NCAA Fearsome four
By Anthony Bronson
ATHENS, GA. -- When it comes to exemplifying success and advancing to the NCAA postseason action, this is just another walk in the park for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Having made eight consecutive postseason appearances, they have come on strong this season to climb to the top of the NFCA rankings—a position they have longed for.
There is something that really stands out with this team. With most teams, no matter what sport, no matter if it is high school or on the collegiate level, there is an intense focus on the seniors of the team as if the team loses its functionality without seniors.
What is very noticeable about the Georgia Bulldogs is the great attention they have given to their freshman and sophomores, which has built an unstoppable force of seniors.
In a University of Georgia article back in January 2009, they said, “The group of returning sophomores all saw playing time last season and the incoming freshmen have already displayed promising talent.”
The Bulldogs’ potent offense has allowed them to string together a number of consistent wins.
Senior third baseman, Alisa Goler is among the most resilient players in the NCAA. The University of Georgia said at the beginning of this month that Goler had been named a top 25 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
With experienced younger players that have blossomed into seasoned veterans, this not only sets the team up for success this season, but also for seasons to come. If the Bulldogs can manage to keep up their current offensive campaign, then they will be a formidable opponent come postseason action and a viable candidate for taking home the national championship.
GAINESVILLE, FL—Gators, notoriously aggressive animals, exhibit such qualities such as strength, ability to strike fear in their enemies, and dominance in the animal kingdom. And with a nearly flawless record 26 games into the season, dominance is exactly what they have achieved.
It should then come as no surprise that the Florida Gators softball squad has demonstrated similar qualities. In the kingdom of collegiate softball, these ladies make the rules. After all, propelling themselves back to the top of NCAA softball leaves something to be said about these ladies. With dramatic wins over some of the toughest competition in the NCAA in the last couple of years such as 2008 champion Arizona State Sun Devils and the Alabama Crimson Tide, there is no doubt the Gators will be expected to, once again, get a taste of the Women's College World Series.
To become the nation's top-ranked squad, you can not just dominate in one aspect of the game, but you must be able to excel in multiple areas. That is exactly what the Gators have done.
There is no “I” in team, or even just in the circle. What makes Florida's pitching staff so successful is the fact that they recognize it is not merely just one player, but a “staff.”
Just as there is no “I” in team, there is certainly no “pitcher” in team as well. The Gators pack a powerful punch offensively to perfectly complement their defense, which is why this fearsome team sits at the top of the charts.
With a full schedule of games left on the Gator's schedule, it is no longer a question of if they will make it into the playoffs, but how deep they will go.
TUSCALOOSA, AL—Relative to two seasons ago, it was starting to look as if the tide was rolling out on Alabama.
After coming so close to making it to the championship dance two years ago, then completely dropping the ball in the dance last year, fans and critics weren't sure that the Crimson Tide would be back for another cut-throat season.
Then the 2011 season began.
Although Alabama is consistently a team to be reckoned with during the regular season, all eyes are on the Crimson Tide team that steps into the post season because merely making it to the dance at the end of the season is not going to satisfy the organization.
With a solid pitching staff and a defense that can compete with the best of them, Alabama has something else up their sleeve as well.
The offensive firepower is where the Crimson Tide really begins to measure up.
As the Crimson Tide set sail for an action-packed season, they look to gain back the respect they have longed for in the NCAA tournament. With a couple of conference wins under their belt, be prepared to look for them when it comes time for the playoffs.
TUCSON, AZ.-- The great state of Arizona is known for the Grand Canyon, but also quite identifiable with its heat—and in more than one way.
Sure their temperatures soar over the summer, but this team brings and unleashes the heat on a completely different level.
As prior national champions, the Wildcats of the University of Arizona will accept nothing less than to repeat their feats of years past. As of March 14, 2010, Arizona sat as the number four-ranked team in the nation, which should come as no surprise to the softball community.
With some rough losses earlier this seasons, the Wildcats decided that it was time to put their champion’s hats on once again and march back to the top and that is just what they have done.
Since that rough patch in their season, they have managed to climb and sustain a number four position in the country and reinstated their demand for respect not just from their fans, but also from the rest of the NCAA community.
The toughest part of Arizona's season is right on the horizon, though. The PAC-10 has a reputation of producing some unmatched competition. With early conference wins over Oregon, Oregon State, and UCLA, the future looks bright. Watch your rear view mirrors NCAA community because Arizona State is coming.hampionship and having her presence was good for us,” he said. “Even when she was hurt, she played a key role in mentoring our pitchers. She helped the coaching staff in pitching to our batters. Everything she brought was beneficial to the entire team.”
