Rather than host an inferior opponent in the month of October like the Arizona softball team usually does, the Wildcats hosted the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars team, which included Arizona legends such as Jennie Finch and Taryne Mowatt, last night at Hillenbrand Stadium. The NPF team upheld their elite reputation by beating the Wildcats 9-0.
NPF pitcher Cat Osterman lived up to the team’s name by pitching a perfect game through the fifth inning. Osterman switched with Jamee Juarez who then finished the game with the same intensity, completing the no-hitter.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, NPF’s offense was equally as impressive.
Catcher Megan Willis hit NPF’s first homerun of the evening in the second inning. The All-Stars then scored three more runs in the fourth with the help of Willis’ first homerun of the game. Willis would hit her second homerun of the game later in the fifth inning.
Despite getting outplayed in every facet of the game, it wasn’t all negative for Arizona. Center fielder Lauren Schutzler made an incredibly impressive catch, running into the fence to track down a long fly ball.
“”It was the first time I made a catch like that, so it was really exciting,”” Schutzler said. “”Adrenaline kind of takes over. I felt my face kind of smack into the wall. It’s nice we have the padding out there.””
Schutzler, like many other Arizona softball players, has plenty of experience on national teams against players of this caliber. Yet the senior, who played for the USA College All Star Team over the summer, was in awe at the talent in the other dugout.
“”It’s a great honor to be on the field with them. The way they conduct themselves and the way they play is a good example for us,”” Schutzler said.
Junior second baseman Kristen Arriola also flashed some web gems in the field but realized the glove work couldn’t overcome the team’s overall performance, especially when it come to team work.
“”We need to work on communication,”” Arriola said. “”We had little problems. Some fly balls were not caught that should have been.””
Regardless of play that resulted in the lopsided final score, head coach Mike Candrea had an optimistic and appreciative mind-set at the end of the game.
“”It was a great learning experience for us. It definitely showed a different level of pitching,”” Candrea said. “”On the other hand, we have to learn to be able to make some adjustments and put the ball in play.””
In the middle of the fourth inning, Hillenbrand Stadium’s atmosphere was overwhelmed with bittersweet emotions when Candrea delivered a speech to his past Wildcats, and a specialized one to Jennie Finch. He said he was honored to have Finch be playing one of her last games at the stadium.
Finch also gave a speech saying how blessed and grateful she is to have been a Wildcat and for all the support she has received from Arizona throughout the years — especially from the fans.
