蜜柚直播

蜜柚直播 softball is ready and excited for the new challenge.

However, before the Wildcats get to the Big 12 home opening series on March 7 against UCF, they have a formidable task ahead of them in their preseason slate.

On deck first for No. 17 蜜柚直播 is the Candrea Classic on Thursday, with a doubleheader against Michigan State starting at 5 p.m. They will also face No. 11 Alabama on Saturday and have two games against former Pac-12 foe Washington on Friday and Sunday.

蜜柚直播 coach Caitlin Lowe has scheduled a number of former Pac-12 opponents this year 鈥� UCLA and Stanford, as well 鈥� and that was by design.

鈥淚t was 100% intentional,鈥� Lowe said. 鈥淭hose talks started before the end of the Pac-12 as we knew it. As far as head coaches and wanting to maintain relationships and not even thinking about it, it is actually easier for us to schedule these West Coast teams that we鈥檝e never been able to schedule before because we had them in conference.

鈥淚t really is nice to have Washington come down because they鈥檙e getting better weather in pre-conference tournaments, but also maintain that relationship. Stanford come down and then getting to play UCLA in California. It鈥檚 exciting. I know we鈥檝e talked to the Oregon schools about it. That鈥檚 good competition for us, (playing) constant top 25 teams and teams that we have that familiarity with. We鈥檙e all vying to be in the postseason every single year. I think it鈥檚 also important to get the top competition at our tournaments before conference starts.鈥�

The Wildcats will be facing Stanford in the Hillenbrand Invitational on Feb. 20 and 23 and will compete against UCLA at the Judi Garman Classic at Fullerton, only once, on March 1.

New faces

Devyn Netz is back after sitting out last season with a back injury. The do-it-all fifth-year senior (pitcher, designated player and first baseman) never expected to be playing in the Big 12.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥業鈥檓 gonna go out with the Pac-12. See you guys. You guys have fun in the Big 12 and that competition,鈥欌�� Netz said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 actually really excited because we actually got to see a lot of this competition preseason (in past years). There鈥檚 some good teams that we鈥檙e going to face. Obviously, I feel like we鈥檙e going to miss that Pac-12 conference, just how competitive that conference was. But definitely coming into this new conference, it鈥檚 going to be challenging, it鈥檚 going to be a lot of new looks. But I鈥檓 excited because it鈥檚 a new shift, and it鈥檚 kind of cool to see where the game of softball is going.鈥�

With all the transferring this offseason, 蜜柚直播 will also see plenty of familiar faces in the new league. Two of them are top pitchers: NiJaree Canady, who went from Stanford to Texas Tech, and Ruby Meylan, who went from Washington to Oklahoma State.

New rivalries

As for new rivalries, No. 4 Oklahoma State is front and center. In a small poll taken at softball media day on Friday with Netz, Dakota Kennedy, Tayler Biehl and Regan Shockey, OSU was the odds-on favorite.

Shockey also mentioned No. 10 Texas Tech as 鈥淭heir team鈥檚 really fresh. They got a lot 鈥� new coach, new transfers, great players. I just think it鈥檇 be a great matchup.鈥�

Texas Tech earned honors from Softball America for having the No. 1 transfer class this offseason. Canady, the reigning Player of the Year, who is considered the best pitcher in the nation, picked up a cool $1 million for joining the Red Raiders. In addition, her transfer classmates include seven others highlighted by Mihyia Davis (from Louisiana Lafayette), Alana Johnson (from Washington) and Chloe Riassetto (from Louisiana Lafayette). Gerry Glasco came over to coach Texas Tech from Louisiana.

Oklahoma State and 蜜柚直播 have history, which makes it an ideal rivalry. Last season, the Wildcats鈥� dreams of going back to the Women鈥檚 College World Series were dashed in Stillwater in the Super Regionals, losing both games. In 2022, at the WCWS in Oklahoma City, the Wildcats lost 4-2 to the Cowgirls.

Lowe wouldn鈥檛 commit to just one team to build a new rivalry with, as she thinks 鈥渢here are going to be a lot of competitive series鈥� in the Big 12.

鈥淵es, Oklahoma State, I think, because we faced them for a few years now and then ending the way we did last year,鈥� Lowe said. 鈥淭hen Texas Tech, right? ... (They) made big moves in the offseason, and we鈥檙e going to have one of the best pitchers in the conference again, which is exciting for us. It鈥檚 exciting for us to face the best competition, to get prepared for the postseason. Baylor is tough. BYU is tough. Everybody brings something and they had a whole lot of surprises against some really good teams. 鈥� We鈥檙e excited about it. I think we won鈥檛 know until we get into it and see what happens.鈥�

Playing in OKC

One of the advantages to playing in the Big 12 is the opportunity to play on the field at Devon Park, where the WCWS is held, for the league tournament.

The opportunity isn鈥檛 lost on Netz, who has taken two trips to OKC, in 2021 and 2022.

鈥淚 probably say it鈥檚 about time because we play a lot of these teams that play their conference tournament there, and (it) gives them a little home field advantage when it comes to playing on that dirt,鈥� Netz said. 鈥淔or us, finally being able to soak in that moment, go there and see what it鈥檚 like, it鈥檚 going to give us a little taste of what we really want in reality, which is a World Series.鈥�

Sun Devil turned Wildcat

蜜柚直播鈥檚 new assistant, who is focusing on hitters and catchers, is Amber Freeman. She鈥檚 coached at Georgia, Cal and Vanguard University and is also in the USA Softball coaching pool.

In her playing days, she was an All-American catcher at ASU and was the 2013 Pac-12 Player of the Year. She also played professionally and for USA Softball.

鈥淚 give her a hard time all the time (about being a Sun Devil),鈥� Lowe said with a laugh.

It鈥檚 not just Freeman鈥檚 skillset that attracted Lowe, it is her approach.

鈥淪he is very, extremely confident, extremely intelligent, passionate about what she does, super competitive, and once again, even-keeled,鈥� Lowe said. 鈥淪he is going to be passionate about what she does and make sure you are just the utmost, just prepared for stepping into the on-deck circle and taking your at-bat.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just been exciting to see them gravitate towards her and share that energy. I think that鈥檚 very much so the good qualities that we have as hitters. Anytime someone can step in and make them feel like their strongest, most confident selves going up, that鈥檚 all you can ask for.鈥�