Inside the Diamond is a weekly feature during the off-season of NCAA Softball. Each week Fastpitch News (FPN) will look at a 2016 USA Today/NFCA (final poll), top 25 teams. FPN will look at the season that was and what 2017 may have to offer. Next up: Arizona Softball.
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It was a great season in 2016 for coach Mike Candrea and the Arizona Wildcats (40-21). Not only did they notch 40 wins, they also earned their 30th straight bid to the NCAA tournament. Candrea also moved into the second spot for career wins with 1,468.
The Wildcats also made their 11th super regional appearance in the past 12 years. What is scary about this team in 2017 is that they only lost one senior to graduation. Everyone else will return in 2017 for another run.
Three Wildcat players grabbed first team Pac-12 honors in Katiyana Mauga, Danielle O’Toole and Mandie Perez.
O’Toole (26-12) had an exceptional season posting a 2.17 ERA with 192 strikeouts over 216 innings. She was the workhorse of the staff throwing well over half of the innings for Arizona. Three others return and Taylor McQuillin (12-8) was impressive in her freshman season. McQuillin threw 128 innings but racked up 137 strikeouts. As long as she takes a step forward, the pitching staff in good hands.
Mauga and Perez return and bring power with them. Mauga hit 21 home runs last season with 62 RBI to go with her .317 average. Perez batted .338 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI. Add to them Mo Mercado (.378) and her eight home runs and this team should not have any issues scoring runs.
Who they lose
- Catcher – Lauren Young
Who they get
- Utility – Reyna Carranco (Oxnard, CA)
- Catcher – Dejah Mulipola (Garden Grove, CA)
- Infielder – Malia Martinez (Poway, CA)
- Infielder – Jessie Harper (Stevenson Ranch, CA)
- Infielder – Jaycee Lindley (Mesa, AZ)
Carranco is a versatile fielder that brings power from the left side of the plate. It is uncertain at this time where she will land in the field.
Mulipola adds depth behind the plate for the Wildcats. She is also athletic enough to play out in the field of needed. She was a top prospect and hails from the powerful OC Batbuster program.
Martinez will add depth to the infield and is a solid contact hitter. How much she contributes this upcoming season is not clear as of now.
Harper is a power hitting shortstop that comes from the So Cal Chopper organization. Look for her to be a middle of the order type of hitter that could be a RBI hitter as her career progresses.
Lindley rounds out a talented class and will add even more depth to the middle infield.
Coach Candrea has a lot to be excited about in 2017. He returns pretty much his entire team from last year and should see improvement within the pitching staff. Although they had some decent power numbers from some players, the offense is where they will need to improve in 2017. Last year the ranked 220 in stolen bases per game, this is not normal for a Candrea team, they generally use speed as part of their attack. Look for them to be even better in the circle this season and if they can find that timely hitting and aggressive baserunning they should be a real threat to make the 2017 WCWS.
