Here we go.
Spring practice is set to begin this week at NCAA Division I schools around the country, and the 2012 college softball season begins a month from today.
On February 9, four WAC schools will be playing in their season openers. A day later, all eight softball teams will be in action and we'll be completely underway.
For Fresno State, Hawai'i and Nevada, the 2012 season will be their last as a WAC member. The Bulldogs and Wolf Pack will become full members of the Mountain West Conference in all sports beginning July 1. Hawai'i will join the the Mountain West in football only that day, while moving its other sports -- including Rainbow Wahine softball -- to the Big West.
Over the next month, we'll take a look at each WAC team, with individual previews and predictions for the upcoming season. And what a season it promises to be.
Depth wise, WAC softball has never been so deep. With the one-year addition of BYU as an affiliate member, the very real possibility of advancing four (or perhaps even a fifth) team to the NCAA Tournament exists.
Since 2008, an astonishing six of this year's eight WAC softball teams have qualified for the NCAA Field of 64. Simply put, softball is the overall strongest and deepest sport in the WAC, men's or women's.
Consider this:
- Fresno State has advanced to a national-record 30 straight NCAA tourneys and will be looking for a 31st consecutive trip this year. As the all-time winningest WAC softball program, the Bulldogs will look to go out on top. Fresno State is the only team ever to win an NCAA championship in the sport of softball as a WAC member.
- Brigham Young has advanced to seven straight NCAA tourneys and will be looking to make it eight in a row this season. A one-time WAC softball member in the 1990s, the Cougars will play in the league as an affiliate member this year only. In 2013, BYU will be a member of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference.
- New Mexico State is coming off its first WAC regular season title, first tournament crown and first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies are currently on pace to become the standard bearer in what is certainly to be a watered-down WAC softball race once the top powers leave the conference after this season.
- Hawai'i is now two seasons removed from its first appearance at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The Rainbow Wahine will be looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons. With the returning conference player and pitcher of the year, as determined by the league's coaches, no one is counting Hawai'i out.
- Louisiana Tech will be looking for its second WAC tournament championship in the last five seasons after an unexpected run to the title in 2008. The Lady Techsters reached an NCAA regional championship game in the '08 season and could be ready to make noise again behind coach Sarah Dawson.
- Nevada will be looking for its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past seven seasons. After a string of successful campaigns and trips to the postseason, the Wolf Pack fell on some hard times over the past two years, but it's never a good idea to count Nevada out. The Pack would love to finish strong on its way to the Mountain West.
- Utah State came on strong late in the 2011 season to earn the No. 5 seed in the WAC tournament, its highest position ever. Nine new players and two new assistant coaches will give the Aggies a different look this season, but the future appears bright for a team whose eight WAC wins last season were a pleasant surprise.
- San Jose State will look to qualify for the WAC tournament this season after missing out last season. Pitcher Amanda Pridmore, a preseason all-conference pick a year ago, is expected back from a knee injury and will likely be a key to the Spartans' chances. San Jose State is just a year removed from a 34-win season in 2010.
Posts
