Despite having only one returning pitcher on staff, Arizona has more pitching depth than it has in any of the last few seasons.
Devyn Netz, the Wildcats’ ace in the circle, will be complemented by four newcomers — freshmen Aissa Silva and Sydney Somerndike, and transfers Ali Blanchard and Brianna Hardy.
With Izzy Pacho shifting back to her familiar catching position this season, she gave the Star the rundown on this year’s staff:
Arizona pitcher Devyn Netz, pictured throwing from the circle during practice at Hillenbrand Stadium in late January, shined once again as a pitcher and at the plate Sunday in the finale of the Hillenbrand Invitational. Netz allowed three hits and struck out six in a five-inning, run-rule complete game shutout, while going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and 3 RBIs.
Devyn Netz
Year: Junior
High school: Ironwood Ridge (transferred from Pasadena (Calif.) Maranatha for senior year)
Pitches: Right
Last season: 15-7, 3.45 ERA, 83 strikeouts in 136 innings; three saves, three shutouts, seven complete games; held opponents to .244 average; won two games with a 1.22 ERA in 2022 postseason play
Kudos: 2021’s No. 6 recruit by Extra Inning Softball; two-time first team all-state at Maranatha
Key pitches: Changeup, drop ball, rise ball and curve
Pacho’s scouting report: “She’s my rock. We’ve gone through some tough times together — even our relationship together. Just saying, ‘I trust you; you trust me.’ We’re both super competitive. At first, we butted heads a little bit because maybe we thought we were getting in the way of each other. But really, we were both trying to get to the same place. Now we can just look at each other and it’s like, ‘You’re good. We got it. Let’s just go win.’ She definitely has matured and grown so much these past few years. I’m so proud of her. Win or lose, I know she’s giving it her all. She’s got some nasty pitches right now, and I definitely don’t like hitting off of her. but catching, I will do it all day.
“She has a nasty changeup — fools me, even when I am catching her. She has a good drop ball; she throws good curve. Her rise is jumping. It reminds me of (former UA standout) Taylor McQuillin’s — it’s good. “
At the Arizona softball team's recent preseason media day, UA players discuss expectations this season, while head coach Caitlin Lowe shares here thoughts on the identity of her 2023 Wildcat team and how the transfer portal is impacting the sport. Video by Devin Homer/Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Sydney Somerndike
Year: Freshman
High school: Villa Park, Calif.
Pitches: Right
Last season: 14-1, 0.69 ERA, 179 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings
Kudos: Ranked No. 5 pitcher/utility by Extra Inning Softball; 2022 Orange County Pitcher of the Year
Key pitch: Rise ball
Pacho’s scouting report:”Sydney also has a nice rise ball. It’s nasty. It jumps. Even as a freshman, she stands on the mound (and) takes charge. Even when she’s getting hit ... there’s always fight. That’s what we need. We need someone that’s going to step on the mound and fight. I’m looking forward to seeing her more and seeing how much she grows.”
UA pitcher Ali Blanchard fields comebackers during drills at Hillenbrand Stadium as the Wildcats took part in preseason practices Jan. 26. Blanchard transferred to Arizona this offseason after three seasons at Princeton. She led the Ivy League with 155 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings pitched last season.
Ali Blanchard
Year: Senior transfer from Princeton
High school: Moses Brown, Rhode Island
Pitches: Right
Last season: 10-4, 2.78 ERA, 155 strikeouts (led Ivy League) in 110 2/3 innings; 21 saves, three complete games, held opponents to .212 average
Kudos: First-team All-Ivy League; Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018
Key pitch: Curveball
Pacho’s scouting report: “She spins the ball like I have never seen. Her curveball spin is like the purest curve spin. I think from fall to now she has she has gained that presence on the mound. I think it lacked a little bit at the beginning, but now it’s like she steps on the mound (and) you know she’s there to strike you out or to get you to roll over. I think her purpose on the mound is there. And she’s just a great person. It’s nice to be able to look at somebody and say, ‘I respect you and I know you’re trying so let’s go.’”
UA pitcher Brianna Hardy winds up during practice at Hillenbrand Stadium on Jan. 26. Hardy’s journey to the UA may have been years in the making, but wasn’t geographically far. The Sierra Vista native prepped at Buena High School, then become a national junior college standout with Phoenix College before transferring to Arizona this offseason.
Briana Hardy
Year: Senior transfer from Phoenix College
High school: Sierra Vista Buena
Pitches: Right
Last season: 42-1, 1.18 ERA, 390 strikeouts in 231 1/3 innings and 15 shutouts; over three-year career: 119-3 record, 1.17 ERA, 1,217 strikeouts
Kudos: NJCAA All-America; two-time NCJAA champion; three-time NJCAA Pitcher of the Year; two-time NJCAA Player of the Year
Key pitches: Rise ball and changeup
Pacho’s scouting report:”I’ve known Breezy since we were probably 10 years old. I caught her on Sun Cats (club team) for a long time. I wanted to go to college with her, but our paths just went different ways. I am so happy I fought for her to come here. She thought she was done pitching, and I was like, ‘No, you’re not. You’re coming (to Arizona).’ She’s had a little bit of struggles, but she has some junk. I think it can keep hitters off-balance. … It’s nice to see her out here and competing and holding her own.”
UA pitcher Aissa Silva, an early enrollee freshman this spring for the Wildcat, eyes a comebacker in the circle as UA pitchers run through defensive drills during preseason practice at Hillenbrand Stadium on Jan. 26
Aissa Silva
Year: Early-enrollee freshman
High school: Elk Grove, Calif. (graduated from Mountain View)
Pitches: Left
Last season: 19-6, 0.54 ERA, 320 strikeouts in 167 1/3 innings; in three years: 35-9, 552 strikeouts in 310 2/3 innings, 0.56 ERA
Kudos: 2022 NorCal Pitcher of the Year; No. 6 recruit overall by Extra Inning Softball
Key pitches: Curveball and changeup
Pacho’s scouting report: “Aissa was definitely nervous when she came in. She has it in her. Missing fall (semester and training season) is really tough for anybody, and she’s handled it pretty well. She merged with the team, and we just gelled together. I think we had a good foundation. She got thrown in, and she just was like, ‘OK, what do I need to do?’ She’s going to get hit, but I think she also has that fire in her belly to say, “OK, give me another one. Who’s next?’ Instead of dwelling on the failures or the pitches or whatever. She’s just ready to learn, and she’s going to play a key role for us making it far this year.”
