As soon as she was named 蜜柚直播鈥檚 new head softball this spring, Caitlin Lowe began calling recruits.
鈥淭hat was first and foremost on my mind right away,鈥 Lowe said. 鈥淭o make sure they felt comfortable. Recruiting has been my baby since I got here.鈥
Of course, this was no ordinary coaching change. Mike Candrea had been at the helm of one of the most successful programs in the history of the sport for 34 seasons. And when it came to recruiting, Candrea played a key role 鈥 no matter how much responsibility Lowe shouldered as an assistant.
鈥淐oach Candrea is the best closer I know,鈥 Lowe said at a Thursday news conference in McKale Center. 鈥淵ou knew when you sent someone into his office that they were coming out a Wildcat. That鈥檚 pressure.鈥
Now that鈥檚 Lowe鈥檚 job, and following Wednesday鈥檚 signing-day class of five players, ranked No. 8 by Extra Inning Softball, she was thrilled to show off her hard work.
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鈥淭his class, I鈥檓 proud of it,鈥 Lowe said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very well-rounded and a whole lot is brought to the table offensively, some speed and good power, and a pitcher who can really spin the ball.鈥
As she ran through the list 鈥 infielders Tayler Biehl and Logan Cole, catcher Olivia DiNardo, outfielder Dakota Kennedy and pitcher Sydney Somerndike 鈥 Lowe made sure to mention their club teams. In this age of softball, Lowe recognizes the importance of those relationships 鈥 especially while she establishes herself as a first-time coach at such an elite program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 probably the most important relationship you can have,鈥 Lowe said. 鈥淭he very first time I went recruiting as an assistant, I went out to SoCal and was like, 鈥楾hese are all the same people that were here when I was playing.鈥 They love the game. They鈥檙e diehards, and they know how to develop youth talent.
鈥淔ostering those relationships are just as important as the recruiting relationships, because you know they鈥檙e going to call you and say, 鈥楬ey, you need to come see this kid.鈥欌
As for how the new signees will fit when they arrive in the fall of 2022, there are even more variables than usual.
After all, it鈥檚 not just the coaching change, but the Wildcats, who finished 41-15 and made the Women鈥檚 College World Series, have to replace seven key seniors. Only three players are expected to depart following the 2022 season 鈥 Hanah Bowen, Hannah Martinez and Seattle transfer Bailey Thompson.
That leaves little room for newcomers. But if there鈥檚 anyone who could bust her way into the lineup, it is Kennedy.
The top-ranked outfielder in the 2022 class, Kennedy hit .581 with nine home runs as a junior at Sheldon High School in Sacramento. Fellow signees Cole and Biehl bring a ton of speed, and DiNardo can help support Sharlize Palacios behind the plate or Carlie Scupin at first base.
Somerndike, the 2021 California Gatorade Player of the Year, adds to 蜜柚直播鈥檚 already deep pitching staff, a group that includes three underclassmen.
鈥淲ith her spin, when she masters a pitch, she becomes very dangerous,鈥 Lowe said.
