
Arizona softball went into the NCAA regionals as a host due to the fact that the team had an excellent season. One of the best teams in the country, a Super Regional or even a Women’s College World Series appearance were if not expected, certainly achievable.
The team never got to leave Tucson, falling to Ole Miss, which went on to Oklahoma City.
Arizona baseball, on the other hand, scuffled toward the end of the season to the point where there were questions if the Wildcats would even make it to the tournament before winning the Big 12 Tournament and cementing a spot. They were the 2seed in the Eugene Regional, though, and not the favorite to advance to the CWS.
So, naturally, they did just that.
Then they were supposed to fall to an excellent North Carolina team, which seemed likely after an 18-2 drubbing in the series opener. But as has often been the case, the Cats rebounded to pull off a comeback victory in the second game to force a third game where, once again, they rallied late to win.
To Omaha they go! One out of two ain’t bad.
While Caitlin Lowe’s team disappointed and Chip Hale’s has at least met — but likely exceeded — expectations, both coaches can claim the same thing after four seasons leading their respective programs:
They belong.
What’s nice about that fact is knowing it was hardly inevitable. Lowe was a first-time head coach taking over for a legend while Hale was also new to leading a collegiate program. And although he wasn’t following an all-time great, he did have to replace one of the best coaches in the country.
Expectations for their programs remained high but those for the individual coaches were more muted, and despite some bumps in the road each has managed to, if not lift their teams up, keep them at about the level we’d all grown accustomed to.
Neither has been perfect and it’s fair to question whether either Lowe or Hale will ever reach the level the people they replaced did, though there would be no shame in landing a step below the likes of Mike Candrea or Jay Johnson.
Each did great things in Tucson, but their replacements have shown they could experience similar levels of success. Or, are at least on the cusp.
It won’t be easy.
Coming off the disappointing finish in regionals, Arizona softball has seen a plethora of players enter the portal, while Devyn Netz, Paige Dimler, Miranda Stoddard and Saya Swain have all run out of eligibility.
Adding transfers like Jalen Adams is a sign all is well, though.
Meanwhile, no matter when baseball’s season ends many key players won’t be back, including Brendan Summerhill, Mason White, Tommy Splaine and Garen Caulfield. Hale has done an admirable job retooling and reloading the roster each year, but despite all Arizona has it lacks some of the resources other prominent programs bring to the table.
A run like the one the team is on now may not be a total shock, but it also should not be the expectation.
What should be, just as is the case for softball, is programs that win much more than they lose, compete for conference titles and regularly find their way into the postseason. Deep runs are great and should be appreciated when they happen, and a trip to Oklahoma City or Omaha is something to be proud of.
In four seasons both Lowe and Hale have guided their respective teams to those heights.
Fortunately, unlike the person Lowe replaced, the softball coach is not likely to retire anytime soon. And unlike the coach Hale replaced, the baseball skipper is probably not going to bolt for a different job during after the World Series.
That’s not to say Arizona should not look to reward each coach for what they have accomplished. Each coach agreed to 5-year contracts upon taking charge, and neither deserves to head into next season on the final year of those deals.
Athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois has been busy since getting the Arizona job and undoubtedly knows what she has in these coaches. They are not only all-time greats as players, but both Lowe and Hale seem to be growing into the kind of coaches who can be counted on to keep their programs competitive and relevant.
Those are the kind of coaches you want to keep around because through the highs and the lows, it’s clear they know what they’re doing. They’re the kind of coaches you want to have and enjoy rooting for.