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Obscure Sports Weekly
“Where Have All the Visors Gone?”
by: Soren Hansen
OSW is back after a brief hiatus. If you’re wondering what happened, well, I was going to put out a postseason special, but when the baseball team faltered and lost not A shocker, but to the Shockers of Wichita State last Sunday and again Monday to end their run, coupled with the men’s golf team finishing 24th at the NCAA Championships I was devastated. Fortunately for myself and all the other ‘Cat faithful, the softball team was just hitting their stride. Well not “hitting” per se but willing their way through the College World Series.
Led by Taryne Mowatt the Wildcats won their 8th overall and second consecutive title. Mowatt set the tone and the record as she pitched every inning for U of A in the World Series throwing 60 innings shattering the old record of 53. Going into last nights game Monica Abbott, Tennessee’s starter, hadn’t allowed an earned run all tournament (the run the ‘Cats scored in the 10th on Tues was due to an error) but the bats finally came alive in the fifth as Arizona scored all 5 of their runs in the bottom half of the frame putting the game out of reach for the lady Vols. Mowatt also beat Abbott out for the strikeout title. Entering the game Abbott had recorded a then record 68 strikeouts in the tournament and added another 7 last night giving her 75, unfortunately Mowatt mowed down 11 and edged out Abbott to etch her name into the record books with 76 K’s. Hey Abbott if its any consolation at least next year you’ll find out what its like to be on a winning team as you join Arizona coach Mike Candrea, who’s services will be dearly missed next year, on the US National team. After watching last nights game, a couple of things occurred to me. In softball it seems like all you need is that one dominant pitcher to carry you through the world series, first it was Finch, then Hollowell, and now Mowatt and with Taryne coming back for her senior year next year I see no reason the ‘Cats can’t make it three in row. Another thing I found troubling was that softball has gotten rid of the visor. I hadn’t realized it was an endangered breed but as I watched the game last night I have come to realize the visor in women’s softball has gone the way of the dodo bird. The visor’s time might not have been that long lived but its impact on my life will never be forgotten and for that, I’d like to take a moment of silence for the visor……..
Congratulations again to the entire softball team for defending their title, though there’s another ‘Cat currently attempting to accomplish that same feat. The track and field championships kicked off yesterday in Sacramento, CA where U of A’s Jake Arnold is looking to defend his decathlon crown. The ‘Cats had a successful day at the track as three individual athletes and a relay team qualified for the finals. Marcus Tyus, Bobby McCoy, Troy Harris and Xiong Xuehan qualified for the men’s 4x100 meter finals, Gabriella Duclos advanced to the finals in the women’s pole vault, Adam Kuehl advanced to the finals of the men’s discuss, and Obed Mutanya finished the preliminary round of the 5,000 meters in fifth place to qualify for Friday’s finals. While Kuehl was the runner-up in last years championships and looks more than capable of capturing the title this year all the buzz is around Arnold who is attempting to become only the second athlete in Division I history to win consecutive titles in the decathlon. Through the first five events Arnold finds himself in second place with 4,070 points trailing the current leader by only 141 points. If you think Arnold is flustered about being in second I wouldn’t worry about it too much as Arnold put up 7,946 points earlier this year to give him the world lead at the time and his 4,070 score yesterday is actually his highest first day total so Arnold looks primed to become the second athlete ever to win back to back decathlons.
OSW Athlete of the Week
This week’s title probably comes as no surprise and goes to Taryne Mowatt. She pitched 8 games in 7 days to lead the ‘Cats to their second straight title. She was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player (MOP) and set a couple of World Series records (innings pitched, strikeouts) not to mention Arizona records (42 wins one more than Hollowell in 2005 and strikeouts 522 to Hollowell’s 508 in 2004). When asked about the accomplishment and the honor Mowatt said “Of all the accomplishments to be a multiple winner of OSW Athlete of the Week it’s probably the greatest accomplishment of my life.” When further asked about what she plans to do now she said “I’m going to (insert www.rauraur.com corporate sponsor here)”
Thanks for the flattering words Taryne, and for all our readers make sure to make it to McKale Center today for the ticker tape parade and welcome back our squad. As always be sure to check back in next week for all the news and highlights were here at OSW its not always a marathon sometimes it’s a sprint just ask our 4x100 meter team.
Bear Down
Soren
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