Arizona pitcher Taylor McQuillin (18) draws a crowd while warming up in the visitors' bullpen about 15 minutes before the Wildcats face Baylor in their NCAA Super Regional Game 2 at Hillenbrand Stadium, Saturday, May 27, 2017, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

It doesn’t appear that UA sophomore leftyΒ Taylor McQuillinΒ will be an every-day pitcher the way former Arizona national-title pitchersΒ Nancy Evans,Β Alicia HollowellΒ andΒ Taryne MowattΒ were. Candrea has anotherΒ strong recruiting class β€” ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation β€” and it includes Broomfield, Colorado’sΒ Taylor Gilmore, who was 22-3 with a 0.98 ERA in 2016. However, prep softball competition in Colorado is nowhere close to that in California and Arizona.Β Shelby Babock, a top UA pitching recruit from Denver five years ago, struggled in the Pac-12. Candrea’s top pitching recruit may beΒ Hanah BowenΒ of Ramona High in Southern California. Bowen was 24-0 with 174 strikeouts in 141 innings. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Candrea acquires a transfer pitcher with notable college softball chops sometimes this summer.Β 


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