Some people may look at the Sun Devil softball team and their record and think they played a soft schedule, especially with 27 straight home games to start the season.
But judging by the way they kicked off the Pac-12 part of their schedule this weekend against the University of Arizona, this team has their eyes on the ultimate prize: another National Championship.
It would be foolish to think a team could run roughshod through every opponent on the road toward another title, even with such strong pitching and hitting that this team possesses.
So if the weekend series with the Wildcats is any indication of how the other 21 Pac-12 games will go, then buckle up for a wild and crazy ride if you’re a Sun Devil softball fan.
The Sun Devils swept the Wildcats out of Tempe, Ariz., but in typical rivalry fashion, Arizona wouldn’t go quietly into the sunset.
For instance, the Wildcats had a 6-1 lead on the Sun Devils in the fifth inning of the finale on Sunday, only to surrender six runs in the bottom of the inning, and fall 7-6.
Nothing ever comes easy, and the ladies should never expect it to.
“Every game in the Pac-12 is gonna be just like this,” said head coach Clint Myers. “There are good teams with talented people, and you have to play well to beat them.”
The Sun Devils are 31-3 for a reason. They hit well as a team, their pitching is outstanding, and most important of all: they don’t beat themselves by making careless mistakes.
This is a smart, well coached and extremely disciplined team, and they’re fun to watch.
If you haven’t gotten to a game to see these ladies play, you owe it to yourself to do so, to see what a National Championship team looks like.