The Utah women’s softball team is not blindly going forward toward the unknown as it enters its first Pac-12 campaign. The Utes’ preseason schedule has always included Pac-12 schools.
Knowing, however, is one thing. Doing is another.
 |
Join the Discussion |
 |
Post a Comment |
Polls aside, here’s an early gauge of the meat grinder that is Pac-12 women’s softball. Eight of the nine programs, including newcomer Utah, opened the 2012 season at the Kajikawa Classic where the league went 33-12. Washington, California and UCLA were a combined 13-0 in the Tempe, Ariz., tournament.
As for the polls, seven conference teams are ranked in the top 25, including defending champion and preseason No. 1 Arizona State. No surprise, ASU is also the Pac-12 preseason favorite. The Utes were picked for ninth. (Washington State, USC and Colorado do not have women’s softball.)
"Everything that we’ve ever known or done gets to step up a notch," said Utah coach Amy Hogue, who guided the Utes (2-2) to a 29-22 record in 2011, 7-5 in the Mountain West. "But that’s not because of the move to the Pac-12, that’s what we do here every year."
Utah begins its inaugural Pac-12 schedule March 23rd at Washington. The Utes’ first home league contest is against Cal on April 5.
Arizona State, which returns five starters back from a squad that captured the program’s second Pac-10 title and second national championship in 2011, includes sophomore pitcher Dallas Escobedo. She was 37-3 last season and became the first freshman pitcher to win the national championship game since UCLA’s Heather Compton in 1990.
As always, pitching remains the key to success.
Senior Generra Nielson has already made an impact for Utah, picking up both wins at Tempe, including two complete games in three starts. She won 21 games with 198 strikeouts last season. Sophomore Naomi Amu led the Utes with a 2.97 ERA in 36 appearances.
"Like last year, the strength of the team is going to be pitching and defense," Hogue said. "We return almost the same group and we were the leaders in the MWC in defense last year. I’d take our pitching and defense against anyone. That’s what we do best."
Utah, which returns its entire infield, including senior third baseman Whitney Holm, led the MWC with a .980 fielding percentage during league play and backed that up with the league’s third-lowest overall ERA at 3.76.
Utah opened last season with a victory against Arizona State. The Utes closed 2011 with a rush, winning 14 of 20.
"We lost some key hitters, so we’re excited to see who’s going to step up and get those timely hits for us," Hogue said. "We’re built around pitching and defense, so when we get those timely hits it should win us some ballgames."
Twitter:@tribmarty
Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
