Attending UCLA the past four years has taught me three important
lessons: Don’t go to history classes before fourth week,
avoid eating Panda Express more than twice a week, and never bet
against softball coach Sue Enquist in the postseason.
That’s why, even though women’s golf is in third
place heading into today’s final round, it’s the UCLA
softball team that has the best chance of capturing national
championship No. 97 this spring.
Sure, the Bruins haven’t exactly been dominant this season
““ 16 losses are more than Enquist’s teams lose in three
years sometimes ““ but they have all the ingredients of a
championship softball team.
They have championship experience. Their lineup is as talented
as any other team’s in the country. And then the trump card
in softball ““ UCLA has one of the nation’s best
starting pitchers.
Anjelica Selden, perhaps the top freshman in the country, has
been outstanding of late, yielding just one run in her last 17
innings.
And in softball, a sport where runs are more scarce than good
lines in a Sagar Parikh column (see left), a dominant pitcher can
make the difference in a championship run.
The Bruins rode the arm of Keira Goerl to back-to-back titles
the past two years, and they’ll be looking to Selden to
propel them to the Softball World Series again this year.
If UCLA manages to make it through the Regionals, would anyone
be that surprised to see Enquist hoisting another championship
trophy in Oklahoma City later this month?
Women’s golf may come back to beat Duke and win the
championship tomorrow. Women’s track could defend its NCAA
title in a few weeks in Sacramento, and I suppose men’s
tennis could end its lengthy title drought in the next few
days.
But if there’s one UCLA team to bet your paycheck on,
it’s softball. It’s time to be reminded of that lesson
once again.
Compiled by Jeff Eisenberg, Bruin Sports senior
staff.