Alyssa Denham and Aleah Craighton are enjoying the 蜜柚直播 weather, which peaked in the mid-70s with sunny skies at Hillenbrand Stadium during Wednesday afternoon鈥檚 softball practice.
It beats Lafayette, Louisiana, where the two developed into softball standouts before a strange turn of events. Louisiana-Lafayette fired Michael Lotief on Nov. 1 after determining the longtime coach subjected his players and coworkers to 鈥渧iolent, vulgar language and verbal and physical assault, creating a hostile learning and working environment,鈥 the university said in a statement.
Both players signed with the UA, where they鈥檒l be able to play immediately. The Wildcats start their season Feb. 9 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe and open at home on Feb. 15 with the Hillenbrand Invitational.
鈥淚t got pretty bad,鈥 Denham, a sophomore pitcher, said of the environment in Lafayette. 鈥淚t was more mentally bad than physically bad. Just kind of upset about the situation, more emotions 鈥 emotions you鈥檝e never felt before.鈥
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Craighton, an outfielder, acknowledged that the situation with the Ragin鈥 Cajuns was bad, but said it could have been worse.
鈥(It was) very unexpected, but, I mean, life happens so it is what it is,鈥 she said.
UA coach Mike Candrea wasn鈥檛 expecting to benefit from Lafayette鈥檚 collapse, especially given his relationship with Lotief. The two coaches have long been friends.
鈥淲hen it all went down, we had talked,鈥 Candrea said. 鈥淚 obviously wasn鈥檛 out looking at that time, but at this stage of the game you鈥檙e always looking.鈥
Especially when new players can contribute.
Denham was named the Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year last season. Craighton, a fifth-year senior, is a two-time All-American.
鈥淚 looked at a couple other schools, but I really enjoyed this coaching staff,鈥 Denham said of her decision to transfer to 蜜柚直播. 鈥淚 like working with coach (Taryne Mowatt). I wanted to have a coaching staff (that鈥檚) successful, (has) a good track record, (is) consistent 鈥 and that鈥檚 what I found here.鈥
Candrea also said he wanted to make sure the transfers were the right fit for the Wildcats.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be very careful that it鈥檚 not just a great player but a quality human being that鈥檚 going to fit in because they鈥檙e walking in in January,鈥 Candrea said. 鈥淭his team鈥檚 been together since September.鈥
Candrea normally doesn鈥檛 like adding transfers, but considered both players a good fit culturally.
鈥淲e just, fortunately, had the opportunity at the time to bring in a couple of kids,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think both of them will have the opportunity to help us.鈥
The two have 鈥渇it in really well,鈥 UA pitcher Taylor McQuillin said.
鈥淭hey gel with everyone on the field and off the field, so that鈥檚 the best part about it,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just going to help our successes this year.鈥
Denham is still getting acquainted with the campus, which is much bigger than her previous school. She鈥檚 trying to make new friends, too.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anybody here but Aleah, but everybody鈥檚 welcomed us with open arms and been very welcoming,鈥 Denham said. 鈥淎t first it was kind of rough just figuring out a schedule and a routine, but now that I have everything lined up 鈥 academic wise, sleeping, lifting, practice 鈥 everything鈥檚 pretty smooth now.鈥
Luckily, Denham and Craighton have had each other for support through it all.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten super close and we were good friends last year, so having her with me as we get used to a new environment, new people, it鈥檚 really nice,鈥 Denham said.