Arizona Wildcats hit major highs, heartbreaking lows during 2017 softball season
- Updated
Here's a look back at Arizona's 2017 season.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A week ago today, Arizona was still in it.
The Wildcats won the first game of their NCAA Super Regional against Baylor, putting them one win away from the Women’s College World Series.
Of course, that’s not what happened.
Arizona lost Game 2 and the Game 3, and was eliminated before the WCWS for the seventh straight year.
Now, much of the UA roster has left, back to their hometowns in California, Virginia, New Mexico and elsewhere in Arizona. Pitcher Danielle O’Toole will soon begin preparations for Team USA, which will play in the World Cup of Softball next month … in Oklahoma City, the site of the World Series.
“I thought throughout the year that this team would make a deep run,” UA coach Mike Candrea said, “because I thought we had all the pieces to the puzzle.”
And on paper, that was certainly true. Arizona ended its season first nationally in home runs, second in runs scored, fourth in batting average and seventh in ERA. It won a Pac-12 championship and posted a 52-9 record.
The Wildcats had one of the best pitcher-hitter combinations in the nation with 30-game winner O’Toole and third baseman Katiyana Mauga, who hit 25 home runs as a senior. Mauga finished her career with 92 homers, the second-most in NCAA history.
The UA had a a balanced lineup, a deep senior class and three freshmen — All-American Jessie Harper, catcher Dejah Mulipola and second baseman Reyna Carranco — who contributed far beyond expectations.
But that was not enough, and the season is over.
Here’s a look back at Arizona’s 2017 season:
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Runner-up: Jessie Harper
Arizona had been without a true pitching ace since Kenzie Fowler’s stellar freshman season in 2010. O’Toole was good in 2016 and great in 2017, winning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference in ERA and strikeouts. She was also named a first-team All-American.
Arizona’s lineup was so deep and productive this season that Mauga’s impact might’ve been overlooked. Mauga was Arizona’s best slump-buster and, of course, its best home run hitter. She hit .356 as a senior with a career-best .507 on-base percentage to go with a team-high 25 home runs and 61 RBIs.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Runner-up: Katiyana Mauga’s home run chase
Harper hit a first0inning grand slam and the Wildcats beat UCLA 7-2 on the final day of the regular season. Arizona, which had lost the first two games of the series, celebrated with Pac-12 Championship t-shirts, hats and a trophy after the game.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
There’s no runner-up here. The post-game scene was particularly tough — Arizona’s eight person senior-class all dropped to their knees in the outfield after a post-game huddle, and O’Toole, Mauga and Candrea were all in varying degrees of tears and sadness in the post-game press conference.
“I thought we were going to get it done, I really did,” Candrea said.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Harper was certainly the most productive of the trio, hitting 19 home runs and finishing with 56 RBI. She was named a first-team All-American.
Mulipola was one of Arizona’s best hitters for the first half of the season and finished with a .335 average, 12 home runs and 49 RBI. O’Toole called Mulipola the best catcher she’s ever thrown to.
Carranco began the season with a .150 average in Arizona’s first 27 games.
Once conference play started, she became Arizona’s most consistent hitter, leading the Wildcats with a .454 average in UA’s last 34 games, including the postseason.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
P Danielle O’Toole: A 56-17 record and 1.68 ERA in two years at Arizona.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
3B Katiyana Mauga: Arizona’s all-time home run leader, second-team All-American.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
SS Mo Mercado: Played — and started — all of Arizona’s 243 games in four years with a .359 career average. Second-team All-American.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
OF Mandie Perez: Missed sophomore season with knee injury; leadoff hitter, led Pac-12 with 66 runs scored.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
P Michelle Floyd: Won 19 games as Arizona’s ace in 2015, pitched a perfect game in 2017 against Hartford.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
OF Eva Watson: Speedy outfielder, led team in 2016 with .387 average, stole 22 bases in four years.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
OF Alexis Dotson: Pima College transfer, started every game in 2016, .320 career average.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
IF/P Nancy Bowling: Started 37 games as a pitcher and 32 at first base. Went 16-0 in the circle her last two seasons.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
A week ago today, Arizona was still in it.
The Wildcats won the first game of their NCAA Super Regional against Baylor, putting them one win away from the Women’s College World Series.
Of course, that’s not what happened.
Arizona lost Game 2 and the Game 3, and was eliminated before the WCWS for the seventh straight year.
Now, much of the UA roster has left, back to their hometowns in California, Virginia, New Mexico and elsewhere in Arizona. Pitcher Danielle O’Toole will soon begin preparations for Team USA, which will play in the World Cup of Softball next month … in Oklahoma City, the site of the World Series.
“I thought throughout the year that this team would make a deep run,” UA coach Mike Candrea said, “because I thought we had all the pieces to the puzzle.”
And on paper, that was certainly true. Arizona ended its season first nationally in home runs, second in runs scored, fourth in batting average and seventh in ERA. It won a Pac-12 championship and posted a 52-9 record.
The Wildcats had one of the best pitcher-hitter combinations in the nation with 30-game winner O’Toole and third baseman Katiyana Mauga, who hit 25 home runs as a senior. Mauga finished her career with 92 homers, the second-most in NCAA history.
The UA had a a balanced lineup, a deep senior class and three freshmen — All-American Jessie Harper, catcher Dejah Mulipola and second baseman Reyna Carranco — who contributed far beyond expectations.
But that was not enough, and the season is over.
Here’s a look back at Arizona’s 2017 season:
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Runner-up: Jessie Harper
Arizona had been without a true pitching ace since Kenzie Fowler’s stellar freshman season in 2010. O’Toole was good in 2016 and great in 2017, winning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference in ERA and strikeouts. She was also named a first-team All-American.
Arizona’s lineup was so deep and productive this season that Mauga’s impact might’ve been overlooked. Mauga was Arizona’s best slump-buster and, of course, its best home run hitter. She hit .356 as a senior with a career-best .507 on-base percentage to go with a team-high 25 home runs and 61 RBIs.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Runner-up: Katiyana Mauga’s home run chase
Harper hit a first0inning grand slam and the Wildcats beat UCLA 7-2 on the final day of the regular season. Arizona, which had lost the first two games of the series, celebrated with Pac-12 Championship t-shirts, hats and a trophy after the game.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
There’s no runner-up here. The post-game scene was particularly tough — Arizona’s eight person senior-class all dropped to their knees in the outfield after a post-game huddle, and O’Toole, Mauga and Candrea were all in varying degrees of tears and sadness in the post-game press conference.
“I thought we were going to get it done, I really did,” Candrea said.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Harper was certainly the most productive of the trio, hitting 19 home runs and finishing with 56 RBI. She was named a first-team All-American.
Mulipola was one of Arizona’s best hitters for the first half of the season and finished with a .335 average, 12 home runs and 49 RBI. O’Toole called Mulipola the best catcher she’s ever thrown to.
Carranco began the season with a .150 average in Arizona’s first 27 games.
Once conference play started, she became Arizona’s most consistent hitter, leading the Wildcats with a .454 average in UA’s last 34 games, including the postseason.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
P Danielle O’Toole: A 56-17 record and 1.68 ERA in two years at Arizona.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
3B Katiyana Mauga: Arizona’s all-time home run leader, second-team All-American.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
SS Mo Mercado: Played — and started — all of Arizona’s 243 games in four years with a .359 career average. Second-team All-American.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
OF Mandie Perez: Missed sophomore season with knee injury; leadoff hitter, led Pac-12 with 66 runs scored.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
P Michelle Floyd: Won 19 games as Arizona’s ace in 2015, pitched a perfect game in 2017 against Hartford.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
OF Eva Watson: Speedy outfielder, led team in 2016 with .387 average, stole 22 bases in four years.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
OF Alexis Dotson: Pima College transfer, started every game in 2016, .320 career average.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This was the largest senior class Candrea had ever coached, and all eight of them contributed for Arizona at some point in their careers.
IF/P Nancy Bowling: Started 37 games as a pitcher and 32 at first base. Went 16-0 in the circle her last two seasons.
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