favorite of mine. She has always been great in the field and a strong hitter but this season has seen her really step forward and take on a huge leadership role(I've written more about her in previous blogs you can check them out). Hooch Fagaly is another who has really stepped up. Honestly at one point in time every one of these girls has stepped and made a play, or got a clutch hit, or scored a key run. That's the beauty of this team! It's not just one player, it's all of them and they wouldn't be where they are without every single one of them! This team plays with passion and energy! I love watching them play!

I'm done babbling now lol! No idea if any of this even made any sense! I am just so happy and proud of them! Congrats to the Huskies on sweeping Mizzou and being the first team to punch their ticket to the WCWS! I of course would love to see them win it all but whatever happens I'm proud to call myself a Husky fan!

I'll update on other things and teams later. I just wanted to take the time to congratulate the Huskies and express my happiness and pride!

Go Huskies!!

Post season

I can't believe the regular season is over! I know I say that like very single year but it just goes by so fast. I just love it so much, ever single second of it and it zooms by! Huskies were fantastic this season! These players have really matured and grown not just since last season but as the season has gone on. It's been fun to watch!

While waiting for them release the Pac-12 awards, my only thought was if they don't include Hooch Fagaly, Victoria Hayward, and Kaitlin Inglesby there is something wrong! These 3 have anchored this team this season. Thankfully the Pac-12 saw it my way and all 3 were named to the first team All-Pac-12! To my surprise and delight Shawna Wright was named Pac-12 defensive player of the year! Let me clarify something here, I don't mean that as a knock to Shawna in the least! She is a fantastic catcher and I was disappointed when she wasn't drafted. What I meant by being surprised was that honestly the Pac-12 and the rest of the country seem to be completely over looking this team. Shawna deserved that award no doubt, I just didn't figure they would give it to her! Kylee Lahners was named to the 2nd team! Shawna, Kelli Suguro, Kimberlee Souza, and Jennie McNeill were all honorable mentions! I really honestly was not looking forward to them releasing these because honestly I figured they would screw the Huskies over. The Huskies had 1 Pac-12 pitcher of week this season and 0 Pac-12 player of the week! They just feel like most people aren't looking at the Huskies. I think that's good in some respects. Always good to sneak up on people and and not give them a chance to prepare for you. But on the other hand I'll be honest it really bothered me! They lost only 2 series in the entire Pac-12 season and they lost those to Oregon and ASU. They were never swept and finished 3rd. Their record was actually the same as ASU's but ASU got the tie breaker because of head to head. I think what really really irked me was that the only thing noticed from this past weekends games was Jolene Henderson's return to the circle. Completely ignored was how well the Huskies played and the send off they gave their wonderful senior class. They haven't had this many players named to the All-Pac-12 teams since the 2010 team who were ranked number 1 through most of the season! Yet nobody notices! I don't know it just bugs me! No matter what happens in the post season this team has a lot to be proud of! On top of that, they bring back all but one of their starters next year! Although that one starter is a big one(Shawna Wright), they are in position to really make some noise next year(not that anybody will notice)! They are hosting Regionals for the 4th year in a row(20th season in a row they've made the post season, that's success!). Their Regional is a little harder this year than last and should provide when with quite a challenge. They will have Portland State, Hawaii, and Minnesota. Hawaii beat them once already in the beginning of the season and they haven't seen Minnesota. I have really followed them closely but I know they came on strongly to end the season. Hopefully all goes well though! If they win their Regional and Mizzou does they'll be headed out there for the 2nd time in 3 years for Supers. Honestly was not so thrilled when I saw that!

Oklahoma had a fantastic season and are the number 1 seed going into Regionals. They were given a pretty easy field. They swept the Big 12 awards taking Coach, Pitcher(Keilani Ricketts of course), and player(Shelby Pendley) of the year! I think at this point they are the team to beat!

Another team that has a lot to be proud of is St.Edwards! The rolled into Canyon for Regionals last weekend and ran away with it! They are headed to Denton this weekend to take on Texas Women's in a best of 3 series for Supers! Sarah Debrow has been quite the work horse for them and has had one heck of a season! Good luck to them this weekend!

Tennessee and Alabama will host this weekend as well and if both when they will face off in Supers for a spot in OKC! Should be interesting to see how that plays out!

The Islanders never really got it going and the on top of that the injury bug bit and bit hard! I hope next season is much better for them!

Well that's all I've got! Good luck to all the teams playing this weekend! Go Huskies! Boomer Sooner! Go Lady Vols! RTR Go Bama! FTG! Go Islanders!