OKLAHOMA CITY β Kenzie Fowler Quinn knows what itβs like to climb through the loserβs bracket at the Womenβs College World Series.
Fowler Quinn was a UA freshman when, in 2010, Tennessee run-ruled the Wildcats in their WCWS opener. Arizona then won four games in two days to reach the championship series against UCLA. (The Bruins went on to win.)
That was the last time β until now β that Arizona had vied for a national title. After upsetting third-seeded Washington in the WCWS opening game, No. 6-seeded Arizona fell to No. 2 UCLA on Friday. Rain and thunderstorms delayed βSurvival Saturdayβ games.
The Wildcats were scheduled to play the nightcap against either Florida or Alabama.
The Star caught up with Fowler Quinn, whoβs in Colorado at her sister Mattieβs bachelorette weekend. Fowler Quinn is a digital production assistant in the UA athletic department and a television softball analyst. Hereβs what she said about her time at the WCWS, Taylor McQuillinβs development as a pitcher and why the Wildcats should embrace playing in the losers bracket:
Saturday morningβs game between Washington and Minnesota included a three-hour weather delay. How much does a weather delay affect players?
A: βWell, I never had a weather delay. When we were there my freshman year, we lost our first game β like, got killed β and then we had to win two straight doubleheaders. We had to have that wait in between games, so I canβt really speak on a weather delay. But I think theyβre just going to be at the hotel. So, you have so many feelings about the game you just played and you can sit around and think about it a little bit too much. But hopefully theyβre getting out, walking around and not just stirring in the hotel, because that can make it a really long night.β
How important is it to be able to bounce back and have that time to recover, especially if youβve lost the night before?
A: βI think itβs good. You want to have a little time, so maybe it could be a good thing β kind of give them some reflection. But at the same time, I feel like theyβre still playing well, if that sounds funny, even if they did lose. It was just really one inning and the game got fast in one inning, but I donβt think that takes away what theyβve been building the last couple of weeks. I think theyβre still in a really good place. So, you just hope that it doesnβt take them out of that place and you just hope that they can stay up. I donβt know, itβs a tough balance because you want to stay up, but at the same time, you donβt want to waste all of your energy too soon.β
Do you feel that thereβs an added pressure on the pitchers, specifically, at the Womenβs College World Series?
A: βOh yeah. Speaking for Taylor, sheβs a senior, though. So, this is everything sheβs ever dreamed of. At this point, pressure is not going to be a determining factor. If you were talking to a freshman, absolutely. But if youβre talking to a senior and a junior, which is what Arizona has, absolutely not.β
How much do you think that McQuillin has grown during her four years at Arizona to be able to prepare for this?
A: βOh, gosh. I mean, Iβve been calling her last four games. So, itβs been really fun to watch her from up close, from afar. No. 1, sheβs just such an incredible person. Sheβs just genuinely a good human. Everyone knows her adversity story with her eyesight β itβs been really blown up on ESPN right now. Itβs getting national attention right now. Itβs funny, itβs finally in her senior year and everyone is kind of figuring out how special she really is. But watching her be a freshman, just kind of young, I think she would put too much pressure on herself early in her career. She would let the moment get a little bit too big too fast and sheβs really slowed it down and thatβs what Iβve seen. Just watching her demeanor in the circle, she slowed the game down and you can tell sheβs in a really good place β the best place sheβs ever been. And thatβs what you hope: You hope that in your senior season, and whatever position you are, that youβre peaking at the right time. And then youβre at the Womenβs College World Series, just to add a cherry on top of it. So, Iβve just been so thrilled for her. When she got named first-team All-American, I texted her I was so proud of her. Iβve been wanting her to be an All-American for the last couple of years because sheβs had All-American-type stuff. So, itβs just really rewarding for her to get that.
As someone whoβs been on this stage before, whatβs it like to finally get on TV every day and every night when the Pac-12 doesnβt really offer that?
A: βThatβs fun because you get new fans. Iβm so thankful that I didnβt have Twitter back when we were in Oklahoma City in the Womenβs College World Series because I canβt imagine what some of these young ladies β you know how it is. You see it and weβre not even playing. So, you canβt even imagine what theyβre either getting or what theyβre seeing. I remember it was my Facebook that was blowing up when I was at the Womenβs College World Series and Iβm not even really on Facebook anymore. So, these girls have Instagram and Twitter and our game is so crazy right now β itβs just the biggest itβs ever been. Itβs so exciting. The gameβs in the best place itβs ever been as well. Getting national recognition is just, thatβs what you all dream that. And how many athletes get that? Not very many. So, itβs really cool for them to be in that big spotlight and get rewarded.β
And as someoneβs whoβs not in town for the World Series?
A: βIβm watching, though.β
What have you heard about the team and how theyβve been playing?
A: βHeard? Or just my assessment?β
Well, both.
A: βI mean, they look like theyβre still playing good softball. I know they didnβt have the best game they wanted (Friday) against UCLA, but for me theyβre still playing well. Theyβre hitting well. Alyssa (Palomino-Cardoza), Dejah (Mulipola), Jessie (Harper) and Malia (Martinez): those are their four core hitters and when you get to this stage, you need those type of hitters to show up β and they have. And I think Taylorβs pitched really well. I know that she got a little roughed up, but she had some errors that didnβt help her and just extended the inning. You canβt let that happen against a team like UCLA. You give them extra outs, theyβre going to take it. Sheβs still pitching well, though. Sheβs probably going to get the start and theyβre just going to go with her as far as they can. I know (Alyssa) Denham will be ready to go if theyβre needed, but I still think theyβre playing really well. Itβs a fun group to watch. They look like theyβre loose, which is good.β
What advice β if you were here β what would you tell them to help them get back on the path?
A: βOh, thatβs tough. Embrace the loserβs bracket. And embrace that feeling of elimination. And embrace the underdog. We lost our first game β itβs just kind of funny the way we lost, looking back. We lost it so bad that we had nowhere to go but up. The next game we had to face the defending national champs (Washington) and we just kind of got together and were like, βYou know what? Nobody is expecting us to come out of this loserβs bracket, but the only thing that matters is the 20 girls in our dugout and our coaches.β So, you just kind of have to take that βus against the worldβ mentality and totally embracing it and striving in it. Because it can be really fun when youβre playing for your season and you get hits and your pitcher strikes them out because you know itβs one hit there, one strike there β the season could be over. So, I think itβs weirdly fun.β