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2018 Texas Softball


texasstrong12

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Great story about a brave young lady.   Lengthy,  but worth the read.

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Kaitlyn Washington is aware that one day she may end up in a wheelchair.

Texas’ sophomore outfielder has other things to focus on right now, though. Like the 60 feet between home plate and first base. Or the space that the converted first baseman needs to cover running down a fly ball in the outfield at McCombs Field.

Washington has lived six years with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis. The diagnosis, however, has not kept her off the field.

“It’s a dream of mine,” Washington said. “I wasn’t going to let (a doctor) tell me I can’t play. I couldn’t give it up either, even at the age of 13.”

Six years ago, during a long day of club softball, Washington injured her back while sliding into second base. The pain worsened and she was eventually taken to the emergency room. It was initially thought that Washington had lupus, but doctors ultimately came back with a different diagnosis.

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Ankylosing spondylitis is an arthritis that causes inflammation of the spinal vertebrae that can lead to severe, chronic pain and discomfort. Washington described her hips feeling as if they have several tiny holes in them. She was told that she has “the hips of an 80-year-old woman.” A slight curvature in her spine also causes her right foot to point outward when she walks.

She was advised that eventually she’d need to cut short her softball career. The physical stress of workouts, practices and games — especially at the college level — worried Washington’s doctor. Washington was warned that if she kept playing past high school, “by the age of 50, you’ll be in a wheelchair.”

Playing college softball, though, was a dream of hers. Washington was young and undeterred; if she was given a shot to play, she was going to take it. And she found support in her decision at home.

“This is something she really wanted to do,” said Tracy Sutton, Washington’s mother. “I just wanted to support her. This was her first love.”

Washington, who grew up in Humble, was first introduced to softball while attending Eagle Springs 

Washington, who grew up in Humble, was first introduced to softball while attending Eagle Springs Elementary. When she was eight, she brought home a flyer for an upcoming tryout. Washington had never played the sport, but she convinced her father to buy her a glove, helmet and bat. Her mother remembers her practicing in the backyard that night until midnight.

Washington aced her tryout and soon her world revolved around the sport. Family vacations complemented her travel team’s tournaments to Colorado, Florida and Mississippi. Washington went on to earn all-state honors at Humble Atascocita, and she led the Eagles to the UIL state tournament her senior year.

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Along the way, Washington’s dream of playing in college also became her mother’s. Sutton, who was waging a three-year battle with bladder cancer, still made it to most of her daughter’s games. She promised Washington that she would see her play at the next level.

Sure enough, Sutton, who has been in remission for two years, has made many trips to McCombs Field. Washington signed with Texas after initially committing to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. In Austin, the future forensic psychologist enjoys going to coffee shops, listening to Daniel Caesar songs and eating any type of pizza that isn’t plain cheese.

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On the field, the 5-4 outfielder earned a spot on the Big 12’s all-freshman team in 2017. This season, she’s started 23 times in left field.  Washington’s .318 batting average ranks second on the team.

This past weekend, Texas (16-13) opened conference play with a sweep of Kansas. Washington scored in each of the wins. She went 3 for 3 in the opening game, a 10-2 triumph.

“I think she’s a special player,” said Nadia Taylor, the former Longhorn who now plays professionally with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Taylor, who also came to Texas from Atascocita, has long been Washington’s friend and role model. “I mess with her all the time overthinking stuff and turning up her swagger a little, because she has it in her.”

Washington has adopted Taylor’s advice — “You can’t eat with everybody”— as a mantra of her own. To Washington, it means she doesn’t need to hang around people who won’t work as hard as she does.

Washington prefers to showcase that hard work in the hitting cages. To treat her arthritis, she stretches a lot and applies heat to her hips. Exercise also helps, although the intensity might be harmful in the long run. She bypasses medicines because of the side effects they could have on things like a future pregnancy.

Washington says she feels like a normal player. In her eyes, the only thing that sets her apart from her peers is a superstition that requires her to put her left sock and shoe on before she addresses her right foot.

Washington’s sophomore season continues Tuesday when Texas hosts Stephen F. Austin. It will be the 71st game of a college career that Washington doesn’t see ending anytime soon.

“I’m definitely just going to ride it out until it ends,” Washington said. “I don’t want it to stop me and then have regrets or anything.”

https://www.hookem.com/story/despite-arthritic-diagnosis-kaitlyn-washington-keeps-living-her-dream-in-texas-outfield/

 

 

 

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Jefferson and Washington are legit. Did Mackay recruit both? 

I get the feeling our offense is going to look a lot better when Mackay gets his players on the roster. Our best two hitters are a FR and So. 

A lot of our offensive struggles in recent years have been a talent issue. Jefferson and Washington look like elite D1 hitters. 

 

Edited by texasstrong12
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Need to read post #6 above to realize what a great story.

 

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After swinging a big bat, Texas sophomore Kaitlyn Washington has earned a big award.

On Monday, Washington was named the Big 12’s Player of the Week for the second time in her career

https://www.hookem.com/2018/04/02/three-home-runs-powers-texas-kaitlyn-washington-past-the-field-as-big-12-hands-out-weekly-awards/

 

 

The Houston game will be a challenge.    UH designated the game as their Breast Cancer Awareness Game which normally brings out a great crowd.   Likely future recruits in attendance.

  The head coach (Vesely) and assistant (Shults) played at OU.    Another assistant, Megan Gibson, played at A&M.    Game has meaning.

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TEXAS (19-13) at Houston (22-12) and versus UTSA (15-15) | April 3-4 | Cougar Softball Stadium, Houston, Texas & Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas

Schedule:

Tuesday, April 3

6:30 p.m. CT                     TEXAS at Houston – TV: UHCougars.com (requires a paid subscription) – LINK

 

Wednesday, April 4

5:30 p.m. CT                     UTSA at TEXAS  TV: LONGHORN NETWORK – LINK

http://texassports.com/news/2018/4/2/softball-preview-at-houston-and-vs-utsa-april-3-4-2018.aspx

 

Edited by torre
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Houston 3  - Texas 1

Bolinger gave up a 3 run home run in the 1st.   We only had 4 hits off their ace pitcher (.072 era)..

A win would certainly have boosted the RPI and  given confidence to win against a quality team.

UTSA, Wed, 5:30, at home

 

 

 

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Texas 1 - UTSA 0   (scored in bottom 7th on 1 hit and "rolling the dice"  baserunning)

 

Not a good hitting team,  can't seem to make  adjustments at the plate.   Need more patience, imo.

Samford (Ala), record 12-26, in town for a DH Sat and single game Sun.

 

 

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Stuff gets real next 2-3 weeks.    Need to defend home field.

 

Wed - @ Texas St

Fri-Sun  TTech (1-8 conf, 21-19) at home

17 Apr - Baylor  (3-3 conf, 25-9) at home  3 losses were to OU   Play 2 games at Baylor 5/6 May

20-22 Apr Ok St (7-2 conf, 28-12) at home

27-29 Apr @OU (9-0, 34-2)

Edited by torre
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Completed the sweep of Tech with a 6-2 victory.    Erica with the complete game which is good news. 

Been awhile since we swept the bottom half of the conference.    OkSt swept Baylor this weekend,  so Baylor is in town on Tuesday needing a must win.    Though not having uber, dominant pitching,  Baylor is good regardless of being swept by OU and OKSt.   It is more of a testament to the high level of OU/OKSt.    Need our best, complete performance to beat them.    They loathe Texas and the feeling is mutual.

Standings top 4/remaining games

OU - 12-0    (Texas, OKSt)

Texas - 9-0 (Baylor, OKSt, OU)

OkSt - 10-2 (lost to Tech and Iowa St in  extra innings) (Texas, OU)

Baylor - 3-6  (Texas,  Kansas, Iowa St)

 

 

 

 

 

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Baylor 3 - Texas 0  (3hits)

Paige had problems with location in the 2nd inning when Baylor scored all 3 runs.   (3 hits and a walk)     Pitched a great game otherwise against a  team that is hitting .324.

Our hitting is dismal.  Baylor pitcher Rodoni is rated 9th in B12(2.42),  Von Sprecken is rated 4th (1.44)   Hitting  .268 as a team, 6th in conference only ahead of Iowa State.   Tech is 5th in conf hitting .280.    Don't know if problem is hitting coach (Tripp Mackay) or players,   probably both but   as Connie states below hitters were guessing.   Approach and confidence are lacking which imo is coaching.   We never hit below .300 with previous hitting coach Corrie Hill.   Why she left is a mystery.

I attended the game.  Players were really down after the loss.   Hopefully,  can recover for OKSt this weekend.

 

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"It's a tough one tonight," head coach Connie Clark said. "We thought we had a pretty decent game plan coming in against Rodoni, but we were guessing at the plate. We didn't really take the plan and commit to it fully, and got in a little bit of guess mode. You can't do that with quality pitching. Now we've got to move forward. Obviously, we'll end up seeing her again. It's a little bit of a split series. Obviously, we'll go to their place in a few weeks, and we're going to have to solve her to get at Baylor.

http://texassports.com/news/2018/4/17/softball-drops-first-big-12-game-of-the-season-to-no-21-baylor-3-0.aspx


 

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Due to the threat of inclement weather, UT has rescheduled a game it was set to play on Saturday afternoon. Texas and Oklahoma State will now play a double-header on Friday starting at 4:30.. The Big 12 series will conclude on Sunday morning, and Texas will honor its four seniors at McCombs Field that day.

https://www.hookem.com/2018/04/19/due-to-weather-threat-texas-to-play-oklahoma-state-twice-on-friday/

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On 4/19/2018 at 5:22 PM, perfectchaos007 said:

More like 3 seniors and 1 junior who doesn't want to re-join the connie clark shit show next season, and who could blame her?

I hate to say it because of Connie Clark, but we're probably going to be pretty good next year if we find 1 more pitcher with Bollinger. 

We're going to return almost the entire lineup outside of PvS and they are already a fringe top 25 type team. 

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Defeated Texas Southern last night 6-0.

OU this weekend in Norman.   OU is hitting .332,  1.07 era,  fielding .990.     That fielding percentage is insane.

We are hitting .262,  2.40 era,  fielding .976 (2nd in conf).     Many gifs can apply to this matchup.

 

TEXAS (28-18, 10-3 Big 12) at No. 3 Oklahoma (41-3, 12-0 Big 12) | April 27-29 | Marita Hynes Field, Norman, Okla.

Schedule:

Friday, April 27

6:30 p.m.                     TEXAS at No. 3 Oklahoma – SoonerSports.TV (webstream) - LINK

Saturday, April 28

1 p.m.                          TEXAS at No. 3 Oklahoma – ESPN2 - LINK

Sunday, April 29

1 p.m.                          TEXAS at No. 3 Oklahoma – ESPN2 - LINK

 

https://texassports.com/news/2018/4/26/softball-preview-at-no-3-oklahoma-april-27-29-2018.aspx

 

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OU 6 - Texas 0

Actually, played a good game.   1-0 game  until the 5th.   Bolinger gave up a  hr in the 1st and a grand slam in the 5th (ouch !).   Limited OU to 6 hits,  we had 5, but 4 of the 5 by 2 players.

OU did not walk a batter,  we had 5 base runners.    Bolinger walked 2 and 1 hbp.  No errors by either team.   Free bases are very critical in softball.

 

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13 hours ago, torre said:

OU 6 - Texas 0

Actually, played a good game.   1-0 game  until the 5th.   Bolinger gave up a  hr in the 1st and a grand slam in the 5th (ouch !).   Limited OU to 6 hits,  we had 5, but 4 of the 5 by 2 players.

OU did not walk a batter,  we had 5 base runners.    Bolinger walked 2 and 1 hbp.  No errors by either team.   Free bases are very critical in softball.

 

Thanks for that summary.  OU is hard to beat.

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