Arizona pitcher Options

[SpartanIlliniCub]

Who was the dominant pitcher who played for Arizona last year—their national title year? Taryn something? Will she play for the NPF?

[jlurban]

Taryne Mowatt
Source: USA Softball

The pitcher was Taryne Mowatt. Mowatt (42-12) led the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats to their eighth NCAA softball title in 2007, defeating pitching ace Monica Abbott (50-5) and the Tennessee Lady Vols in the three-game championship round of the Women's College World Series. Mowatt (42-12) was chosen the series' most outstanding player. She pitched all 60 innings in the tournament for Arizona, leading the Wildcats back from the losers' bracket to win the title. In the course of a week she threw 1,035 pitches across eight complete games with an ERA of 0.47, becoming the first pitcher in history to win seven games in the event.

Here's what Yahoo! Buzz has to say about Taryne Mowatt: "Move over, Jennie Finch. There's a new softball hottie in town and she's burning up the Buzz. Arizona Wildcats pitcher Taryne Mowatt led her team to the title at the Women's College World Series and her magical arm (or pretty face?) was the center of attention."


Monica Abbott
Source: USA Softball

Monica Abbott, the 2007 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, went into game two of the championship round with an amazing streak of 43 scoreless innings. Abbott is slated to play for the Washington Glory in the NPF. Tennessee teammate Kristie Fox, currently playing for the Chicago Bandits NPF team, also had an outstanding tournament, tying the record for most hits with eleven (read about Kristie Fox's recent injury during a Bandits game).

[jlurban]

(The Associated Press)

Taryne's Cinderella story continues—she was recently named Female Athlete of the Year and College Female Athlete of the Year at the 15th Annual ESPY Awards held July 11th in Los Angeles. She is shown above (right) receiving one of her ESPYs from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and actress Kate Walsh. The night before the ceremony, Taryne attended a party hosted by San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who won four awards. Taryne hails from Corona, California, only one hour away from the site of the awards. In her acceptance speech, Taryne thanked her parents, fans, teammates, and Jennie Finch's father Doug, her pitching coach since the age of 7.

[SpartanIlliniCub]

Thanks for the quick response jlurban, and great post! But one question remains.... will Taryne play in the NPF?

Can you imagine the "4 Queens" of softball playing in the NPF next year?

Queen of Hearts - Jennie Finch, the fan favorite

Queen of Spades - Cat Osterman, the lady in black that takes no prisoners

Queen of Diamonds - Monica Abbott, the NCAA statistical powerhouse

Queen of Clubs - Taryne Mowatt, the dark horse that came from obscurity to national sensation after her incredible performance in the NCAA national softball tournament.

Talk about star power. I hope Taryne decides to play in the NPF.

[Titan09]

I like your "4 Queens" in the NPF slogan, but what does Monica Abbott being the NCAA statistical powerhouse have to do with diamonds?

[SpartanIlliniCub]

Queen of diamonds aka queen of the softball diamond. She has mastered the diamond in a way none of the others have, because her stats are so incredible.

[jlurban]

Taryne Mowatt interview on ESPN following Arizona's victory in the 2007 Women's College World Series:

[youtube]OH4saKAUaLc[/youtube]

[BashBabe57]

In case anyone was wondering why we weren't seeing Mowatt in the NPF, I found the answer and it's very simple. She will be a senior this year so she's not quite done at Arizona! It'll be interesting to see if they can go back to back to back championships this year with an ace leading them! Then, hopefully we'll see her in the NPF!!!

I was unsure if her predecessor at Arizona, Alicia Hollowell, was in the NPF and then I saw her playing for Akron when they played the Bandits. I love seeing the big name pitchers in the NPF!!! Now we just need to get them pitching consistently for their npf team and not team usa.