Don't think anyone posted this ... so here is a long read (and some cool, old video) about the 1991 championship team that started it all. Consider it an Arizona softball origin story of sorts....
Gimino wrote:Don't think anyone posted this ... so here is a long read (and some cool, old video) about the 1991 championship team that started it all. Consider it an Arizona softball origin story of sorts....
Thanks, great read and brought back early memories. My first UofA softball game was in 1988 when the Cats played South Carolina in the regional playoffs. Home plate was behind what is now center field. The stands were like what you would see at a high school baseball game and they did not sell out. Candrea has sure built this program from the ground up. He definitely needs a statue placed in the stadium after he retires.
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Gimino wrote:Thanks, great read and brought back early memories. My first UofA softball game was in 1988 when the Cats played South Carolina in the regional playoffs. Home plate was behind what is now center field. The stands were like what you would see at a high school baseball game and they did not sell out. Candrea has sure built this program from the ground up. He definitely needs a statue placed in the stadium after he retires.
I was at those games in 1988. Karen Sanchelli hit some absolute bombs (which were not easy to do in those days) for South Carolina, which, I think, was the only SEC school playing softball at the time.
Gimino wrote:Thanks, great read and brought back early memories. My first UofA softball game was in 1988 when the Cats played South Carolina in the regional playoffs. Home plate was behind what is now center field. The stands were like what you would see at a high school baseball game and they did not sell out. Candrea has sure built this program from the ground up. He definitely needs a statue placed in the stadium after he retires.
I was at those games in 1988. Karen Sanchelli hit some absolute bombs (which were not easy to do in those days) for South Carolina, which, I think, was the only SEC school playing softball at the time.
When I hear the name Karen Sanchelli, I think of Jenny Gladding, who played on the Cats 2001 championship team but then transferred after the 2002 season to play for Karen at Florida. Jenny was not only a great pitcher, she was a very good hitter. I wonder how good the 2003 and 2004 UofA teams would of been with Jenny and Alicia Hollowell on the mound.
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Irish27 wrote:Looking back, I am glad O'Toole had to sit out last year. We get to see her one more year.
With the bats we had last year all we needed was some form of pitching and we could've won it all. I am glad she's back next year, but man we could've used her last year.
Auburn already has a run and runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs. The umpire just made a horrible call, the Auburn hitter was given first base even though she leaned in on the pitch, which was over the plate.
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Of the 12 coaches, Rush picked the one whose fans have the deepest passion, the longest memories, the greatest lung capacity and … did I mention deep passion?
Seems like we have lost that big game swagger. Long drought since the last WS
Waiting at the Rose Bowl patiently for the cats to arrive
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
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azcat49 wrote:Seems like we have lost that big game swagger. Long drought since the last WS
Next year's team will be one of the favorites to win it all. They will be loaded, losing only Young and bring in a great recruiting class, and power hitter Alyssa Palomino will be back after redshirting due to an injury.
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ChooChooCat wrote:Can we just be honest and say 2010 for Candrea is Lute Olson's 2005? Candrea has entered the twilight of his career just like Lute did post 2005.
I don't know about that as much as the rest of the schools have caught up.
ChooChooCat wrote:Can we just be honest and say 2010 for Candrea is Lute Olson's 2005? Candrea has entered the twilight of his career just like Lute did post 2005.
I don't know about that as much as the rest of the schools have caught up.
Hasn't developed or landed a pitcher worth a damn since Kenzie (pre-injuries). O'Toole was decent this year, but nothing to write home about and she was a transfer anyways. Other schools have caught up, but no reason to be behind schools like Oregon.
ChooChooCat wrote:Can we just be honest and say 2010 for Candrea is Lute Olson's 2005? Candrea has entered the twilight of his career just like Lute did post 2005.
I don't know about that as much as the rest of the schools have caught up.
Hasn't developed or landed a pitcher worth a damn since Kenzie (pre-injuries). O'Toole was decent this year, but nothing to write home about and she was a transfer anyways. Other schools have caught up, but no reason to be behind schools like Oregon.
I don't know what our Softball facilities are like but we have enough history in that sport to build something very impressive. Do we have a donor in that world who can step-up?
ChooChooCat wrote:Can we just be honest and say 2010 for Candrea is Lute Olson's 2005? Candrea has entered the twilight of his career just like Lute did post 2005.
I agree with this. Candrea has earned the right to leave when he wants to leave. That being said, it would be surprising if we make another World Series again before he leaves.
What about next year? I think this year's team only had 1 senior, and honestly, if the ump doesn't allow Auburn hitters putting their elbow into the strike zone, I think we advance this year. The post in the baseball thread got me thinking about this.
ChooChooCat wrote:Can we just be honest and say 2010 for Candrea is Lute Olson's 2005? Candrea has entered the twilight of his career just like Lute did post 2005.
I agree with this. Candrea has earned the right to leave when he wants to leave. That being said, it would be surprising if we make another World Series again before he leaves.
The 2017 team should be ranked in the top-10 when the rankings come out, and I would not be surprised at all if they are in the top-5. This is Candrea's best team overall since the 2001 club. They have pitching, hitting and speed.
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ChooChooCat wrote:Can we just be honest and say 2010 for Candrea is Lute Olson's 2005? Candrea has entered the twilight of his career just like Lute did post 2005.
I agree with this. Candrea has earned the right to leave when he wants to leave. That being said, it would be surprising if we make another World Series again before he leaves.
The 2017 team should be ranked in the top-10 when the rankings come out, and I would not be surprised at all if they are in the top-5. This is Candrea's best team overall since the 2001 club. They have pitching, hitting and speed.
I was deadly surprised we made it a game away from the CWS, so kudos to Candrea and obviously O'Toole for that. If we can't get back to the CWS this year though it may just never happen again for Candrea.
Of the 12 coaches, Rush picked the one whose fans have the deepest passion, the longest memories, the greatest lung capacity and … did I mention deep passion?
