I grew up playing baseball, and after having daughters softball became the goto sport in our house for many years. I coached for several years, and really grew to love the game. I actually enjoy watching it more than baseball as it’s more fast paced, and the players are far more enthusiastic. Doesn’t hurt that Utah joined a softball power conference right around the same time my girls started playing.
We really began rooting for Utah around then, 2010ish, but they were difficult to watch at times. They finished the first season of PAC-12 play with two wins. Fast forward to last season, and oh what a great job Hogue did. She won conference coach of the year honors while guiding Utah to it’s first winning season (conference play), and an NCAA tourney berth. Seems like those years of torment are starting to pay off, and I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season.
We lost our best player in Kate Dickman, but her little sis is an incoming freshman this year. Pacheco may be the best defensive catcher in the PAC-12, and while her bat was a liability much of last season she really started to turn it on toward the end. Their bullpen is young and promising as well. Anyway, not too many folks followed the team on ufn, so hoping there are some people here who will contribute over the course of the next year. Go Utes!