Softball: Softball comes together just in time for NCAAs
By Taylor Brown
May 19, 2004 9:00 p.m.
It’s time for the UCLA softball team to prove the
tribulations it’s gone through this season will have a
positive payoff.
After some tough losses in the Pac-10 schedule, including their
0-4 start, the Bruins (39-9, 12-8 Pac-10) now find themselves as
the No. 2 nationally ranked team in the playoffs and the No. 1 team
in their regional bracket.
UCLA’s first game will be against Mississippi Valley St.
(31-13) today at 4:30 p.m. at Easton Stadium.
The Bruins are the defending national champions, but they
aren’t ranked so high merely on reputation ““ they did
have a successful winter schedule, and they finished out the season
very well, defeating No. 1 Arizona last Friday.
“I love that they’re coming together right
now,” coach Sue Enquist said. “Momentum is huge because
you want to be able to hang onto something, and we’re in a
good place overall.”
“I think our teams always peaked at the right time,”
senior ace pitcher Keira Goerl added. “I think we’re
doing that right now, so I think it’s good timing right
now.”
Momentum is not all UCLA has on its side, as they are also going
to play all their regional games at home since they are hosting
their regional bracket.
“I love it,” Enquist said. “I would hate to
say it’s the 10th man, but we’re in comfortable
confines visually, the hitters are very familiar with the layout.
Defensively, they know the infield, they know the angles on the
grass.”
If that’s not enough, the competition in UCLA’s
regional bracket is not nearly as tough as their grueling Pac-10
schedule.
The one thing that the Bruins have going against them is that
they don’t know too much about their opponents ““
however, this is a problem many of the other teams share, as
well.
The biggest test will come in the first game against Mississippi
Valley State. To open up postseason play in the past, the Bruins
have gone through several innings before being able to scratch
across their first run.
So Enquist, who will turn to Goerl to start the first game, said
she is not taking any chances by looking past the first game.
But she did recognize the possible hazards that may lie down the
road during regional play.
“Alabama, Long Beach St., Missouri ““ those clubs are
proven,” Enquist said. “Then you’ve got a lot of
teams you don’t know a lot about that might get hot. We need
to respect anyone who jumps into that dugout.
Despite the challenges that may await the Bruins, if they play
up to their capabilities, they should have no problem during
regional play.
The Bruins are a very young team, but inexperience was never a
big factor during the season. In fact, Enquist often praised the
mental toughness and team chemistry her team exhibited.
If anything, the postseason will bring out the best in the
Bruins.
“Just because it’s postseason everyone’s game is
going to kick up because it’s the last couple weeks in our
season,” freshman Jodie Legaspi said. “It’s there
and we just have to put everything together.”
