How UCLA softball plans to ‘level up’ mentally after shocking collapse
1 year, 1 month ago

How UCLA softball plans to ‘level up’ mentally after shocking collapse

LA Times  

UCLA third baseman Megan Grant is hoping to help reestablish UCLA as one of the elite college softball teams in 2024 after last year’s disappointing season. “In order to play and be your best, you’ve gotta be able to block out all distractions about outcome and noise and be able to figure out how you can perform.” Under the guidance of mental preparation consultants, UCLA players start every practice and pregame routine by putting on headphones to listen to instrumental music. … I love being the underdog.” UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez is focusing on improving the Bruins’ mental preparedness this season. “We’re here to just level up.” Inouye-Perez chose the team’s “level up” theme to symbolize that the Bruins weren’t panicking after last year’s disappointment and will continue to rise from the program’s strong foundation.

Players Team Mental Bruins Help Ncaa Ucla Era Grant Tinsley Shocking Collapse  grant  players  plans  team  help  mentally  ucla  bruins  teams  mental  shocking  collapse  inouyeperez  softball  level

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Taylor Tinsley and Kaitlyn Terry lead UCLA softball’s push to reach WCWS
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Taylor Tinsley and Kaitlyn Terry lead UCLA softball’s push to reach WCWS

LA Times  

UCLA starting pitcher Kaitlyn Terry begins her windup during an NCAA Super Regional in May 2024. “KT and Taylor Tinsley want to play on that stage again.” Tinsley embraced the role of becoming the team’s ace while Terry recovered from a meniscus tear early last season. “You never want to put that on someone, having to pitch that often.” After …

Meet the UCLA softball legend influencing U.S. women’s volleyball’s success
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Meet the UCLA softball legend influencing U.S. women’s volleyball’s success

LA Times  

Sue Enquist speaks during The Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2022 Salute To Women In Sports Gala in New York. The former UCLA softball coach is a culture consultant for the U.S. Olympic women’s volleyball team. U.S. women’s volleyball players Kelsey Robinson, Justine Wong-Orantes, Haleigh Washington, Jordan Larson and Jordan Thompson celebrate during a preliminary round win over France at the Paris …

College softball coaches worry the arrival of athlete pay could slow their sport’s growth
9 months, 2 weeks ago

College softball coaches worry the arrival of athlete pay could slow their sport’s growth

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo energized college softball two years ago on the way to becoming the career home run leader and the sport’s visibility has increased ever since. “We’re all hoping that it doesn’t hurt softball, that’s for sure,” said Texas coach Mike White, whose school has one of the largest budgets in college athletics. “I don’t …

UCLA’s season ends in Women’s College World Series loss to Stanford
9 months, 3 weeks ago

UCLA’s season ends in Women’s College World Series loss to Stanford

LA Times  

UCLA’s Taylor Stephens walks off the field as Stanford celebrates after the Bruins’ 3-1 loss in the Women’s College World Series elimination game at Devon Park on Sunday. After a season defined by miraculous wins, the Bruins came up one rally short, losing 3-1 in a Women’s College World Series elimination game to No. Although UCLA scored only one run …

UCLA can’t capitalize on chances, falling to rival Oklahoma in Women’s College World Series
9 months, 4 weeks ago

UCLA can’t capitalize on chances, falling to rival Oklahoma in Women’s College World Series

LA Times  

UCLA pitcher Kaitlyn Terry delivers during a 1-0 loss to Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series on Saturday. 2 Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series on Saturday at Devon Park as the three-time defending champion Sooners advanced to the national semifinals with a solo home run from shortstop Tiare Jennings and 11 strikeouts from pitcher Kelly Maxwell. Oklahoma …

Young pitchers star for UCLA softball’s Women’s College World Series run
10 months ago

Young pitchers star for UCLA softball’s Women’s College World Series run

LA Times  

UCLA pitcher Kaitlyn Terry delivers during a Super Regional win over Georgia on Thursday. Terry has played a leading role in helping the Bruins return to the Women’s College World Series for the 32nd time in program history. UCLA’s young pitchers have answered every question while leading the sixth-seeded Bruins back to the Women’s College World Series after a one-year …

Balanced UCLA softball beats Grand Canyon, advances to super regional
10 months, 1 week ago

Balanced UCLA softball beats Grand Canyon, advances to super regional

LA Times  

The UCLA softball team celebrates its win over Grand Canyon in an NCAA regional at Easton Stadium on Sunday. Maya Brady had to wait a little bit, but the Pac-12 Conference player of the year entered the top 10 on UCLA’s all-time hits list in the fifth inning on a single up the middle to give the Bruins a decisive …

Exposure, popularity and stars. Is college softball on the brink of a breakthrough?
10 months, 1 week ago

Exposure, popularity and stars. Is college softball on the brink of a breakthrough?

New York Times  

PALO ALTO, Calif. — On a steamy Thursday afternoon at Stanford’s Smith Family Stadium, every Cardinal player and coach not on the field stands against the dugout rail, shouting encouragement at someone. “I’ve always been proud that I’ve been able to actually live through the growth of the sport,” said former Arizona coach Mike Candrea, the winningest coach in college …

Liberty eliminates No. 2 UCLA in 2023 NCAA softball regionals
1 year, 10 months ago

Liberty eliminates No. 2 UCLA in 2023 NCAA softball regionals

New York Times  

The second-seeded UCLA Bruins were bounced in stunning fashion in the regional round of this year’s NCAA softball tournament. Though UCLA is one of softball’s blue bloods and this year’s squad is led by ace pitcher Megan Faraimo — who did not start Saturday’s game — and Pac 12 Player of the Year Maya Brady, this was never going to …

Softball preview: Notre Dame’s Ella Parker, niece of Dave Roberts, ready to stare down opponents
2 years, 1 month ago

Softball preview: Notre Dame’s Ella Parker, niece of Dave Roberts, ready to stare down opponents

LA Times  

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High senior Ella Parker is a big-time power threat who hit.651 last season for the Knights. Parker’s stare has been described, by an opposing parent to her mother Melissa, as “piercing.” Her reputation precedes her every stride to the batter’s box, a target aimed directly between the senior’s broad shoulders. “If you go that way,” Siegel …

UCLA softball chasing title with ‘perfect storm’ of experience and young talent
2 years, 1 month ago

UCLA softball chasing title with ‘perfect storm’ of experience and young talent

LA Times  

UCLA’s Maya Brady celebrates after hitting a home run against Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series in June. Fueled by “missed opportunities” of previous years, Inouye-Perez hopes to lead a mix of experienced Pac-12 transfers, talented freshmen and long-time stalwarts playing on pandemic borrowed time to UCLA’s first national championship since 2019. “I’ve kind of had to relearn the …

How UCLA softball’s Megan Faraimo found her inner Kobe Bryant
2 years, 10 months ago

How UCLA softball’s Megan Faraimo found her inner Kobe Bryant

LA Times  

UCLA softball pitcher Megan Faraimo warms up in the bullpen before a game against Utah at Easton Stadium on the UCLA campus on April 29. The lowest moment of Megan Faraimo’s career — watching on TV last year as her team struggled at the Women’s College World Series — is still difficult for the redshirt junior to discuss. The redshirt …

‘They are the glue’: How behind-the-scenes bullpen catchers carry UCLA softball
2 years, 10 months ago

‘They are the glue’: How behind-the-scenes bullpen catchers carry UCLA softball

LA Times  

Calls of “heads up” didn’t register for pitcher Megan Faraimo as an errant foul ball came hurtling toward the UCLA bullpen. UCLA bullpen catchers Sara Rusconi Vicinanza, left, and Taylor Sullivan laugh while looking at scouting reports before a game against Utah on April 29 at Easton Stadium. “It’s almost like a game to Taylor and I because we can …

Softball coaches: NCAA can do better with gender equality
3 years, 9 months ago

Softball coaches: NCAA can do better with gender equality

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso has had enough. Her Sooners are closing out another dynamic season by playing Florida State in the best-of-three Women’s College World Series final this week. The men’s and women’s World Series events boasted similar television ratings in 2019 and ratings are strong again this year for the WCWS, according to ESPN. “I …

Rachel Garcia and Bubba Nickles will be back with UCLA softball in 2021
4 years, 10 months ago

Rachel Garcia and Bubba Nickles will be back with UCLA softball in 2021

LA Times  

UCLA softball stars Rachel Garcia and Bubba Nickles will have the best of both worlds in 2021. After the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, Garcia and Nickles will rejoin their college team next year while also playing in the rescheduled Tokyo Games, USA and UCLA softball announced Thursday. “It’s truly an honor to be able to play my last collegiate …

The coronavirus pandemic has robbed talented junior-filled UCLA baseball’s season
5 years ago

The coronavirus pandemic has robbed talented junior-filled UCLA baseball’s season

LA Times  

John Savage should be guiding his team during its first conference series of the year, but the UCLA baseball coach is now deliberating with major league teams. “It just seems like everything’s been cut short,” Savage said in a phone interview. 4 Bruins toward their first College World Series since 2013, Savage is coming to grips with a season cut …

UCLA softball’s NCAA title dreams dashed after season canceled due to the coronavirus
5 years ago

UCLA softball’s NCAA title dreams dashed after season canceled due to the coronavirus

LA Times  

At first, Kelly Inouye-Perez thought it was just baseball when she got the text. We’re gonna remain optimistic, but we also just have to remember that we’re Bruins and how we respond to this is going to be our defining moment.” On Friday, Inouye-Perez was still hopeful that the season could resume for at least a few conference games as …

UCLA softball stars put collegiate careers on hold to play in Olympics
5 years, 1 month ago

UCLA softball stars put collegiate careers on hold to play in Olympics

LA Times  

Rachel Garcia set her alarm for 7:50 a.m. “They’re not just a now part of USA softball,” Team USA coach Ken Eriksen said of the three college players, “they’re also the future part of what’s going to go on.” Garcia and Nickles have had Olympic aspirations since childhood. There’s not many that can, but those two can and they’ve proven …

Rachel Garcia’s bat and arm lift UCLA in softball super regional opener
5 years, 10 months ago

Rachel Garcia’s bat and arm lift UCLA in softball super regional opener

LA Times  

UCLA players celebrate after winning the regional against Missouri at Easton Stadium on Sunday. “Bragging rights,” Garcia said with a grin, “bragging rights.” Before the game Garcia made a bold prediction to Inouye-Perez — that all of the right-handed redshirt junior’s hits would land in right field. “We’ve seen Rachel Garcia just kind of mow hitters down one at a …

UCLA’s Rachel Garcia is seeking the ultimate emotional moment at the Women’s College World Series
6 years, 9 months ago

UCLA’s Rachel Garcia is seeking the ultimate emotional moment at the Women’s College World Series

LA Times  

UCLA pitcher Rachel Garcia high-fives coach Kelly Inouye-Perez after the final out of the Los Angeles Regional final on May 20. Rachel Garcia made her mother cry Tuesday, and it wasn’t the first time. Garcia, UCLA’s ace and cleanup hitter, was named the USA Softball collegiate player of the year. Her mother, Christine, was nearing Albuquerque when the news broke …

Veteran UCLA Softball Coach Enquist to Retire
18 years, 6 months ago

Veteran UCLA Softball Coach Enquist to Retire

LA Times  

Times Staff Writer Saying she was leaving with “my passion and my love for the sport” intact, longtime UCLA softball Coach Sue Enquist announced Tuesday that she would retire effective Jan. 1. Enquist, a starting center fielder on the Bruins’ first national championship team in 1978 who helped guide her alma mater to 10 national titles as a member of …

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